Exam results are in! I hope everyone got the results they wanted and you are all now looking forward to starting the next chapter in your life. For some that might mean heading off to college or university and as we head towards September you are no doubt going through a list of things you need to get before you start your course. Times are hard for many of us right now and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any easier for some time, so this month I thought I’d put together some top tips when looking for gadgets and tech you need to take to uni.
If you are after some new tech to help you with your studies then take a look at this list of some of the best gadgets out now:
Laptop or computer: The pandemic accelerated the move to online learning and even though we have seen a return to in-person teaching a lot of learning may still be delivered online. This means you will probably need a laptop or computer with a webcam and microphone. There's no need to go crazy on a high spec machine if all you’ll be doing is taking notes or writing essays so shop around for a good budget option. Refurbished machines and second-hand deals are also a great option - just make sure you go to a trusted reseller and do your research before handing over any money.
External Mouse: If you go for a laptop the trackpads on them are not great for your wrists so I highly recommend investing in a separate wireless mouse.
Smartphone: I’m sure you already have one and there’s no need to upgrade just for university but I do recommend checking your tariff to make sure it will cover your needs while you are away at university.
Rocketbook: The Rocketbook is a budget friendly gadget that makes notetaking a breeze - simply write your notes with the special pen then upload your notes via the Rocketbook app to have your notes magically digitised ready to upload to your platform of choice (Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive etc).
External Hard Drive: Ok, so hardly an exciting gadget but I would say one of the most important. Imagine spending hours on your assignment only to lose it and have no back up.
Noise Cancelling Headphones: Trying to get work done in noisy student accommodation is not easy so to help you might want to invest in a pair of noise cancelling headphones. Prices vary so do shop around and try them out before you take the plunge.
E-Reader: Traditional textbooks are heavy so e-readers make a lot of sense. Don’t be tempted to get the latest all singing all dancing models though, the basic e-reader will help stop you getting distracted by other things because you can only use it for reading. Added bonus is that ebooks are often cheaper to buy than traditional books too.
USB Drive: Like a small hard drive, USB sticks are great for transferring small amounts of data from one device to another and they are relatively cheap to buy. A handy device to have if you want to share lecture notes etc.
Student Deals
Student life can be tricky financially so take advantage of all the discounts available to you:
Funding and Support
Shop around for the best deals and don’t panic buy! Check out Which for recommendations and tech to avoid.
If you need any help with your tech needs before you head off to college or university then contact me here.
If you are after some new tech to help you with your studies then take a look at this list of some of the best gadgets out now:
Laptop or computer: The pandemic accelerated the move to online learning and even though we have seen a return to in-person teaching a lot of learning may still be delivered online. This means you will probably need a laptop or computer with a webcam and microphone. There's no need to go crazy on a high spec machine if all you’ll be doing is taking notes or writing essays so shop around for a good budget option. Refurbished machines and second-hand deals are also a great option - just make sure you go to a trusted reseller and do your research before handing over any money.
External Mouse: If you go for a laptop the trackpads on them are not great for your wrists so I highly recommend investing in a separate wireless mouse.
Smartphone: I’m sure you already have one and there’s no need to upgrade just for university but I do recommend checking your tariff to make sure it will cover your needs while you are away at university.
Rocketbook: The Rocketbook is a budget friendly gadget that makes notetaking a breeze - simply write your notes with the special pen then upload your notes via the Rocketbook app to have your notes magically digitised ready to upload to your platform of choice (Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive etc).
External Hard Drive: Ok, so hardly an exciting gadget but I would say one of the most important. Imagine spending hours on your assignment only to lose it and have no back up.
Noise Cancelling Headphones: Trying to get work done in noisy student accommodation is not easy so to help you might want to invest in a pair of noise cancelling headphones. Prices vary so do shop around and try them out before you take the plunge.
E-Reader: Traditional textbooks are heavy so e-readers make a lot of sense. Don’t be tempted to get the latest all singing all dancing models though, the basic e-reader will help stop you getting distracted by other things because you can only use it for reading. Added bonus is that ebooks are often cheaper to buy than traditional books too.
USB Drive: Like a small hard drive, USB sticks are great for transferring small amounts of data from one device to another and they are relatively cheap to buy. A handy device to have if you want to share lecture notes etc.
Student Deals
Student life can be tricky financially so take advantage of all the discounts available to you:
- Sign up for deals at UCAS
If you are going to uni you are no doubt already very familiar with UCAS but just in case you missed it they have a handy sign up to get you great deals on all sorts of things you might want for university. Simply input your details, check the boxes for the things you are interested in and wait for the deals to arrive in your inbox!
- Search for student offers
Sites such as Student Beans, My Uni Days, Save the Student give you access to discounts just for students on lots of brands.
Funding and Support
- Your college or university will have funding available for students who need it. If you find yourself unable to afford IT equipment you should ask your university about financial support.
- The UCAS website has a wealth of information about financial support you can claim while at university.
- Check the Government website to see if you are eligible for any other financial support to help you with your studies.
- Turn2Us has some great advice and links for help with financial aid and grants.
Shop around for the best deals and don’t panic buy! Check out Which for recommendations and tech to avoid.
If you need any help with your tech needs before you head off to college or university then contact me here.
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