The Essential Apps For Students Living In London
As much as we’re all told not to, let’s face it: we all spend a lot of time on our phones. But, they’re not all bad!
As a student, you’re spinning a million-and-one plates at a time. But the one constant in your day is your phone. So, we’ve put together this guide to help you make the most of the little world in your pocket and learn how it can help your studies, your health and your London-life.
Productivity
First and foremost, your main goal as a student is to do well academically. We’re big advocates of a balanced life of work and play, and there’s no shortage of fun distractions in London, but at some point you need to knuckle down to your studies.
And a carefully-selected few apps will make this task so much less daunting.
Forest
If distractions are abundant and you’re struggling to stay focused without checking Facebook every minute, Forest will be your best friend.
Forest allows you to plant a digital tree in the app, and then leave your phone alone for as long as possible. Starting as a seed, your tree will gradually grow, meaning that the longer you’re away from your phone, the bigger your tree will grow!
Become a true master of focus and you’ll soon have a forest on your hands. But get distracted early on and your little seed will wither away.
The best part? The people behind the Forest app use your successes to plant actual trees in the real world - so you’re helping yourself AND the world by avoiding the temptation of ‘just another scroll’.
Download for FREE on iOS and Android.
Google Drive
Constantly forgetting to save your work? Or forgetting which device you saved a really important document on? Google Drive uses Docs, Sheets and Slides to streamline the file-saving process and keep everything in a single place - easily accessible from every device (of any brand) you own.
Google Drive uses cloud storage to keep every document up-to-date. Work on an essay on Google Docs from your laptop, then seamlessly open it up with all its changes on your desktop or phone. It’s the perfect way to end the days of having multiple versions of a single essay saved and clogging up your hard drive.
Google gives you a generous 15GB of data for free, but even if you need to expand your Drive it’s not pricey - get yourself 200GB of storage for £2.49/month.
Download for FREE on iOS and Android.
My Study Life
My Study Life claims to make paper planners a thing of the past - and as we’re all increasingly aware of our impact on the environment, that can’t be a bad thing!
My Study Life combines calendars with tasks and reminders to make sure your studying days are as stress-free as possible. You can upload your lecture schedule, add in your exam dates, plan your revision schedule, and make sure you’re on track to meet deadlines - all within a single app.
It works using a cloud-based system, meaning that you can download the app and log-in to your account from multiple devices and everything will be perfectly synced and up-to-date. Anything that takes the stress out of remembering to go to lectures is a plus in our books!
London living
Making the most of your time in London can feel like a daunting task - where should I go? What should I do? How do I get there?
London can be confusing, so here are a few apps to get you started.
Citymapper
Absolutely crucial if you’re going to be traversing London by its fantastic transport systems! The London Underground is one of London’s most impressive features, but it can feel like navigating a maze. There are 11 different lines, covering 402km, and serving 270 stations - that is a LOT, and that’s before we get started on the overground and buses!
Citymapper is a simple app that helps you to navigate your way around London and plan your route by considering all transport options. It will also give you up-to-date information about delays or cancellations too.
If you’re new to London, it’s an essential app.
Download for FREE on iOS and Android.
fever
If you’re ever overwhelmed by the desire to stop studying and get out into the big wide world, Fever is here for you.
Curating all of London’s events into one smooth app, Fever listens to you. It assesses what you like to do and what you’d rather not do, and then personalises its suggestions. Meaning you only see things that you’d actually like to do.
If you’re stuck for something to do or just want to explore a little outside the student union events, Fever is a must-have.
Download for FREE on iOS and Android or use on desktop.
lime
You’ve heard of ‘Boris bikes’, but have you heard of Lime? Just like the Santander bikes dotted around London, Lime offers publicly accessible bicycles across the city - but the twist is that they’re electrically-assisted, meaning less effort to get from A to B.
Cleaner and cheaper than a ride-share and accessible via apps, Lime offers a great alternative to costly taxis - from £1 a trip.
communication
In between studying, making new friends and lapping up all of London’s offerings, you’ll want to keep in touch with family too! International communication is so much easier these days, but finding the most reliable method for you can involve a little trial and error.
Since launching way back in 2009(!), WhatsApp, now owned by Facebook, has dominated the communication world. It’s free, super simple to use and works almost all of the time. With any internet-based service, there are moments of downtime or delay, but, on the whole, WhatsApp is a reliable method of communication.
On top of that, there’s no need for security worries, as WhatsApp is one of the few messaging and calling apps that is end-to-end encrypted. With standard messaging, voice call and video call options, it ticks every box!
Download for FREE on iOS and Android and use on Mac or Windows too.
skype
Even older than WhatsApp, Skype is a great alternative. Again, it’s secure, covers all the bases with messaging, video call and voice call, and it’s simple to understand.
Skype is constantly bringing out new features, too. It now offers things like screen-sharing, split-screen view and live subtitles. It’s no longer just a business meeting platform, but now keeps families connected across the globe.
Download for FREE on iOS and Android and use on Mac or Windows too.
health & wellness
Keeping on top of your studies means keeping yourself healthy, too. You can’t hope to keep your mind healthy without keeping your body healthy. But, there’s no need to spend half your monthly budget on recipe boxes or luxury gym memberships - just keep these apps in your pocket and you’ll be set.
olio
What’s better than free food? Nothing! Olio is a ground-breaking app that connects you with unwanted food around you. With 1.7 million users, there’s always something waiting to be rescued from the compost bin.
What would your neighbour do if they accidentally ordered 100 tomatoes instead of 1? Add them to Olio!
Once you’re up and running on Olio, it acts as a marketplace for unwanted food in your local area - saving you money, and preventing food waste. It can be a godsend for tight student budgets!
Download for FREE on iOS and Android.
strava
Keeping active is critical. And London offers so many opportunities for that. If you’re struggling to get motivated to get outside, Strava can help.
Once you’re signed up with Strava, you’ll see other friends (via Facebook) who are already using Strava - and you can compete against them! If you’re motivated by competitiveness, it’s perfect.
At a basic level, Strava tracks your runs. cycles, or walks using GPS, so you can see precisely where you went on a map and time your progress too. But it’s the community aspects of Strava that really make it worthwhile.
Download for FREE on iOS and Android and see even more insights on desktop.
youtube
An in-built app on almost every smartphone these days, YouTube is often overlooked when it comes to health benefits. Rather than getting sucked into a rabbit hole of funny dog videos, you can use YouTube as your own personal trainer.
There are hundreds of channels out there offering free at-home workout videos, starting from beginner level and working all the way up to serious professionals. All you need is a space at home and a pair of trainers - no fancy gym memberships needed.
Try these channels for a starter:
Download for FREE on iOS and Android or watch on your TV or desktop.
headspace
Taking care of your physical health is a great start, but it’s important to keep on top of your mental wellbeing too. That’s where Headspace comes in.
The only app on this list that isn’t actually free, Headspace is a subscription-based platform aiming to help you meditate, be mindful and sleep better. It offers bite-sized activities that you can do every day to improve your mental wellbeing.
It’ll help you reduce stress, stay focused (so you can build more forests!) and build better relationships with those around you. Headspace does offer a student discount too, where subscriptions are just $10 for the year! Well worth it if you’re struggling with balancing all your student duties.
Download for FREE on iOS and Android - includes 1-week free trial.
There you have it. 12 apps to keep close to you while you navigate the complexities of being a student living in London.
Your phone can be a blessing and a curse, but if you use these apps properly you’ll be able to make the most of your phone to streamline your life, result in less stress and more enjoyment - what’s not to like?!
Is there anything else you think should be on our list? Let us know!
