INTRODUCTION

Going to university is a bit like the next level in real life—you now have to juggle studying, social life, transport, health, and finances all at the same time. Which is brilliant, there is an app (or few) for that. Be it potential stacking deadlines, budgeting your student loan or tracking down a midnight takeout, the right apps will make your university life easier, cheaper, and ultimately much more fun. This article looks at the apps every UK student should have to allow them to survive the experience of university—and hopefully enjoy it too.

SOCIAL MEDIA

INSTAGRAM

Instagram has become the digital campus for university students. Whether you’re sharing the aesthetic of your flat’s fairy lights, or showing the late night breakdown of your library/social life, it’s where visual encapsulation meets vibes. Find and keep up with campus events, societies, and that one course-mate who has suddenly become an “influencer.” Reels are where you’re bound to procrastinate – just don’t fight it. Stalking your crush and seeing their highlights is basically academic research. And group chats in DM’s? There’s more chaos in the best way! It’s social life altogether in scrollable form.

SNAPCHAT

Snapchat is where the real uni stories are made—down and dirty, not filtered, and timestamped at 3am. You can send random selfies, with “I hate this degree” overlays, as well as frivolously “vibe” with a black screen and “streaks”. Snap Maps allows you to lowkey stalk who is at the library and who is out-out. Filters are essential, especially when you haven’t slept for 48 hours. And who wouldn’t love a spontaneous private story rant that unintentionally becomes an entire series? It’s short and personal and disappears before you even have the chance to regret it! It’s like digital whispering in a lecture hall!

TRANSPORT

WAZE

Waze is your best friend who knows everything about the roads and is also your streetwise mate. It will steer you clear of traffic, whether on your way to a festival or escaping your hometown. You can expect real-time updates from other cars on the road—yes, it’s basically social media for cars! The fuel price alerts are a nice touch for any uni student on a budget. Don’t even get me started on the voices. You can switch it up and have Cookie Monster or your favourite celebrity give directions. You can always count on Waze to find the cleverest way, even when it’s late and the vibes are chaotic!

UBER

Need kebabs at midnight? Uber. Got a 9am exam on the other side of town with 6% battery remaining and zero will to move? Uber. It’s the uni modern-day chariot – summoned with one tap. Outdated taxis? Out the window with them – they are dirty, Uber – clean, have a map and a trip sharing option for your mates, you can even share the fare in-app (none of those “I’ll Revolut you later” lies). Drivers know where to go – even when you don’t. It’s the unofficial teleportation service shared only with your other uni mates.

UBER EATS

When you’re so hungover that cooking feels impossible or you’re simply not into the student kitchen, Uber Eats is a legend, plain and simple. Midnight McDonald’s? Get in. Bubble tea while you sit in lectures? Easy. They understand your comfort meals better than your mother. Discounts feel like a whole different ball game when you’re on student finance. You can even track your food in real-time like it’s a highly anticipated guest. The dopamine response of “your delivery is arriving” is unparalleled. It’s not lazy – it’s a lifestyle.

RAILCARD

Why pay full price to go and have a cry in another city? Your 16-25 Railcard is your best friend when it comes to cheap travel. Weekend getaways, going home, or an impromptu trip across the UK are now 1/3 off. Your railcard will pay for itself in literally two trips! It’s even easy to link it to your digital wallet so you don’t forget it at home! It is basically a travel hack no one told you in fresher’s week. And, did you know train snacks taste better when you didn’t have to fork out a fortune? Let’s go and have some cheap adventures.

BANKING

NATWEST BANK

NatWest’s student account isn’t just a place to see your money disappear. You get a proper railcard bonus – instant savings from day one. The app is slick, the tools are smart and the overdraft? An actual lifesaver when terms get limited. Budgeting tools help track where all your takeaway money is going (spoiler: it’s Uber Eats again). You can freeze your card in an instant when it inevitably ends up in someone else’s tote. Everything is easy, digital, and secure. Think of it as an adult bank that understands student disorder.

