The Best Podcasts for Students: Recommendations and tips for your studies

Written by Kerstin Lakits, 27.11.2025

For many of us, podcasts have already become part of everyday student life. Whether it’s while we are sleepily getting ready in the morning, in need of entertainment while cooking, or trying to do some last-minute cramming on our way to the next seminar. They are super flexible, deliver knowledge straight to the ear and make relaxed, passive learning possible. No wonder the podcast boom persists and leads to there being more shows than you can count. 

Unlike audiobooks, which offer hour-long stories, podcasts usually only consist of short episodes about a specific topic, with regular updates and easy explanations. That makes them perfect for the chaotic Uni days since you can easily fit them into short breaks, commutes, workouts, or even while doing laundry. Listening to podcasts is especially fun if you live in a STUWO dorm. Thanks to the fast Wi-Fi, the cosy common rooms and calm study areas, STUWO offers the perfect environment for listening to educational podcasts for college students. 

To help you get started, we’ve put together our Top 10 podcast recommendations, because continuous learning doesn’t just stop at the curriculum.

Table of Contents:

Our Podcast Recommendations by Category

There is a podcast out there for every mood and every learning goal. They go from general knowledge and learning on the go, to subject-specific content, language learning, entertainment and mindful listening. To make it easier for you to find the right podcast, we have divided our recommendations into the following categories:

Educational & Knowledge Podcasts: Listen and Learn Smarter

Educational podcasts offer quick, easy-to-understand insights into topics like culture, politics, science, and general knowledge. They are perfect for learning on the go, staying informed, and expanding your knowledge without having to actively study.

Examples: 

Study on the Go: Podcasts for Learning and Focus

Study-focused podcasts provide tips on productivity, time management, concentration, study hacks, and exam preparation. They are perfect for staying motivated during busy semesters and help you sharpen your focus, improve your learning strategies, and manage stressful study phases more effectively.

Examples: 

Subject-Specific Podcasts: Deep Knowledge for Your Degree

Subject-specific podcasts dive into academic fields like law, medicine, business, and more, explaining complex topics in a clear and accessible way. These informative podcasts help you deepen your understanding beyond the curriculum, connect theory with real-world examples, and support you in exam preparation.

Examples: 

This way, you can impress your friends with new facts! ©Adobe Stock
This way, you can impress your friends with new facts! ©Adobe Stock

Language Learning: Explore New Worlds with Podcasts

Podcasts are one of the easiest ways to improve your language skills, especially English. By listening regularly, your comprehension improves almost automatically, your vocabulary grows naturally, and you get used to different accents, idioms, and speaking speeds. This is especially useful if you’re studying in an English-language program or planning a semester abroad.

Examples: 

Smart Entertainment: When Learning Happens Along the Way

When you need a break from studying, then light, entertaining podcasts with a bit of added value are perfect. They’re easier to digest than academic content but still educational enough to broaden your perspective without requiring active focus. Perfect for cleaning, walking, cooking, or unwinding after long study sessions. 

Examples: 

Mindful Listening: Well-being, Life and Mental Strength

When student life feels overwhelming, mindfulness podcasts can offer guidance on slowing down, reducing stress, and becoming more aware of your thoughts and emotions. They help you find balance, build mental strength, and bring more calm and joy into your daily routine, especially during stressful phases.

Examples:

Our Top 10 Podcast Recommendations for Students: Knowledge and Learning

To help you get started right away, we’ve put together our STUWO podcast recommendations for you: 10 podcasts that will accompany you throughout your studies and support you in learning, understanding, and staying motivated.

1. TED Talks Daily

TED Talks Daily delivers short, inspiring talks from a wide range of different knowledge areas and helps you broaden your perspective. The episodes encourage critical thinking, spark fresh ideas, and also improve your English listening skills along the way.

Length: 10–20 minutes

Special features: High-quality production, international speakers, globally relevant topics

2. Stuff You Should Know

This podcast lets you dive into a wide range of topics, from history and science to pop culture and quirky facts. Each episode expands your general knowledge and teaches you something new. As a bonus, you’ll naturally improve your English skills while listening.

Length: approx. 40–50 minutes

Special features: Humorous storytelling and high-quality production.

3. Philosophize This!

The great philosophers have shaped our thinking and society for centuries, and this podcast is dedicated to exploring exactly that. Philosophize This! follows a chronological structure, introducing you to influential thinkers and their important, fascinating ideas. It encourages critical thinking, helps you understand philosophical models, and supports more reflective reasoning, useful for essays, discussions, and interdisciplinary learning.

Length: usually 20–60 minutes

Special features: Clearly structured introduction to philosophy with high accessibility

4. How To Be A Better Human

This podcast explores how to improve everyday life through science-based insights and practical advice. Each episode focuses on small habits and ideas that can make you more mindful, productive, and connected during your student life.

Length: approx. 30 minutes

Special features: Practical life tips, science-backed insights, motivating and easy to apply in daily student life.

5. Ridiculous History

This podcast uncovers some of the weirdest, most absurd stories throughout human civilization, the kind that are often left out of textbooks. It balances entertainment and serious research to make history both surprising and fun. It’s great if you want to broaden your perspective, sharpen your critical thinking, and pick up quirky facts to share at the next party.

