Tag: student hacks

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Helpful Apps Must Haves to Download for Irish University Students

Moving into Your New Student University Accommodation -What to Pack

Whether you want help with taking notes and revising. Moreover, waking up on time. Additionally, keeping fit. HomeHak has put together our pick of the apps for students. These are must have helpful apps that will make your time in college much easier.

 

 

Lecture capture apps

SoundNote (iOS) is a popular lecture capture app for iPad users. Acting as a notepad and audio recorder. You can store an entire lecture in both visual and audio form. If it’s a whiteboard you want to capture, however, Office Lens allows users to photograph a whiteboard. You can convert it to a PDF, Word or PowerPoint file. Additionally, store all the data via OneNote or OneDrive for catch-up and revision purposes. Other than SoundNote, other good quality lecture capture apps include Notes Plus (iOS) and Audio Memos Free – The Voice Recorder (iOS).

Revision apps

If you’re a flash card fanatic you might like to consider StudyBlue, a student app. This uses your course information to create a selection of card sets for related revision. You can also make their own flashcards and test yourself. Another useful revision app is GoConqr.  Using resources to create revision charts, mind maps, flash cards, notes and quizzes. As well as the ability to connect and collaborate with friends, classmates or students from around the world. Another choice is Exam Countdown (iOS), which keeps track of the days until each of your exams.

Checking apps on phone
Photo by Rob Hampson on Unsplash

Exam prep apps

BenchPrep uses social networking-style functionality. This allows users to connect with other test-takers and peruse revision materials with quizzes, notes and more. You can also use the app to track your learning progress..

Student planner apps

Popular student planner apps include Timetable (Android). An app featuring a sharp and clean interface which you can map your timetable onto with ease. For more familiar-looking planner apps for students, consider those with a more traditional spreadsheet-style layout. Examples are My Class Schedule (Android) or Class Timetable (iOS).

Bibliography helper apps

EasyBib is an extremely useful app for students. It creates an academic reference for any book simply from a scan of the book’s barcode. 

Video call apps

Most students will be aware of video calling software such as Skype and FaceTime by now. This technology is becoming even more easy-access. Computer companies integrate quality cameras into their products and internet connection speeds get faster. 

Student safety apps

The Circle of Six app works on both Android and iOS. Designed for university students to keep connected with close friends. The app is particularly useful for locating lost friends on nights out. Furthermore, it allows users to send their circle of six friends an instant call for help at the touch of a button. Other student apps to promote safety include bSafe and React Mobile.

Wake-up apps

If you happen to be a persistent snoozer who always wakes up about 20 minutes too late for lectures, then Alarmy: Sleep If You Can is the app for you. Meanwhile Sleep Cycle aims to correct its users’ sleeping pattern by waking them up during their lightest sleep phase. 

Responsible-drinking apps

The responsible-drinking app WiseDrinking charts how much you’ve been drinking. Secondly it gives you suggestions about how much is safe. Thirdly, it lets you know the optimum time to call a cab, and maps your location in relation to public transport services.

Fun fitness apps

Nike Training Club (iOS), Sworkit, Fitbit (iOS), JeFit, RunKeeper, Strava, 7 Minute Workout and MapMyFitness are great. Nudge is another app that collates all your fitness data and stores it in one place.

Healthy eating apps

Rockin Ramen (iOS), is a student app featuring a number of nutritious recipes with ramen as a main ingredient. MealBoard (iOS), an app which plans healthy meals, grocery shops and recipes based on what you’ve got in the fridge.

Other helpful student apps

  • Oxford English Dictionary – to look up words on the go.
  • Dictionary.com Dictionary & Thesaurus – dictionary and word-finder.
  • Dropbox for mobile – access and edit documents, upload photos and play your own videos anywhere.
  • Penultimate – a handwriting app made by EverNote, allowing users to write with a digital pen and upload the work to any device.
  • Skout – a friend-finder app helping students meet new people in their locality.
  • Socrative – student app for quizzing and assessment.

