(NC) -- Offer them just one gadget for their scholastic ride, and students will choose the tablet every time.

Indeed, across university campuses everywhere, tablets are now as common as black coffee, Thursday pub nights, and bringing dirty laundry home for mom to wash on the weekends.

While many people still think of tablets as entertainment-only devices, students across Canada are using touchscreen computers to research papers, read textbooks and study for exams. Indeed, tablets are quickly becoming a mainstay in the academic world.

Already, 30% of Canadian students say they regularly use a tablet, according to data from International Data Corporation's April 2014 study Insight on Students and Education, and of those tablet users, nearly 40% carry it everywhere they go.

But while students are increasingly bringing tablets with them to university, can these highly portable and immersive touchscreen computers help students study better, produce better work and earn higher grades?

At a time of sky high competition among students, when 89% of those attending Canadian universities report feeling overwhelmed – according to a 2013 survey from the Canadian Organization of University College Health – it's clear students need all the help they can get when it comes to simplifying their campus experience. (http://www.cacuss.ca/health_data.htm)

As a result, tablets just might be the silver bullet students need to give them an edge in their academic rankings while providing wind-down entertainment for de-stressing.

Samsung tells us that its Galaxy Tab S brings the ultimate viewing experience, which means you no longer need to worry about which roommate brings the TV. With its 'Super AMOLED' screen, this model is the ideal device for watching HD content and video-calling friends and family.

At just 6.6 mm thick, the Galaxy Tab S is the thinnest Samsung tablet yet, making it much easier to carry around than a bulky laptop.

While some people still see tablets as primarily consumption devices, students are now looking at their tablets as a key educational tool in lectures, seminars and study halls due to new services and improved creation software.

More and more universities are moving to enable the downloading of digital versions of textbooks, which are usually less expensive than their paper counterparts and allow students a truly immersive experience, not to mention they don't overload students' backpacks. As well, professors are uploading course notes to the Web, many of which are best experienced on a tablet.

Expect to see more than a few savvy students toting tablets when classes are back in session this fall.