If you’re moving to the UK for studies, the right apps can make your first month smoother: travel, discounts, money, food, housing, and basic healthcare. Below is a practical list of 10 best apps for international students in the UK, picked around real student tasks, not just popular names.
Expert AOEC India-Study in UK Consultants, often tell students that smart planning is not only about choosing the right university and course, but also about setting up your daily life tools early. These apps help you save money, travel confidently, and handle key student tasks without confusion.
Below is a practical list of 10 best apps for international students in the UK, based on real student needs.
Quick view table
| App | Category | What it helps with | Best time to install |
| Citymapper | Local travel | Day-to-day bus, tube, tram, metro route planning in major cities | Before landing |
| Trainline | Intercity travel | Finding and booking train/coach tickets; price alerts and split-ticket ideas | Week 1 |
| Railcard (digital) | Travel savings | Student-friendly rail discounts (often about 1/3 off eligible fares) | Week 1 |
| UNiDAYS | Discounts | Free student deals across many UK brands | Week 1 |
| Student Beans | Discounts | Extra student offers, sometimes app-only | Week 1 |
| Monzo | Banking | Budgeting, spending tracking, rent and bills | Week 1 |
| Wise | Money transfer | Receiving money from home, paying fees, multi-currency spend | Before/Week 1 |
| Too Good To Go | Food savings | Discounted surplus meals/groceries and less waste | Week 2 |
| SpareRoom | Accommodation | Finding rooms and flatshares across UK cities | Before/Week 1 |
| NHS App | Health (England) | GP appointments, repeat prescriptions, health record access (where supported) | After GP registration |
1) Citymapper
If you’re living in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, or other big cities, Citymapper is usually the quickest way to understand local transport. It compares routes across buses, trains, metro, walking, cycling, and more, with real-time options where available. This is the app that turns a confusing first week into confident daily commuting.
it reduces time waste and helps you feel settled in a new city fast.
2) Trainline
For travel between cities, visiting friends, internships, part-time work, or airport trips Trainline is a go-to choice. The app focuses on live times, disruption updates, digital tickets, and savings features like price alerts and split-ticket suggestions.
Many international students list Trainline as a recommended app for new students.
3) Railcard (digital)
A Railcard is not just a “nice to have.” It can make regular travel affordable. New international students often highlights Railcard right alongside Trainline as a smart early purchase. If you travel even a couple of times a month, the savings can add up quickly.
4) UNiDAYS
When you’re building your new life, products related to bedding, laptop accessories, winter clothes, or even food-UNiDAYS can offer reduce costs. It is a free platform offering student discounts across a wide range of brands. Your student status should be valid to claim these deals.
5) Student Beans
Student Beans is another strong discount app that many students use together with UNiDAYS. It provides brand offers and app-focused deals in the UK. Having both is useful because some brands appear on one platform but not the other.
6) Monzo
Opening a UK bank account is one of the first practical steps after reaching your city. Monzo is popular among students because it supports clear budgets, spending categories, and simple money management in daily life.
Monzo also explains how international students can set up an account and start using it early with a UK delivery address for the card.
7) Wise
For many international students, a common challenge is transferring money from home safely and at reasonable cost. Wise is built for multi-currency use and international transfers, and it promotes a student-focused account experience.
This is especially helpful when you need to pay deposits, tuition instalments, or rent while keeping track of exchange rates.
8) Too Good To Go
The UK is not cheap, and food costs can surprise students in the first month. Too Good To Go lets you buy surplus food at lower prices, while also reducing waste. Some UK university campuses even promote it for discounted food options.
This app won’t replace planned grocery shopping, but it can be a strong weekly money-saver.
9) SpareRoom
If you’re not in a university-managed hall, finding a safe and affordable room is a major task. SpareRoom is one of the most widely used flatshare platforms in the UK and has helped over 13 million people find flatshares or flatmates.
It covers key student cities and can help you compare locations based on commute time and budget. Always verify listings, avoid paying large amounts before contracts, and try to view (or video-verify) rooms.
10) NHS App (England)
If you’re studying in England and register with a GP, the NHS App can help you manage healthcare tasks. You can do many tasks such as repeat prescriptions, appointment management, and GP record access, though exact services depend on your GP practice.
This is especially useful during winter months when many students catch seasonal infections.
A short “first-month” plan for new arrivals
To keep things simple:
- Before you land: Citymapper, Wise, SpareRoom (if you still need housing).
- Week 1: Trainline, Railcard, UNiDAYS, Student Beans, Monzo.
- Week 2 onward: Too Good To Go, NHS App (after GP registration).
These apps won’t change your grades by themselves, but they protect your time and budget, which matters a lot for international students. When travel is easier, money is tracked, and daily life costs are controlled, you get more space to focus on your course, placements, and even scholarship deadlines.
