With literally millions of apps available for your smartphone, it can be an overwhelming task trying to find the right tools to suit your needs as an online student. So this week we’ve decided to save you hours of time searching in your app store by dedicating this blog post to telling you about our 12 personal favourites!
Apps to help with your assignments
1. Dropbox
Dropbox is a free file sharing service that allows you to store photos, documents, videos and pretty much anything digital in a cloud storage space. You can access your files at any time, eliminating the risk of leaving your USB stick behind and losing all your hard work. This is a great resource for online learning students as your work is always accessible – allowing you to work on your assignments at the office, at home or on the move. Get it on Android and on iOS.
2. An app for making notes
There’s nothing more frustrating than having a great idea for your next assignment or discussion forum and not being able to find a pen and pad to jot it down. Or worse, managing to write down your thoughts and then losing the piece of paper. Eliminate the need to carry bulky notepads with an app you can access at any time on your phone. There are loads out there, with many different features including sticky notes and handwriting recognition, but a simple app like ColorNote available on Android or Evernote on iOS will do the job.
3. Bookshelf
As a University of Essex Online student, you receive all of your course textbooks completely free, included in the price of your tuition fees. This allows you to study anywhere and at any time, as long as you have the app on your phone or tablet! Here at University of Essex Online we use Bookshelf as it allows you to make notes, create bookmarks, make highlights and much more. To get started, just download the app on Android or get it on iOS.
4. RefME
Referencing is a key skill that all students need to perfect; however, it’s also time-consuming and often feels repetitive. RefME is a revolutionary app that allows you to simply scan the barcode of your textbook and it’ll automatically create a citation, reference list and bibliography for you. Download the app on Android or get it on iOS.
Apps to make you more organised
5. Timetable apps
As a University of Essex Online part-time student, you’ll quickly learn that time management is an essential skill you need to master. These dedicated timetable apps allow you to make the most of your time by scheduling your personal study periods and setting goals and deadlines. Features include the ability to send notifications to your phone, sync with family members, block off periods of time for different activities and more. Download Timetable on Android or get Class Timetable on iOS.
6. Alarmy
Have you been burning the midnight oil again to complete your latest assignment? Don’t worry, you’ll never miss your morning alarm again if you use the app Alarmy. The app makes snoozing impossible as it requires you to complete a simple task (such as solving a maths problem or taking a photograph) before the alarm stops ringing. Get it on Android or on iOS.
7. Recipe apps
No matter how many upcoming deadlines you have, it’s still essential to eat right. If you’re pressed for time, batch cooking and one-pot dishes can be a lifesaver for you and your family. Whether you’re a vegetarian, pescatarian or just have fussy toddlers to cater for, apps like the Allrecipes Dinner Spinner for iOS (get it here) or All Recipes Free for Android (get it here) will have something for everyone.
8. Budgeting apps
When you’re managing a household and study commitments, it can be easy to let your finances take a back seat. Keep an eye on your personal and family budget with Mint, the app that allows you to enter investments, track bills, log spending and generally keep track of everything money-related in your life. Get it on Android or on iOS.
Apps to help your career
9. LinkedIn
The ultimate online networking site for job-seekers and recruitment agents, creating a LinkedIn profile is a highly-recommended way of building online relationships with others in your field. The apps (available on Android and on iOS) allow you to connect with colleagues, give and receive endorsements and manage your online profile.
10. Glassdoor
Glassdoor is your ‘friend on the inside’ when it comes to searching for a new job role. The apps allow you to search for open positions and research companies, salaries and interviews – all posted anonymously by employees and job-seekers. It’s available on Android and on iOS.
11. X
While X might seem like a purely social site, it’s actually great for building up an online presence within your chosen field of business. Following professional leaders, interacting with others and sharing relevant articles is sure to attract followers (and maybe even recruitment agents). Get it on Android here and on iOS here.
12. Indeed
Searching for a job can be an overwhelming experience, with many hundreds of job sites all hosting different advertisements and positions. Save yourself some time and go straight to Indeed. As they put it, “in a single search, Indeed offers free access to millions of jobs from thousands of company websites and job boards.” Get it on Android and on iOS.
To learn more about which courses are available with Essex Online, download a free copy of our prospectus. Alternatively, contact our friendly Admissions team who are on hand to help guide you through the next steps.