Should i get an ipad for uni?

14

I've recently just finished my a levels, and was thinking about buying an ipad for uni, mainly for notetaking and lectures. Do you think it's worth it? Or are other alterrnatives, such as samsung etc. better?
Please advise :smile:

Reply 1

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

18

Original post

by WILD_CHILD1407

I've recently just finished my a levels, and was thinking about buying an ipad for uni, mainly for notetaking and lectures. Do you think it's worth it? Or are other alterrnatives, such as samsung etc. better?
Please advise :smile:

Hi @WILD_CHILD1407

I personally used a laptop my whole time at university. My laptop is actually a 2-in-1, so can convert if I need to annotate anything by hand. I found that I only really used this feature for drawing chemistry mechanisms in workshops as I typed up all of my lecture notes. I'd recommend considering what your course is and therefore what you're likely to need a device for. A lot of people in my lectures did use an iPad for notetaking, so its not uncommon.

Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

Reply 2

UniLancashire

Official Rep

16

Original post

by WILD_CHILD1407

I've recently just finished my a levels, and was thinking about buying an ipad for uni, mainly for notetaking and lectures. Do you think it's worth it? Or are other alterrnatives, such as samsung etc. better?
Please advise :smile:

Hi @WILD_CHILD1407,

It's great to see that you are thinking about starting uni and getting prepared. Everyone takes notes differently, so I think it's important to find the right way that works for you. I have tried using my iPad to take notes but preferred writing notes by hand in a sketchbook. It may be worth seeing if you can practice making notes a few different ways before you get an iPad as they can be pricey.

I used a MacBook as a lot of my course work was digital, which I rarely made notes on. I then used notepads and post it notes for my note taking. But a lot of my course mates did make notes on their iPad so it really varies. It may be worth researching into the course you are studying, and finding if there's any info or if you could reach out to someone at the uni and ask for some more details. What course are you looking to study?

Hope this helps and feel free to ask me any further questions 🙂
Best wishes, ^Zac

Reply 3

TopBun

20

For what subject? How do you like to work?

My daughter just finished year 2 Economics Politics, YMMV.

In year 1 she used laptop, paper notebooks and a printer - she needed the laptop for most everything including assignment writing. She often printed out and annotated lecture notes etc. But it was heavy carrying everything about and managing paper was tiresome. It took her a while to get used to a more paperless way of working

In year 2 she got a top spec iPad and Apple pencil - it's great for hand written to text, quick diagrams, annotating etc. She did need some £30ish paid for software (cant remember what, can ask) No more paper. She did continue use a laptop for a while to write assignments, but then got an iPad keyboard and rarely uses laptop now, certainly doesn't take laptop anywhere.

Other brands of tablet didn't seem to offer the power or flexibility - but the full Apple iPad setup is pricey. And it took her a while to adapt to paperless working after school. When her younger sister goes to Uni I am just going to stump up for a full iPad Apple kit

Reply 4

University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Official Rep

15

Original post

by WILD_CHILD1407

I've recently just finished my a levels, and was thinking about buying an ipad for uni, mainly for notetaking and lectures. Do you think it's worth it? Or are other alterrnatives, such as samsung etc. better?
Please advise :smile:

Hi there! (:

So far throughout uni i havent had an ipad, for notetaking i have a touch screen laptop + stylus and find it works just as well as an ipad for what im using it for, it is a bit bigger for taking around but ive not really found a need for a ipad seeing as my laptop is doing everything i need it to do (:

Not sure what course you do but i do chemistry and find for most of my lectures i annotate directly onto the powerpoints with my laptop and then i use paper for most practice questions since theres a lot of maths within my course and i find it takes me a bit longer to find symbols and i personally dont really like using the stylus so majority of the time opt for paper!

you probably could do this type of thing on a ipad to keep it all a bit more together but submitting wise I take photos of what ive wrote down on paper and convert this into pdf format and find that takes me like 5 mins to do (:

I would say, as others have mentioned it really depends on the course, if its lots of essays you may find a laptop covers all that you need, if not you may find a ipad to work perfectly or something in between like a touch screen laptop if your looking for something a bit less pricey than the ipad + apple pencil + keyboard combo! 😊

hope this helps!!

