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I'm a bit like an AI, except instead of making pictures of people with 16 fingers, I can help you find the perfect course and uni.
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There are hundreds of thousands of apps to download to your phone. Some are for fun (hellooo minecraft), some are for serious stuff (online banking) and some are there to make your life easier and better (Uber, Spotify).
But which ones are essential downloading for students? Well, the team behind our very own Whatuni App have put together their definitive list of ones you should have on your phone...
1. Forest
A productivity app – you open it, you set a time, and plant a tree. If you check your phone before times up, you KILL the tree. Save the planet, do your work: what’s not to like?
This is the best app ever - I legitimately could not have done my dissertation without this – it makes productivity into a game, and I would allow myself little breaks between tree planting and was able to study all day
- Matt, BA English and History at University of York.
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
2. We Buy Books
Image via webuybooks
Course books can be a huge expense, particularly at the start of university when you have absolutely no idea how to budget.
We Buy Books is a convenient and easy way to sell old textbooks to earn back some of your (student finance) money. All you have to do is take a photo of the barcode on the book and wait for an offer. Then send your book in the post with no additional fee!
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
3. Easy Bib
Image via educationalapps.com
Easybib is a citation generator in a handy app, which allows you to automatically create citations for your bibliography.
Scan the barcode of a book to get a citation in whichever format you desire! Very useful when writing a dissertation, as referencing can be a pain but definitely wouldn’t recommend last minute citing (I spent 2 days retracing my sources for a 5,000-word essay ☹)
- Lizzie Horrocks, English language and Linguistics at Queen Mary University
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
4. Monzo
Image via forbes
Billed as the bank built for your smartphone, Monzo has a super easy sign-up process and is an excellent way to keep on top of finances and stick to a budget.
The app sends you optional notifications whenever you spend money, and also shows you how much you’ve spent per day/month and exactly what on – perfect for keeping you in that good old green banking zone.
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
5. Splitwise
Image via SolidSmack.com
Staying true to the budgeting theme, Splitwise is another great app to have in your armoury. Bulk-buying food, drink and cleaning products is a great way of saving money when you’re living away from home: having splitwise makes it easy to split those shopping bills and utilities with flatmates, and also comes in handy for splitting meals, nights out and keeping track of IOUs with friends.
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
6. Beam
Image via VirginTrains
Beam by Virgin Trains gives you the kind of free entertainment experience that you’d usually expect on a long-haul flight, straight to your smartphone whilst on board its trains.
If you live away from home and use virgin trains this on-board entertainment app will keep you entertained and save your data! Lots of films etc, I used it a lot travelling from London to Glasgow
. - Natalie, Sociology at The University of Glasgow
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
7. A Soft Murmur
Image via iTunes
An app that plays ambient sound – great for blocking out the library murmurs and being transported to the beach of the forest while losing yourself in your studies. You can also play it alongside music apps like Spotify for some added audio stimulation to motivate you.
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
8. Strava
Image via road.cc
Keeping fit is essential at uni for physical and mental wellbeing, and what better way to get active when you’re on a budget, than with a run or a cheeky bike ride?! Both are also great ways to break up studying and de-stress. And best of all, they’re free!
Strava is a great way to keep you motivated and, complete with their notifications, you can gamify and enhance the social aspect of your exercise regimen by setting challenges and targets with friends
. – Ben, Sociology and Criminology at the University of Huddersfield
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
9. My Study Life
Image via thewinduck.com
Essential for helping you plan your university work schedules and dissertation time during those tricky months!
“This was great for me as I worked part time to support my studies, but the app made it possible for me to plan my lectures, revision and dissertation time, part time work and socialising time all in one place.” - Jade Whittaker, BA Hons Business Management with Events; with Study Abroad Year at Vancouver Island University and a year in Industry at the University of Hertfordshire
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
10. Student Beans
Image via theimi.org.uk
If you want bargain shopping, cheap food and most importantly discounts on local events then this is the app for you. Studentbeans tells you where the sales are at, and who offers student discount—ordering pizza has never been so easy!
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
That’s all for now folks, though if you’ve think we’ve missed an indispensable student app from our list, we’d love to know about it at app@whatuni.com
‘Appy Days!
