International Student App (UK)
Help international students feel at home, faster.
When international students struggle to adjust to life and study in the UK, the right information — in the right moment — can make all the difference.
The International Student App is a free, trusted resource for anyone supporting international students in the UK — from universities and colleges to NHS organisations, local authorities, student accommodation providers, charities and private mental health services.
Designed with and for students, the app brings together reliable information, wellbeing support and practical tips in one simple place. All to help students settle in, stay well, and make the most of their time here.
Give students a smoother start — at no cost to you.
International students face unique pressures — from culture shock and loneliness to academic stress and uncertainty about how things work. Left unsupported, these challenges can escalate quickly.
With the International Student App, you can:
- Support wellbeing. Help students understand their health and what to do if they’re worried or in crisis.
- Promote safe self-care. Offer practical tips and reassurance to reduce avoidable stress on your services.
- Signpost support. Show students where to find help — including your own services, the NHS and charities.
Everything is clearly explained, easy to use, and available offline once downloaded
Customise the app for your university or college.
Go a step further by subscribing to your own branded content area in the app.
- Add your branding. Boost visibility and help students feel they belong.
- Highlight your services. Signpost your wellbeing and support teams, directly.
- Ease demand. Help students navigate alternative support options when your services are stretched.
A dedicated content page for your institution is a simple, scalable way to improve student experience and support your staff.
What's inside the app?
The app is built around 11 themed sections, carefully designed to cover the most common challenges international students face:
- Get ready. What to pack, pre-enrolment, immigration, documents.
- Support. Student services, NHS help, GPs, disability support.
- Transport. Public transport, cycling, driving, getting around.
- Accommodation. Types, tips for settling in, living with others.
- Finance. Budgeting, bank accounts, money worries.
- Study skills. Academic expectations, time management, plagiarism.
- Student life. Homesickness, social life, identity, culture shock.
- People. Friendships, relationships, consent, unplanned pregnancy.
- Language. English skills, slang, accents, local phrases.
- Life in the UK. Social norms, laws, values, humour, history.
- Work. Part-time jobs, post-study work, career planning.
Trust matters
The app has been co-created with international students and support teams at the University of Lincoln and the University of the West of England, in partnership with Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity.
It also carries the PIF TICK – the UK’s quality mark for trusted health information.
Expert Self Care funded the app's development.
How to use the app.
The app is completely free to use. No sign-up. No setup. No collection of personally identifiable data.
Just encourage your students to download it from the app store:
- iPhone: Apple App Store – apps.apple.com
- Android: Google Play – play.google.com
Want to know more?
Contact us if you'd like to:
- Discuss adding a branded section for your institution
- Learn more about the app and how others are using it
- Explore partnership or promotional opportunities