Emily
Year 3, Chemistry
Official University Of Strathclyde Rep

Reply 5

LSBU

Official Rep

11

Original post

by WILD_CHILD1407

I've recently just finished my a levels, and was thinking about buying an ipad for uni, mainly for notetaking and lectures. Do you think it's worth it? Or are other alterrnatives, such as samsung etc. better?
Please advise :smile:

Hi there,
Congrats on finishing your A-levels, that’s a big milestone! When it comes to getting ready for university, investing in the right tech can definitely make a difference, especially for note taking, lectures, and staying organised.
An iPad can be a great choice for uni, particularly when paired with an Apple Pencil and apps like Notability or GoodNotes. They’re lightweight, portable, and ideal for handwritten notes, highlighting readings, and even organising your timetable. If you prefer writing by hand but want the convenience of digital storage, it's a solid option.
That said, Samsung tablets (like the Galaxy Tab with an S Pen) offer very similar features, often at a lower price. They're excellent for note-taking too, and many students find them just as efficient, so it really comes down to personal preference, budget, and whether you’re already using Apple or Android devices.
It’s also worth knowing that if you’re planning to attend London South Bank University (LSBU), they offer laptop loans for students who may not have access to their own device or need extra support during their studies. This can be really helpful, especially during assignment season or when you're on campus and need a backup.
Ultimately, whether you go for an iPad, a Samsung tablet, or stick to a traditional laptop, the best device is the one that suits your learning style and budget. You’ll be using it a lot, so it’s smart to choose something reliable and comfortable for long term use.
Wishing you all the best as you prepare for uni life!

LSBU Ambassador

Reply 6

WILD_CHILD1407

OP

14

Original post

by UCLan Ambassador

Hi @WILD_CHILD1407,
It's great to see that you are thinking about starting uni and getting prepared. Everyone takes notes differently, so I think it's important to find the right way that works for you. I have tried using my iPad to take notes but preferred writing notes by hand in a sketchbook. It may be worth seeing if you can practice making notes a few different ways before you get an iPad as they can be pricey.
I used a MacBook as a lot of my course work was digital, which I rarely made notes on. I then used notepads and post it notes for my note taking. But a lot of my course mates did make notes on their iPad so it really varies. It may be worth researching into the course you are studying, and finding if there's any info or if you could reach out to someone at the uni and ask for some more details. What course are you looking to study?
Hope this helps and feel free to ask me any further questions 🙂
Best wishes, ^Zac

probably geography at university. it is mainly coursework based, but i am assuming i will have to make notes for lectures etc. I would preferably like to take handwritten notes, but i write quite slowly, so it will take time to copy everything. Whereas having an ipad will allow me to annotate slides. I think i will try a few methods out first, as you suggested, before purchasing an ipad.

Reply 7

AGUoS

Official Rep

6

Original post

by WILD_CHILD1407

I've recently just finished my a levels, and was thinking about buying an ipad for uni, mainly for notetaking and lectures. Do you think it's worth it? Or are other alterrnatives, such as samsung etc. better?
Please advise :smile:

Hey @WILD_CHILD1407

It's so great to see that you are already thinking about essentials for university. I think it honestly depends on your uni, course and learning style. I study business management, and I have been using a laptop for the past two years, and it has been very convienient for me! I know a lot of students prefer to take notes on their ipads as it can be quicker and more convienient during lectures. Personally, I used to take notes on my Macbook and I would also carry a notebook as I prefer to write by hand.

I would recommend to research about your course and talk to current students studying it. If you already have a laptop or Ipad at home, it might be a good idea to start with what you have in the first week or so. That way, you can see what suits your learning style and course the best before making any purchases.

I hope this helps!

All the best,
Akshita
(University of Southampton Student Rep)

(edited 6 months ago)

Reply 8

Matt-WrexhamUni

Official Rep

7

Original post

by WILD_CHILD1407

I've recently just finished my a levels, and was thinking about buying an ipad for uni, mainly for notetaking and lectures. Do you think it's worth it? Or are other alterrnatives, such as samsung etc. better?
Please advise :smile:

Hi

I think it totally depends on your course and how you like to study, I have seen lots of people use their laptops whilst at Uni, as people can access the lecture notes and add to them at the same time.

I would maybe have a think about how you would like to organise your notes, whether this be on paper or electronically.

I hope this helps,

Matt
Wrexham Uni Reps

Reply 9

WILD_CHILD1407

OP

14

Thank you for your help !

Should i get an ipad for uni?

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