Although your parents may try to convince you that all they took to university was a knapsack and a packet of biscuits and that they got along just fine, times have changed. Broadband has become an essential utility for students in this day and age and might just be the best study aid there is.
Email access is non-negotiable, and the ability to do research quickly online is also a must. That means that a high-performance, best value student broadband deal is more important than ever before.
Universities are also operating more and more on the internet, sending out vital emails, leaving important posts on their website, uploading notes and course content, and even taking assessments online. And don’t forget those websites that are essential to nailing that all-important essay.
In fact, even without taking the work aspect into consideration, the internet is a crucial and affordable way to stay in touch with family and friends.
This page has all the information you need to compare our best broadband deals for students and find the right provider for your needs.
Price: Always a major factor in a student broadband purchase. For more cheap deals, see our cheap broadband page. But remember, you often get what you pay for - the best broadband deals aren't always the ones with the lowest monthly rate.
Contract length: Don't get tied down for longer than you need to. Browse 12-month broadband deals on Uswitch
Flexibility: No student likes to be tied down by their broadband connection. Wireless and mobile broadband packages are ideal for students who mainly connect to the internet on laptops. See our mobile broadband and wireless broadband pages.
Browse our broadband deals with no upfront cost.
Think carefully about your budget and what you need from a broadband package, and then try to choose appropriately.
If you plan on going back to your parents' during the summer hols, you might want to look at mobile broadband deals. Most fixed-line broadband is offered in yearly contracts, so if you're living in student accommodation, you're stuck paying for a service you're not using for a few months.
Mobile broadband allows you to take your internet contract with you wherever you are, meaning you're not wasting money on something you can't even access.
Compare all mobile broadband packages and deals here.