5 Apps Every Freshie Should Have

By the time you read this article, it would have been 6 weeks into the semester, and if you’re like me, you’re just getting used to being a university student. Thankfully, with the help of these five apps, your student life will definitely be a lot easier!

Telegram

Want to find out about NUS clubs and societies or looking to spice up your student life? Many NUS activities and events are publicised through Telegram! This is the form of communication that most classes, clubs, and professors prefer. If you’ve had any tutorials or joined any CCA’s on campus, then you’ve probably already had to join a few Telegram chats, including ones dedicated to certain modules, classes, and career guidance.

There are also tons of helpful Telegram channels dedicated to updates on all things NUS, including the NUS FASS channel, NUS Lost and Found, and NUS Foodies that share ongoing food promos on campus! Specifically, the NUS FASS channel shares updates on various achievements, events, articles, or even applications from faculty members and students.

uNivUS

If you’re looking for an app that is specifically tuned to your needs as an NUS student, here’s an app for you! uNiVUS is essentially a one-stop destination for all things campus-related. It includes your weekly schedule, Wi-Fi checkers, upcoming events, exam dates and results, and many more! It even has a function to help you find your nearest bus stop, effectively incorporating another popular app: NUSNextBus. The next time you’re finding your way to your next class, just whip out this app, find your class, and enjoy an air-conditioned bus ride around campus.

Another popular function of the app is the eCard, which allows you to access libraries and other facilities across NUS. Though students are advised to bring their student card with them on campus at all times, it is still very convenient to have your card on your phone! Upon clicking on the eCard, a QR code will pop up, which can be scanned at library entrances.

TimeTree

It’s 12 pm. You’ve just finished your first class of the day, and you’re looking to get some lunch before your next class. Your classmates have all gone in different directions, leaving you with limited options for lunch buddies. You have no idea where your friends are, but wait! You remember that you and your friends entered your schedules into TimeTree. Impromptu lunches for the win.

With this app, scheduling meetups amidst a busy university schedule has never been easier. It’s a smart calendar made for sharing, with built-in features like shared to-do lists, reminders for your next class, and many more. (It even reminds you of birthdays!!)

PayNow/PayLah

Whilst walking around food spots on campus, you would have probably realised that some students don’t even carry around a wallet and are just paying the vendors with their phones! With these apps, you can now do the same. PayNow and PayLah are essentially two apps with very similar functions, but by different banks. While PayNow is operated by OCBC, PayLah is operated by DBS.

However, you need not have an account with either of these banks as PayNow supports Citibank Singapore Limited, DBS Bank/POSB, HSBC, Maybank, OCBC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and United Overseas Bank (UOB). On the other hand, PayLah is only available to those with a DBS or POSB account.

Regardless of which app you use, both are commonly accepted apps by vendors, not just on campus, but all around Singapore. With these apps, you can simply scan a QR code to pay for your food, and transfer money to your friends. Remember to ask the vendor if PayNow/PayLah is accepted before making the payment!

Images from Google Play

Google Keep

As the name suggests, Google Keep is a note-taking app from Google with an intuitive, easy-to-understand interface. You only need to key in a title and your notes to create a new note. There is also a range of personalisation options, where you can customise the colours of the notes and insert your own images as the header. It even includes a speech-to-text function, where you can simply tap the microphone to dictate your notes and have it automatically converted to text in Google Keep.

Perhaps the most useful feature of Google Keep is the checkbox function, where you can see all your complete/incomplete assignments in a glance. With the ever increasing university workload, this can be very helpful for managing your tasks!

Images from Google Play

Honorary mentions: NUS Hostel Dining, NUSmartDining

The NUS Hostel Dining app is specifically for those of you live on campus! It's an app that allows you to check your meal balances and the menu for each day. For those of you looking out for your favourite menu item (or avoiding one that you dislike), this is the app for you!

Images from Google Play

For the rest of us, you would have probably seen signs advertising NUSmartDining at your faculties. It gives you the chance to pick up your meals when you pre-order them and pay for them on the app itself. This is especially handy on those days when you might have a late lunch! There may be limited options by then, so this is a great way to ensure that you get your favourite meal without worrying about whether it is still available.

Images from Google Play

Hopefully, these apps will help you navigate your way around campus and make it a little easier to survive university life. Good luck and all the best for the rest of the semester!