Length: approx. 30–45 minutes (varies)

Special features: Humorous storytelling paired with well-researched content, excellent for broadening your historical knowledge while staying entertained

6. Science Weekly

Produced by The Guardian, Science Weekly brings you science and environment news twice a week, unpacking the latest research, discoveries, and debates. From climate issues to biology breakthroughs, it has the perfect amount of information to improve your general knowledge with ease.

Length: typically around 15–25 minutes per episode.

Special features: Timely, well-researched updates, ideal for staying informed in short bursts between study sessions.

7. 10% Happier with Dan Harris

This podcast features veteran journalist Dan Harris exploring happiness, mindfulness, and mental strength through interviews with meditation teachers, scientists, authors and more. It can help you manage stress better, stay grounded during busy semesters, and build healthy habits for a great student life.

Length: typically around 30-60 minutes (varies)

Special features: High-level insights from modern science and ancient wisdom, designed to make meditation and self-care accessible to busy students and professionals.

8. Thema des Tages/The Daily

Thema des Tages (Der STANDARD) and The Daily (The New York Times) break down one major news story each day, offering clear explanations, background context, and expert insights. Both podcasts help you stay informed on global and national issues without having to scroll endlessly through news feeds – all in manageable daily episodes that fit into your commute or morning routine.

Length: usually 20–30 minutes

Special features: High-quality journalism, well-researched reporting, and easy-to-follow explanations of complex topics.

9. How To Do Everything

An educational, light-hearted podcast about all the things you never knew you needed to know, plus advice you’ll probably never use, but it’s fun (and oddly useful) to have, like how to find water in the desert. It offers a perfect mental break that still supports curiosity and general knowledge.

Length: typically 15–30 minutes

Special features: Quirky problem-solving, humorous explanations, and surprising facts that make learning feel effortless.

10. The Rest Is History

This podcast is for historians and history buffs. It dives into the world’s biggest historical figures and most dramatic historical events, from the Roman Empire to WWII and more. The hosts make connections between historical events and today’s world, helping you understand patterns and contexts that are super useful for essays, and discussions.
Length: around 45–60 minutes per episode (varies)
Special features: Engaging storytelling, thorough research, and a wide-ranging selection of topics.

Tip: You can listen to these podcasts on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, often even with the free versions of the apps.

Spotify & Co. on a Budget: Student Deals for Podcasts and Streaming

Streaming can get expensive during your studies, but many platforms offer special student discounts that help you save a lot:

  • Spotify: Student Premium for €6.99/month (with a 3-month free trial). You need to verify your student status once a year, and the offer is valid for up to four years in total. (A family plan is only cheaper if everyone truly lives under the same roof. For students living alone, the student plan is usually the better choice.)
  • Apple Podcasts is free and preinstalled on all Apple devices, but unfortunately only accessible on those devices.

Tip: Keep an eye out for combo or campus deals: some universities offer discount codes or partnerships that give you extra benefits.

Podcast Tips: How to Listen Smarter and Study More Effectively

Podcasts can be much more than background noise during your studies. Used correctly, they can become powerful learning tools. When choosing what to listen to, make sure the podcast fits your field of study, matches the length you need for your daily routine (short episodes for commuting, longer ones for deeper focus), and provides academic or general knowledge.

For learning purposes, it helps to adopt a few simple podcast study hacks. Don’t hesitate to listen to complex or subject-specific content a second time, for example while going for a walk or while working out. General knowledge is perfect for short breaks or your trip to campus. And if you’re short on time, try increasing the playback speed to 1.2x or 1.5x; you’ll get used to it, and it saves you time in the long run.

You can also use offline mode (for example with Spotify Premium) to save episodes for study breaks and keep your subscriptions organized in your podcast app.

Podcasts are the perfect companions for boring tasks! ©Adobe Stock
Podcasts are the perfect companions for boring tasks! ©Adobe Stock

Podcasts for Students: Start Today, Benefit Tomorrow

Podcasts are real game changers during your studies. They provide knowledge, are usually free, and make both learning and unwinding much easier. Whether you want to expand your general knowledge, dive deeper into your degree subject, improve your English, or simply take a mental break – with the right podcast, you can continue learning every day, almost passively and with zero extra effort.

The podcast world is also evolving rapidly. There are now interactive formats where you can submit your own questions, which are then discussed in later episodes. Many platforms also offer transcripts, AI-generated summaries, or themed playlists, making it even easier to use podcasts in a way that works best for you.

Maybe you even feel inspired to start your own little podcast about your studies, your subject, or your shared-apartment life!

FAQ: Quick Answers to Your Podcast Questions

Shows like TED Talks Daily and Stuff You Should Know are especially popular thanks to their short episodes and easy learning value.

Most podcasts are free on platforms like Spotify (free tier), Apple Podcasts and Deezer.

Yes, podcasts can improve understanding, boost general knowledge, support focus, and make passive learning possible while commuting or doing chores.

Great picks include TED Talks Daily, The Rest Is History, Stuff You Should Know, Philosophize This!, and Coffee Break English.

These are podcasts that focus on productivity, learning strategies, time management, motivation, and exam preparation, like How To Be a Better Human or The College Info Geek Podcast.

Yes, Spotify Free, Apple Podcasts and Deezer offer completely free access.

Questions?

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