Instagram can be much more than selfies, travel pics and influencers -- in fact it’s probably my favourite social media platform! It’s short on words, there are few heated arguments (I’m looking at you Twitter & Facebook), and it’s pretty easy to understand and navigate (now I’m looking at you TikTok).
But Instagram can also be a fantastic resource for students! There are a number of super helpful, entertaining, funny and inspirational instagram accounts to follow for students.
Granted, these aren’t necessarily the kind of accounts that will help you get a job after university (read our article on social media sites to land your first job), but they can certainly help you out during your time at uni.
Top quirky Instagram accounts for UK students to follow
- Your Student Union
- Budget Bytes
- 8FACT by 9GAG
- Thoughtfully Magazine
- Humans of New York
- Student Problems
- Dictionary.com
- Awesome Earth
- Ted Talks
- Entrepreneur
- Studying.hacks
1. Your Student Union
We’ll start off simple and useful. Follow the student union of whichever university you’re at (or are considering going to). While the official account of the university itself is often used more as a promotional tool to entice prospective students, the student union account will be tailored specifically for the students themselves. It’ll keep you updated on goings-on around the university, special events, and anything else you need to know.
2. Budget Bytes
Some would say that you haven’t really lived the student life until you’ve tried eating as cheaply as possible! University life can be a financial challenge for many, so keeping the food budget down can be a big plus. But that doesn’t have to mean starving yourself or eating 2 minute noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Thanks to Budget Bytes, you can get plenty of inspiration for healthy, nourishing and delicious meals that can be made for just a few pounds. Bon appetit!
3. 8FACT by 9GAG
Get smarter one post at a time. 8FACT is loaded full of random, useful (and useless) facts about just about every topic. Actually, we take back “useless”. All information is useful information when used in the right way. Just think about just how well you could do at the Student Union Pub Quiz! Also, by following the likes of 8FACT, you guarantee that you learn something new everyday. Though, really, you should be learning something new at uni everyday anyway…
4. Thoughtfully Magazine
Every once in a while, we all need a reminder to take care of ourselves both mentally and emotionally. And as students, life can get pretty hectic at times. That’s exactly why Thoughtfully Magazine is one of the best accounts to follow on Instagram for students. Just take a scroll through their feed for some inspirational, gentle notes to help you find a more self-caring state of mind.
5. Humans of New York
With a staggering 11 million followers, Humans of New York is one of the most popular social media accounts out there. It’s run by Brandon Stanton, who quite simply takes portraits of the people he meets out and about in New York City. He asks them a few questions about their lives, and some of their stories are staggering. Sure, it’s not an Instagram account made just for students, but it’s one that all students should follow to gain some perspective. It’s a true reminder that every single human on this planet is as complex as the other, and each has a story to tell.
6. Student Problems
Now for some good old fashioned silly humour. Student Problems is all about having a laugh at some of the things students witness, think about, and talk about. Their feed is filled with funny and related memes and videos, all chosen to provide a quick giggle. The really cool thing about Student Problems’ content though, is that it lets us know that there are literally millions of others in the world who we can relate to and share the same anxieties with. Sometimes it’s good to remember that.
7. Dictionary.com
Learn a new word every single day. Not a bad thing to do while scrolling through your feed. Following a dictionary website might not seem like the coolest thing to do, but dictionary.com’s aesthetic is great, it’s entertaining, and plenty of the words they provide could prove valuable in your next essay!
8. Awesome Earth
Another #inspiration Instagram account to follow if you’re a student. Awesome Earth contains nothing but insanely good photographs of different places on this planet we call home. Sometimes you just need to daydream about another place. Sometimes we need a little reminder that we are just teeny little people on this teeny little planet in this great big universe. And, you know, sometimes we just need to think about that next vacation! Awesome Earth’s Instagram takes care of all those needs.
9. Ted Talks
Ted Talks, if you haven’t heard of them, are a media platform to spread great ideas and share knowledge. That’s what makes them one of the best Instagram accounts for a student to follow. Some guest speakers talk about design & tech, some talk about personal growth, success and failure, cultural issues, entrepreneurship and just about any other topic of serious discussion. The one thing they all share is that they’re fascinating and thought provoking. While full length talks can be found on YouTube and on their website, the Ted Talks instagram feed shares short snippets that give you a taste of the full thing.
10. Entrepreneur
As the name suggests, this is one for the budding entrepreneurs amongst you. Actually scratch that -- the content on this feed could be of inspiration to just about anybody. The official Instagram account of the celebrated Entrepreneur Magazine, their posts mostly involve solid pieces of daily life advice, mindset tips, and motivational messages to propel you into productivity. There are also video clips and snippets of some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. Who knows, maybe someday you could be one of them!
11. Studying.hacks
There are hundreds of studying-related accounts, but for me this is one of the best accounts for students on instagram, full stop. Why? It’s useful. But as well as having loads of tips and tricks for life as a student, there’s also frequent comical posts to lighten the mood. The thing I like the most about it is that there are so many pieces of practical advice on this account. It’s not just motivational and inspirational posts to get you hyped up to work hard, but simple, easy to follow steps to improving your studies too.
While we’re on the subject of the best instagram accounts to follow for students in the UK, make sure to follow Edvoy on Instagram too! We’ve got loads of useful info and tips on there. And if you’re thinking of studying abroad in the UK or further afield, check out the range of amazing courses and universities we’ve partnered with. Get started with Edvoy.
