MyBedsLife was awarded a four out of five star rating in the ‘university app’ category by the report compiled by the Uswitch Mobiles SIM Only team, with the four-tier award system based on the number of downloads, accessibility, in-app features and overall popularity.

The University of Bedfordshire’s app was one of only three university apps in the Platinum tier to have all key features deemed to give maximum student satisfaction, including access to timetables, campus maps and staff contact capabilities.

Having originally launched in 2019, MyBedsLife and its services were given a rebrand in 2021 which saw the creation of three bespoke, colour-coded dashboards that allow students to find and access information in a more efficient way.

Last year, the Cost of Living Hub was launched in the app to provide 24/7 support to students through the current financial crisis. As well as general information, it features mental wellbeing advice and financial support, contact details for on-campus services and useful money-saving guides, such as where to find budget-friendly meals on campus and roundups of free or cheap things to do in the campus towns.

Dr Julie Brunton, Pro Vice Chancellor for Education & Student Experience, commented: “It is fantastic to see the results of this Uswitch report highlighting the MyBedsLife app as one of the best in the country to help students. Here at Bedfordshire, we pride ourselves on doing everything we can to help students not only academically but also at a personal level so that they can get the most out of their university experience. This result is a wonderful achievement and testament to our commitment to helping students thrive while studying with us.”

Other key features of the app – which can be downloaded for free by all University of Bedfordshire students via the Apple or Google Play stores – include access to the latest University news, student blogs and a number of handy tools, such as a budget calculator for managing spending habits.

This September, MyBedsLife will also be home to the Welcome platform for new and returning students, giving them all the information they need before starting their 2023/24 studies. The Welcome offering will include useful video guides, step-by-step instructions for the registration process, and top tips for making the most out of the university experience.

Speaking about this new report, Rehan Ali – mobiles expert from Uswitch Mobiles – added: “Students want to feel as if they’re getting as much as possible from resources while at university, so it’s great to see users of our Platinum tier university apps are suitably impressed with the experience offered by their institutions. While each app may provide unique features based on different higher education learning experiences, our Platinum tier awardees took student satisfaction, percentage of downloads in relation to student population, and essential features into account.”