SANTANDER UK BANK

The Santander student account is literally a cheat code to navigating uni life. You get a free railcard, which is already a bonus. The app makes transferring your mate £3.67 for pizza, absurdly easy. Set up savings pots and let your festival fund grow (or disappear). Notifications keep your spending honesty in check before you pay for your third iced coffee. And if that isn’t sufficient, it includes a generous overdraft for when student finance has a late fashionably. It is the solid, low-stress financial friend you never knew you needed.

DISCOUNTS AND CLUB MEMBERSHIPS

UNiDAYS

UNiDAYS is your go-to for student discounts – without it, are you even a student? From fashion and food, to tech and travel, it has discounts that will make your money feel like magic! Who doesn’t want 10% off ASOS, a discounted Spotify, and a cheeky Greggs? It’s so easy to sign up, it’s free and instant – just show you’re a student and it’s time to start saving!

The app is quite sleek and constantly gets new deals so remember to check on it like you check your socials! Shop without guilt, knowing you are paying less than the rest of the world! It has exclusive events, competitions, and even internships available! UNiDAYS isn’t just an app, it’s your student privilege card!

HEALTH APP

NHS

The NHS App is the health hub for students of the 2020s. You can book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and get vaccine information without having to touch a waiting room phone. Couldn’t find your meds on a night out? Order replacements from bed! It’s almost like having a doctor in your pocket but without all the awkward small talk. You can view test results, manage health records and monitor your health journey too. Oh, it even stores your COVID passes wherever they still exist! Health is wealth even on two hours sleep!

FREE-TIME

BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer is the ultimate cozy vibes between deadlines. Your deadlines are creeping up, so you can catch up on educational documentaries that feel productive when you are actually chilling out. Missed an episode of Drag Race UK, mentalist shows, or Louis Theroux – its not going anywhere. There’s no ads, no stress, and there are loads of fun British bingeable things. Plus, you can download things to watch on your long train journey home! So great for background noise when you’re up all night. It’s all completely free with your TV licence, which yes – you technically need one.

NETFLIX

Netflix is the emotional support application of university life. Whether you are crying to a romcom or postponing work on your assignments by endlessly watching a docuseries, it is your “go-to”. If you’re not bingeing with a group, do you even exist? Or if you’ve watched sitcoms in the background while doing the essay sprint? Probably “therapeutic”? Then there is the added insight when someone says “Let’s Netflix and chill” – what they really mean is “let’s just hang out and chill”, because everyone is tired! Then there are recommendations with the algorithm – is that your digital love? There’s always something “watchable”, it just takes you about an hour to figure out what you want to watch!

TRANSLATION: ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS!!

GOOGLE TRANSLATE

Google Translate will save your life when it comes to language modules, Erasmus trips, and ways to decipher your flatmate’s intoxicated texts. Just take a photo of a foreign menu and the app will give you the translation there and then. It even works in offline mode when you are in the crisis of roaming-data abroad. Have a Tinder match who speaks fluent French? Problem solved. It’s also surprisingly useful when attempting to decipher academic terms. You can type, speak, or point your camera—language barriers don’t stand a chance! Consider it your pocket polyglot!

SCHOOL AND NOTE TAKING

MICROSOFT OneNote

OneNote is your academic disorder, color-coded. Forget the many folders—this is the place to dump thoughts from lectures, to-do lists, and notes for those quarter-life crises. Syncs across laptop, tablet, and phone, so you’re always sorted. You can add photos, voice memos, links and basically, create a universe for study. It’s also great if you’re doing group projects (you know, assuming your group actually shows up). Drag, drop, highlight, rewrite—its digital flexibility at its best. Studying has never looked so good.

ONLINE BROWSING

AMAZON

Amazon is that friend who conveniently brings everything you need when you need it and doesn’t munch on your food! Tips when you need last-minute textbooks or a party outfit arriving tomorrow, epic. The free trial for Prime is basically a rite of passage. Don’t worry about lugging a kettle from home—one-click, and there it is. From back-to-school shopping to survival kits, and all those weird things in niche categories? That is all here! If you are too tired to think, the reviews are golden! A few words for the clearly online, Prime-fuelled millennials entering student-life and beyond.

Authored By
Gent Xhaka

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