Students from the University of Hong Kong have recently launched a cheeky yet money-saving app to combat the soaring inflation rates in Hong Kong.

An app called TaxiShare detects other pedestrians that are waiting for taxis within 250 metres of you so that you can split the fare. The app was only made available on 5 October and can be downloaded free of charge on iPhone, iPad and Android phones.

Students strongly believe that it is a money-saving tool given the rise in public transportation in Hong Kong. This is particularly true if you aim to travel long distance, say from Hong Kong Island to the New Territories. The app may save passengers up to 80% of the fare if five passengers are travelling instead of one and are heading to the same destination.

Surprisingly, only passengers have the say of who they want to share a taxi with. If taxi drivers use this to attract passengers, they will actually be falling foul of the law; in Hong Kong, taxi drivers are not allowed to choose customers based on distance and race as part of their code of conduct.

Now that you have begun your life as an international student in London, it’s time to get around more. London is the place where things happen first in art, music and fashion – and the Universities there take their cue from this lively environment. Because the city is one of the main art and music capitals of the world, there are always new events and club nights popping up, ensuring that there’s always something fresh to experience! You can look for plenty of events to take part in on the What’s on tab of www.visitlondon.com.

A lot of practical information about studying and living in London is available on the website of the University of Westminster. There is a section dedicated to international students, which includes useful links, such as the UK Council for International Student Affairs and contact details for the International Student Adviser (ISA).

The University of Westminster welcomes students from over 140 countries around the world, offering a truly cosmopolitan atmosphere. The website provides country specific information, such as the scholarships that are available, details on visas and access to an information sheet in your mother tongue. Among others, you can find the pages for China and Japan. Good luck with your exciting new experience! If you need your diplomas to be translated, ask SanTranslate, your translation service provider.