 

 

To summarise

There’s almost an app for everything nowadays, and this can make student life easier, cheaper, safer and more fun. Whatever the category – exam prep, revision, student planner, bibliography, fitness and healthy eating, HomeHak has it covered.

Here are some other useful study hacks articles for students:

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Renting Guide for First Time Accommodation Students in Ireland

accomodation renting

Becoming a first time apartment renter is a rite of passage and exciting time in your life. Of course, figuring out how to rent an apartment comes with new tasks and responsibilities, as well as freedom to pick and choose the perfect place. Read more to find your renting guide for students in Ireland.

 

To make the transition as smooth as possible, HomeHak has put together a first time apartment renter checklist of everything you need to know about how to rent your first apartment for a successful move. 

 

house keys

 

Check out our Renting Guide!

 

Determining your costs and expenses

Your living costs are going to be determined by your accommodation, eating arrangements, leisure activities and transport costs. Here is an article with a broad breakdown for living costs for students in ireland.

 

The average monthly cost of a student living in Ireland is anywhere between:

 

  • Dublin: 1,100 – 1,800 EUR/month. This article breaks down the cost of living in Dublin.
  • Cork: 860 – 1,400 EUR/month
  • Galway and other smaller cities: 800 – 1,100 EUR/month. This article breaks down the cost of living in Galway.

Renting Guide Living expenses

 

The following prices are taken from this article and show the average cost range of student living expenses per month in Cork.

 

  • Utilities – €30=€50
  • Food €250-€350
  • Travel (Monthly bus ticket) – €65-€85
  • Textbook & materials – €75
  • Mobile phone – €20
  • Personal expenses (social/sports) €200-€300

 

accomodation guide

Location, Location, Location

 

Some things to take into consideration when choosing where to live is:

 

  • Distance from university 
  • Distance from workplace 
  • Mode of transportation – walk, cycle, bus, drive.
  • Quiet suburban area or more urban built up area
  • Close to amenities – gym, park.

Living alone or with other people?

There are many types of accommodation options. Will you be taking a room in a house share, moving into a house with friends, or moving in with random people into an on campus apartment ? Are you on your own searching for accommodation or looking to live with friends? HomeHak can link you to other people in your course looking for similar accommodation or you can co-apply with your friends. 

Do you have a parking space?

On campus accommodation usually always provides a free parking space in a safe complex with security cameras. If you are living in off campus accommodation you might have to consider how many people are in the house share and how many of the tenants drive cars. If there are only 2 spaces and there are 3 of the tenants driving you will have to check for on-street parking. Is this readily available and is it safe? Some streets in Cork require a parking ticket between the hours of 9:00am to 6:00pm where it is free after that time. If you have a bike, do you have somewhere safe to store it? 

Don’t leave your search to the last minute – get ahead of the competition and search in good time

A new academic year usually starts at the end of august / start of september. Don’t leave it until the start of august to begin your search. To find your perfect fit, HomeHak recommends you give yourself a few months to search. HomeHak can help you to get ahead of the competition and ensure you are in a favourable position to get your perfect accommodation. 

Ask the right questions on your accommodation tour

As a first time renter, you are eager to secure your accommodation and sometimes we can overlook and not ask the important questions before we sign a lease. Some key questions to ask is how much is the rent which includes security deposits and any other financial payments such as utilities, electricity, wifi etc. What payment options are available – bank transfer, cash or cheque? Can you pay in instalments? 

Renting Guide Documentation

Want to beat your competition and secure your dream accommodation? Ensure you have all appropriate documents ready and up to date. HomeHak helps take this stress off you by being your centre point for storing all of this. Some documents you may need for example include employer reference, any previous landlord reference, academic reference, identification documents (passport, PPS number) and proof of income.

 

first time renting

To summarise

Even the most ambitious and organised first time apartment renter can get overwhelmed with the process. Apartment hunting, applications, fees, budgeting, packing, and all the logistics of moving come with their headaches, but it is well worth it. We hope this renting guide has helped put your mind at ease!