What one will you pick?
Streaming services have become the central hub of entertainment and education for students worldwide.
But as I know all too well, it’s not just about choosing the right streaming service to meet your leisure and academical needs but as a student on a budget it’s also about finding a streaming service that fits in with your financial needs.
An important factor when deciding which streaming service to choose is often the breadth and width of context that is offered. Netflix, for instance, is known for offering a wide array of content from across the world, as does Amazon Prime. Thus, making these great options for interested in languages, cultures and the humanities or just a decent sitcom.
These are both affordable options for students as well with Amazon Prime offering a £4.49 per month subscription for students and Netflix also offering discounts for students through Student Beans and Save the Student.
If high quality and ‘original’ media content is more your thing, then HBO Max is definitely for you, it is known for an excellent and eclectic mix of original TV series’ and Movies. However, just make sure you like The Wire and The Sopranos before you settle down in your new accom to watch one of these as they all tend to follow that same format.
In regards to the educational content these streaming services provide, it’s important to look outside the box, you aren’t going to get an academic documentary on retroactive precognition on Disney+, unless Meghan and Harry sign another deal that is.
Although, in their defence Disney+ do offer subscribers access to National Geographic documentaries. They also offer you a metaphorical hug due to the nostalgia that the content on the platform offers. P.S. Tangled is great to watch in French and this is much more effective than Duolingo.
Platforms such as Kanopy, offered free through a lot of University Libraries, provide a fare variety of documentaries and educational films.
BoB ‘a cutting edge online service’ also offered free through University Libraries provides you with a variety of academic resources (as well as some things to watch at your leisure too). This is particularly useful again for those studying the arts and humanities.
And of course these are both free streaming services, so are perfect for the budgeting fresher facing the burden of an overdraft.
Finally, cost and content isn’t everything when it comes to picking a streaming service for Uni- accessibility matters too! Are you able to watch offline? Are you able to watch on multiple devices? Are you able to use subtitles? Can you watch at home, on campus, or on the move?
So, remember picking a streaming service as a student is an investment and more of an important decision than you may at first think. Consider cost, content and accessibility before making a choice and whether or not you want to sign yourself up to a year of watching Soprano-esque TV!
