14 August 2024

Is University in your plans? Don’t leave home without insuring your mobile phone or laptop.

Download these useful student apps today and be university ready!

University can be a really exciting time and there is a lot to think about - from accommodation, to your course, to living in a new town or city.

One of the less exciting but necessary parts to consider is making sure you have insurance for your belongings at your university accommodation.

If you are living in halls of residence you may already have some student contents insurance included with your rent. It is always a good idea to check what cover you have as, if needed, you can get top up insurance to cover additional items such as a phone, a bike, a musical instrument or sports equipment.

You can also compare standalone student gadget insurance just to cover your devices – whether that be your mobile phone, a laptop, tablet or desktop computer.

Most of us depend on our mobile phones in particular for staying in touch, finding out information, paying and, of course, taking plenty of photos! What would happen if you lost your phone? Could you afford to replace it? What if it was stolen and there were unauthorised calls? By taking out student insurance you can make sure that you are not without a mobile phone for long.

Your mobile phone can be a lifeline when you are away from home for the first time. There are many apps available which can give you that helping hand when you are trying to navigate your new world.

Here are just a few which we think may come in very useful…

Citymapper - If you are moving to one of the UK’s cities such as London, Manchester, Birmingham. Bristol or Nottingham, for example, one of the most daunting prospects is finding your way around. With Citymapper you can put in your location and where you want to go and it will work out your route for you including bus numbers and how long it will take. You will be that bit more organised for your first day of lectures.

Splitwise - When you are sharing a house, you are likely to share some of the bills. Splitwise can help keep on top of who owes what and when. If you want help with your own budgeting then take a look at Snoop which can track your spending and offer a word of warning if it thinks you are going to run out of funds. It may prevent you from facing unauthorised overdraft fees!

Student Health - Packed full of information of what to do and where to go if you feel unwell or have a medical issue. Looking up symptoms on the internet can often lead to worry and misleading advice. By using this app you can feel more confident you are looking after yourself in the best way. If you are having trouble sleeping, try the Calm app.

Brain in Hand - Life can be overwhelming and you may need extra help to get through your day, keep organised or to ensure you don’t forget an important deadline. This app can be a vital tool for those who need just that bit of additional support with managing their new life. Brain in Hand is about giving everyone the chance to reach their full potential.

Study Apps - There are numerous apps out there which can ease the change in study methods. There’s RefMe for referencing, GoConqr for creating flashcards, mindmaps and other study tools, Evernote for note-taking, and myHomework for assignment planning. Don’t forget to download your own university’s app too so you can stay on top of what is going on.

Congratulations if you are on your way to university!. We hope you enjoy this next step towards your exciting future.