Top Apps For University Students

   Samudraki's Saturdays

University life is going digital thanks to Covid-19, which means learning online is something new to us students as well as the professors. In today's blog I share with you my favourite apps that I used all throughout university to help me manage my social life, studies and lifestyle. This is not a sponsored blog, just the apps that I personally used and found helpful at different stages of my university life. There are plenty of apps, so I will try to make this list more organised by grouping them into 5 categories.

1. University and Lectures

Each university has their own app on which you can access your schedule and check notifications from your professors. I find this more organised (and less spam-y) than the email notification from the study portal. 

Almost all Dutch universities use Black Board for their lectures. So if you don't want to bring your laptop to class you can access all the files from your phone using the app. 

Lastly, some lecturers use many apps and websites to make classes more interactive via polls and Q&A sessions. These all have their own apps which makes it easier to join instead of signing up repeatedly. The top 2 apps are Kahoot and Socrative.

2. Studying / Revising For Exams

For visual learners like me, the internet is a haven for learning and grasping concepts better as compared to sitting in a 2 hour lecture and starting at the black board or frantically taking notes while the professor speaks.

To learn new concepts my go-to app is YouTube where I search for channels that make videos explaining a certain chapter with multiple videos for each chapter or topic. I also love Khan Academy because they literally draw out concepts which helps me learn and retain the new topic better. 

For revision before exams I use flash cards, but taking so many to the exam is a alot to write, manage and a huge waste of paper. Instead, I use Quizlet. It allows me to write out detailed explanations for certain concepts that I tend to forget. I am just not the best at memorising, so this really helps. I am also someone who can get distracted by apps when studying on the phone so I use Blocksite that doesn't allow me to use apps such as Instagram, Youtube, Facebook etc. and keeps me productive and focused while studying. 

3. Lifestyle 

University life isn't all about studying. Over the years for different needs I used the following lifestyle apps. Firstly, I used Google Translate and enabled the scan feature so that I could understand what was written on signs, bus stops and even some magazines. I also downloaded Duo Lingo to pick up some Dutch phrases. 

As a student, alot of money gets spent easily and in large amounts during parties. Physical bookkeeping is now passe so here's a Dutch bill-splitter app called Tikkie from the Abn Amro bank. On this app you can send a money request and set the amount yourself, it will get instantly transferred to your linked bank account. Another favorite bill splitter app of the Dutch is Splitser (Wie Betaalt Wat) and here everyone can put their total bill amounts and the app calculates who owes who how much money to settle the costs. 

Due to the coronavirus, movie nights with friends has switched over to virtual parties on Netflix or Amazon prime. I know alot of students don't have either or both of these viewing platforms (including me). But don't worry because there's a live streaming app called Kast where you can make your parties or join others and watch your favorite movies from youtube or screen sharing. You won't believe this, but it's FREE! 

4. Student safety apps 

University can be alot of fun but also risky especially if you're new to the city or even county for that matter. So in the first few months download a gps tracker app and share that with your parents, resident assistant, roommates and friends. There are alot of apps but Life 360 is my favorite because you can add multiple people on the same map and track each other in case of an emergency. 

Covid-19 is increasing exponentially in the Netherlands with the hit of the second wave. Reports say that majority cases are now found among students. Stay safe by using the Corona Melder app suggested by the government. It uses bluetooth to let you know if you have passed by anyone who is positively tested. Yes, it will drain your battery like crazy but it's better to be aware and take precautions. You can always carry a power back or charger with you! 

Lastly, partying and the drinking culture is synonymous to Dutch university life and is inevitable even if you try to avoid initially. I had only had my first drink ever on my 20th birthday which was during my second year at university, so to stay safe I use an app called Drink Coach which helps me track my consumption of alcohol, although it's not very customisable.

5. Travel 

Getting around The Netherlands is fairly simple because all cities have the same kind of bus and train companies. To check and plan journeys use the app 9292 which gives you the fastest journeys and estimated cost. To book tickets for the train and check timings and platforms use the app NS. Before you head out, check the weather using the app Buienradar. 

Studying in the Netherlands has a huge advantage because you can easily travel around Europe with great connections from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Rotterdam! Book your stay via Booking.com and get cool discounts with their loyalty program. Compare the best travel methods on Omio. For bus travels use Flixbus since they have student discounts. For train travels use NS international and lastly for air travels you can use a range of airline apps such as KLM, Lufthansa or British Airways. For cheaper alternatives, use Ryan Air, EasyJet, FlyBe or Iberian Air. 

These were all the apps I have used during my 4-year university journey, and some of them I will still use to snag some good discounts! What student apps are on your phone to make university life more fun or manageable? Let me know in the comments section below. 

XO, Samudraki