Quick answer: before departure, install one official mobility app, offline maps and translation, your destination’s transport app, a secure money option and document backup. Add housing and social apps only when you know the city. Availability, fees and features change, so verify every app in its official store for your country.
In this guide
The exchange student app stack
| Need | Good starting point | Install when | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobility administration | Erasmus+ App and your university portal | After nomination | Whether your institution uses the same digital workflow |
| Maps | Google Maps or Apple Maps, with offline data where available | Before flying | Campus pin, accommodation and airport route saved |
| Public transport | Official local operator app; Citymapper where supported | Before arrival | Student pass eligibility and zones |
| Translation | Google Translate or DeepL | Before flying | Offline language availability and document privacy |
| Money | Your home bank plus one travel-friendly account | Before deposits | Country availability, IBAN needs, limits and support |
| Documents | University cloud storage plus a scan app | Before application deadlines | Two-factor authentication and recovery access |
| Shared costs | Splitwise or a shared spreadsheet | After meeting flatmates | Currency and settlement rules |
1. Start with official Erasmus and university tools
The Erasmus+ App is the official starting point for mobility guidance and programme services. The European Commission says it can provide step-by-step information and connect students with relevant mobility services. It does not replace your university portal: deadlines, nomination, enrolment and course registration still depend on the systems used by your sending and receiving institutions.
Online Language Support (OLS) is a separate official service. Access usually follows selection and comes through your institution. Do not trust an unofficial app that asks you to pay for an “Erasmus language test”.
2. Maps and transport: save the first journey offline
Save four locations before departure: airport or station, temporary accommodation, faculty building and international office. Download an offline map if your chosen app supports it and screenshot the route for arrival day.
For daily transport, the official local operator is usually more reliable for fares, service changes and passes than a global route planner. Citymapper can be useful in supported cities, but coverage varies. In Barcelona, for example, the TMB App handles T-mobilitat services; in Madrid, official CRTM and Metro information should be the final source for fare rules.
3. Translation: use the right tool for the risk
Google Translate is practical for signs, menus and short messages. DeepL can be useful for drafting longer text. Neither should make a legal decision for you. For a lease, visa instruction or university decision, ask the organisation for an official language version or a human explanation before signing.
4. Banking and payments: compare, do not copy a ranking
Wise, Revolut and N26 are common options, but there is no universal winner. Products, eligibility, deposit protection, exchange limits and support depend on your residence and plan. Keep access to your home bank and avoid relying on a single card.
- Confirm whether you need a local IBAN for rent or salary.
- Check cash-withdrawal and weekend currency terms in the official fee schedule.
- Enable transaction alerts and two-factor authentication.
- Carry a second payment method separately during travel.
5. Housing apps: a listing is not proof
Uniplaces, HousingAnywhere and Spotahome can help students search remotely, but platform coverage and verification differ by city. A polished listing is not a substitute for reading cancellation rules, checking the address and understanding when money is released.
Never send a deposit because someone in a WhatsApp or Facebook group creates urgency. Keep payment and messages inside the platform when possible, save the contract, and check the student accommodation safety guide before paying.
6. Documents and account recovery
Use your university’s Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace account if provided, plus a personal backup you will retain after the exchange. Store the acceptance letter, insurance, Learning Agreement, lease, passport copy and payment receipts in clearly named folders.
A password manager and an authenticator app are more important than another social app. Save recovery codes offline; losing a phone abroad should not lock you out of banking and university systems at the same time.
7. Social apps without the spam
WhatsApp, Telegram, Meetup and Erasmus Student Network channels can make the first weeks easier. Join groups through your university or a recognised student association when possible. Treat group housing posts as leads, not verified offers, and never share passport scans in a public chat.
What to install before, during and after arrival
Before departure
University portal, Erasmus+ App if relevant, maps, translation, bank, authenticator, document storage and the official transport app.
During the first week
Local operator, campus app, expense sharing, food-rescue or grocery apps and verified student groups.
Only if you need them
Intercity travel, language exchange, events, bike sharing and housing platforms. Installing everything in advance creates noise and unnecessary data sharing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the essential apps for Erasmus students?
Your university portal, the official Erasmus+ App where relevant, offline maps, translation, local transport, banking, cloud documents and two-factor authentication cover the essential tasks. Add city-specific tools after arrival.
Is the Erasmus+ App the same as OLS?
No. The Erasmus+ App supports the wider mobility journey. Online Language Support is the EU language-learning and assessment service used by eligible participants. Your institution tells you how to access each one.
Which banking app is best?
It depends on residence, currencies, IBAN requirements, fees and support. Compare official terms for Wise, Revolut, N26 and your bank, then keep two independent payment methods.
Are housing apps safe?
They can reduce risk through platform payments or listing checks, but no platform removes every risk. Verify the address, contract, cancellation policy and payment flow before committing.
Keep planning on Odisea
- Erasmus paperwork checklist
- Calculate the total exchange cost
- Compare monthly budgets by destination
- Browse study-abroad countries
Official sources
- European Commission — Erasmus+ App services (2026)
- European Commission — Online Language Support
- Google Maps Help — offline maps
- Citymapper — supported cities
Apps and features checked 16 September 2026. Prices and availability may change by country and device.