Five Apps for Surviving Freshers Week

September is coming and we all know what that means – the famously frantic freshers’ weeks are upon us! It might be your first time away from home or perhaps you’re just concerned about getting organised, or how you’re going to afford the weekly food bill.

Every year, AbilityNet helps thousands of students with a range of disabilities to get the most from their time at university, and we know that preparation is key. That’s why we’ve put together a list of apps that we think might help you prepare for the start of term…

1. Organisation‘Swipes’ – this handy app is essentially a funky to do list – it allows you to ‘swipe’ tasks to the right to complete them or to the left to remind you later. It’s a nice way of prioritising the things you can do right away and things you can put off until you’re ready. Make your way through your daily tasks, and even get a nice satisfying fanfare at the end.

Swipes logo

2. Positivity‘Wysa’ – this app was designed by therapists, coaches, users, and AI specialists to create a platform where you can talk anonymously about anything that’s concerning you, from stress, anxiety, sleep loss, and a whole range of other mental health and wellness needs. You can make as much or little contact as you need, and also find additional help from qualified mental health professionals too. This is just a chatbot, so please remember it’s not a replacement for human support, and you should always speak with your Student Support Team or another professional if you have any concerns.

Wysa logo

3. Health‘Student Health App’ – staying on top of your health in the first few weeks of university can be tough, with a hectic social life and new academic demands, it’s easy to not take the best care of ourselves. The developers of this app clearly have been through this process themselves. This great app covers anything from first aid, to mental health, to safety at university. This app is free to download on Google Play and the Apple iTunes store.

Student health app logo

4. Budgeting‘Voucher codes’ – let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a bargain? It can be challenging going to university, managing tight budgets, and not wanting to miss out on that tasty takeaway. This app shows you the best deals, from restaurants to online shopping, and even hotels. 

Voucher codes logo

5. Cooking‘all recipes’ – here you can find and share everyday cooking inspiration. Discover new recipes, videos, and how-to’s. This app lets you follow friends, and makes recommendations based on the food you love. You can also see reviews from other users at the bottom of every recipe. It’s essentially a social networking site, but replace the funny cat pictures with tasty food recipes.

All Recipes Logo

AbilityNet has a free helpline for students with disabilities of all kinds, and we can advise on apps to support you while you’re at university. If you’d like to get in touch, you call us free on: 0800 269 545, email us on: enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk, or visit www.abilitynet.org.uk.