1. Free monthly fee
You don't have income to amortise a €14/mo Metal tier. Stick to Standard plans. Revolut Standard, N26 Standard, and bunq's Free tier all work.
2. FX-friendly for Erasmus
If you're spending a semester abroad, FX fees become the single biggest avoidable cost. Revolut Standard gives you €1,000/mo fee-free; Wise gives mid-market rates always (with per-transaction fees). Avoid cards with markup > 0.5%.
3. Multi-currency support
Being able to hold and receive GBP, USD, CHF matters for anyone crossing borders or receiving a stipend. Wise and Revolut Standard both handle this at Standard; N26 doesn't.
4. Savings protection
Even on a student budget, money you save should sit somewhere DGS-protected. This means a full-bank neobank (Revolut, N26, bunq, Trade Republic) — not Wise (EMI, no DGS).