Thanks to the wonders of technology, you won’t have to feel completely lost when studying abroad. There are plenty of apps out there that make life a whole lot easier for international students by helping you settle in, find your way around and, ultimately, make the most of your stay.
So, to make your transition into your new home a little easier, we’ve gathered eight apps that are particularly brilliant for international students, covering everything from navigation to language learning.
1. City Maps 2Go
City Maps 2Go is a great app to find your way around a new city. There are more than 7,000 maps available for download and once stored on your phone you can access them offline so you don’t rack up any roaming charges.
The maps will show you so-called points of interest, like tourist attractions, hotels and bars, as well as bus, tram and metro stops. Each city map comes with a discovery feature, which tells you about popular restaurants and cafés as well as top tourist attractions and you can download a travel guide for extra info. If you’ve been to a place you’ve particularly enjoyed, and worry you might not remember it, you can mark it with a star, automatically saving the location to your favourites.
The only downside to City Maps 2Go is that it doesn’t come with a navigation option. You’ll have to open Google or Apple maps within the app in order to get directions.
There’s a free version and a quite expensive premium one but the free one should do the trick.
Find the Apple version here or the Android version here.
2. Memrise
Memrise is a learning app that that allows you to study foreign languages on the go. It focuses mostly on memorisation with a flashcard-style programme at its core, but the whole process is made more fun through a game option where you can compete with other users. On top of that, there are thousands of courses available adapted to different language levels.
Here is the Apple version, or the Android version.
3. Converter Plus
When living in a foreign country, you’ll find yourself dealing with different currencies and measurements than the ones you’re used to. This is where Converter Plus comes in. The free app is easy to use and incredibly handy when you need to convert currency, weight, temperature and whatever else you might need.
Currently, the app is only available for iPhone and iPad but there are similar options available for Android users.
Find the Apple version.
4. Wi-Fi Finder
This app comes in particularly handy when you’ve only just arrived at your new destination and are still on your old phone plan. To avoid exorbitant roaming charges during your first days exploring, download Wi-Fi Finder. The app has a directory of nearly 300,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in 144 countries. You can search for them by closest location, whether they’re free or paid, in what type of establishment they are located or even by the provider. Most importantly, the app also works when you’re offline.
Here is an Apple version and here is an Android version.
5. DocuSign
As an international student, you’ll probably be faced with a fair amount of paperwork during your studies. With DocuSign, you can take care of that without having to print or scan. The app lets you sign documents directly in the app, save them or send them on via e-mail. The documents are encrypted so you don’t have to worry about someone other than the recipient gaining access to sensitive information.
Here’s the Apple version and here is the Android version.
6. Doctoralia
You may have a medical centre on campus but if not, Doctoralia can help you find a professional near you. You can search for doctors by name, specialty or city, and even book appointments via the app. The service is available in 20 countries and to help you make your choice, you can access reviews written by patients.
Check out the Apple version here, or here for the Android version.
7. InClass
Improve your organisational skills with InClass if you have a hard time remembering when and where your classes take place, and when you have to hand in your essays. It’s a free app aimed at students to help them keep track of their schedule. Enter your classes and the deadlines of your assignments, and InClass will keep it all in one place. There’s also an alarm function, which will remind you when your homework and other assignments are due. You also have the option to add written notes or audio recordings to the app.
Here’s the Apple version.
8. Linguee
Linguee is a great tool for students that have to do coursework in a foreign language. You can use it as a regular dictionary or to translate sentences, idioms and expressions. The app’s search engine uses a database of a billion bilingual texts, so if you’re struggling with finding the right phrase in your foreign language, you can type it in the search bar and the app will come up with dozens of translation examples. Since the app is not translating your sentence word for word, the results are usually idiomatic and grammatically correct, so you won’t have to deal with any of that gibberish you can get with other translation apps.