Assistive technologies
Curated collection of software and tools designed to enhance learning, improve accessibility and remove barriers to your studies. Whether you need support with note-taking, reading or staying focused, we have a tool for you.
Focus and motivation
A timer app specifically designed to help with time blindness.
Why we recommend Dawdle
Helps visualize the passing of time for students who struggle to estimate how long tasks take. Developed by PHD scientists researching procrastination.
Features follow along, body doubling videos to keep you on track.
Why we recommend dubbii
Body doubling is a scientifically proven strategy to overcome procrastination and isolation while studying. You can select the 20-minute 'Study' video, free of charge to use as many times as you like.
A self-care pet app that grows as you complete daily goals and mental health check-ins.
Why we recommend Finch
It offers a gentle, non-punitive way to track well-being and study habits simultaneously.
Combines focus timers with collecting monsters (like Pokémon).
Why we recommend Focumon
Its a fun alternative to Forest for students who prefer collection-style games over gardening.
Connects you with a real person for a 25 or 50-minute silent virtual co-working session, providing social accountability to ensure you show up and work.
Why we recommend Focusmate
Body doubling is a scientifically proven strategy to overcome procrastination and isolation while studying.
A gamified timer where staying focused grows a digital tree; leaving the app kills it. The app syncs across devices to block distracting websites.
Why we recommend Forest
It provides immediate visual rewards for ignoring your phone, helping to break the cycle of digital distraction.
Turns your daily tasks and study goals into a role-playing game (RPG). Completing tasks levels up your character and unlocks gear.
Why we recommend Habitica
It effectively uses gamification to motivate neurodivergent students who struggle with mundane to-do lists.
An AI accountability partner that checks in on your progress.
Why we recommend Meli AI
It provides a nudge to keep you moving without the pressure of a human appointment. Be sure to check the data privacy settings before using Meli AI.
Mental health
A free mental health app developed by experts to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief.
Why we recommend Mindshift CBT
It provides practical, evidence-based strategies to manage anxiety, stress, and challenging thoughts commonly experienced in academic life.
Uses evidence-based therapies and principles to help you learn new ways of coping with low moods and anxious feelings.
Why we recommend MoodMission
It delivers quick, research-supported activities tailored to a student’s current mood to help reduce stress and improve mental health.
A free app that helps you learn the skills that promote mental wellbeing and create the habits to thrive.
Why we recommend Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind offers guided mindfulness and meditation programs designed to improve focus, emotional regulation, and overall wellbeing.
A peer support community where students can share and connect.
Why we recommend TalkCampus
It connects students with a supportive peer community where they can talk openly about mental health challenges in a safe, student-focused environment.
Helps cope with anxiety, stress and feelings of depression using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy methods. It features interactive games, forums, a thought tracking diary and helpful techniques to manage your feelings.
Why we recommend What’s Up?
It combines simple CBT and mindfulness tools in an easy, approachable format for coping with everyday stressors and emotions
Organisation and planning
A collection of simple, single-task AI tools designed specifically for executive functioning. It breaks down your to-do list, turns brain dumps into checklists, estimates time for tasks, assists with processing thoughts, simplifies explanations.
Why we recommend GoblinTools
It assists with executive functioning, great for neurodiverse students.
A generative AI that can brainstorm ideas, summarize difficult concepts, or draft study plans.
Why we recommend Microsoft Copilot
It acts as a cognitive starter motor to overcome writer's block. Before using Microsoft Copilot check what's allowed for your unit.
An academic timetable planner where you can add classes and tasks or assignments to keep on track of your studies.
Why we recommend MyStudyLife
Its free and a simple structured schedule.
A flexible all-in-one workspace for notes, calendars, and project databases. It allows you to link different notes together to build a personal knowledge base.
Why we recommend Notion
It lets you build a second brain tailored exactly to how you think, reducing the cognitive load of remembering details.
Reading
Converts on-screen text into audio files (MP3, WAV) for listening later and has highly customisable voice and pitch settings.
Why we recommend Balabolka
Completely free and offline-capable, making it ideal for converting textbooks into audiobooks for commuting.
Highlights the first few letters of every word to guide the eye. It's designed to increase reading speed and comprehension.
Download Bionic Reading Converter
Why we recommend Bionic Reading Converter
It can significantly help students with ADHD focus on the text by guiding the brain through sentences.
A chrome extension that provides text-to-speech, translation, dyslexia support and various options to assist focus while reading large walls of text.
Why we recommend Helperbird
Simple browser integration for students who do most of their research online.
A feature packed, customisable reader extension which removes all the common issues like popups, comments and ads and formats the remain text, links and images into a simple to read format.
Why we recommend Just Read
It can significantly help students struggling to focus by removing distractions from the web page.
A free note-taking app for Dyslexia, includes fonts/colour change.
Why we recommend Lecto
The user can also upload documents and convert the text, spacing and colours for easier reading.
Built directly into Edge and Microsoft Word (Immersive Reader). It highlights words as they are spoken to improve tracking.
In Microsoft Word, navigate to the Review tab and select Read Aloud. In Edge, right-click any webpage and choose Read aloud.
Why we recommend Microsoft Read Aloud
It requires no installation (it's already on your PC) and offers enterprise-level data privacy.
Reads web pages and documents aloud using high-quality AI voices. It also includes a floating bar to read text in any application.
Why we recommend NaturalReader
The natural-sounding voices reduce listener fatigue, helping you stay engaged with long readings.
A free, open-source screen reader for Windows. It reads everything on the screen, including menus and buttons, via synthetic speech or Braille.
Why we recommend NVDA
It provides professional-grade screen reading accessibility at zero cost for blind or low-vision students.
Uses iOS built-in accessibility to read documents in Apple Pages.
Why we recommend Pages Read Aloud
Seamless integration for students fully within the Apple ecosystem.
A Chrome extension that reads web articles with natural voices.
Why we recommend Readvox
Simple browser integration for students who do most of their research online.
Scans physical books or digital text and reads them aloud at up to 3x speed. It syncs your reading pace across mobile and desktop.
Why we recommend Speechify
Excellent for speed listening and consuming course materials while on the go.
A simple, browser-based text-to-speech player. It remembers your last playing position automatically.
Why we recommend TTSReader
A lightweight, "no-fuss" option for quickly listening to copied text without installing software.
Reads text from websites, emails, and PDFs on Android devices. It allows you to create a playlist of articles to listen to.
Why we recommend Voice Aloud Reader
Great for Android users who want to queue up their weekly readings for a hands-free experience.
Writing, memory and note taking
A flashcard app using Spaced Repetition to test you right before you forget.
Why we recommend Anki
It is the gold standard for long-term memory retention, far more effective than cramming.
A free tool for mind mapping and creative brainstorming.
Why we recommend Mindmeister
Its offers intuitive interface, export functionality, endless canvas and integration with Google Drive.
An AI research assistant that answers questions based only on the documents you upload. Remember to never upload private, sensititve or assessment documents. It can generate audio overviews (podcasts) of your notes.
Why we recommend NotebookLM
It is a powerful tool for synthesizing research without the risk of hallucinations found in general AI.
Transcribes meetings and lectures in real-time, highlighting key points. Remember, you must get permission from everyone in your meeting or lecture before recording.
Why we recommend Otter.ai
It ensures you never miss a detail in class, allowing you to focus on listening rather than frantic note-taking.
Simplifies complex English text and provides instant definitions for difficult words.
Why we recommend Rewordify
It lowers the linguistic barrier for students with learning disabilities or those with English as a second language.