Student broadband deals

Name: Broadband Deals
Brand: Uswitch
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Uswitch Tips

Is the landlord or student in charge of broadband?

Student halls usually have built-in Wi-Fi, but landlords of normal rented homes often require the tenants to manage the bills.

Some choose to be in charge of broadband, but for most second and third-year homes, it will likely sit with the students.

Read more about how to set up broadband in a new home.

Which providers offer student broadband?

BT and Virgin Media are the most prominent providers to offer student-specific broadband deals, but they likely won’t be your only options.

All providers are required to offer you a 12-month broadband contract if you request one - even if they don’t display them straight away on their site.

Browse our range of 12-month broadband deals.

What is student broadband?

Student broadband is a broadband package specifically designed for student houses and accommodation. They often last either 9 or 12 months, so they line up with the academic year starting in September.

There are also 30-day rolling contracts available for broadband, meaning you can cancel or renew your Wi-Fi at any time with one month’s notice. This can be useful if you’re not sure what’s going to happen over the course of the term.

The internet has become essential for students, given that more and more of the university experience is spent online these days.

Why is Wi-Fi so important for students?

University and school work are being completed online more and more each year, with vital emails, important posts, course content and assessments all benign accessed on the internet. And of course, most academic research will take place online too.

Therefore, access to the internet is non-negotiable, and the ability to stream lectures and download important files and documents seamlessly is also a must. That means a high-performance, good-value student broadband deal is more important than ever before.

In fact, even without taking coursework into consideration, a reliable internet connection and a good student broadband deal are crucial for keeping in touch with family and friends while you're living away from home.

When you also consider that student homes are often filled with streamers, gamers and people working from home, a strong, reliable connection is just essential for everyday student life too.

Are student broadband deals any good?

Student broadband deals are usually about the same in price and quality as a normal home broadband deal. The main difference is normally the contract length.

The reason why these internet deals are often better options for students is because the contract length is in line with the university year. This means you won't waste money by paying off a longer contract after you've moved out at the end of the year, and you won’t incur any cancellation fees either.

Since 12-month contracts are usually a little shorter, it’s worth noting that the monthly price for them can sometimes be higher than other deals with longer contracts. But since many student homes are often shared by multiple people, you may find the split cost is worth the extra flexibility.

Find cheap broadband deals

Browse our selection of low-cost broadband deals if you want to save money on your next broadband service.

Cheap broadband deals

What should students consider when choosing broadband?

Here are the main things you should think about if you're choosing a student broadband deal.

1. 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.

2. Number of housemates

Remember that the more people in your household, the more bandwidth you’ll need, so it’s worth taking that into account when choosing the speed you want. Consider whether you'll be living with any avid gamers or people who stream TV a lot.

3. Size of the house

Some larger houses can have dead spots where the Wi-Fi won’t reach, so if you think this is going to be an issue, you may need to invest in Wi-Fi signal boosters.

4. Contract length

As previously mentioned, don't get tied down for longer than you need to. If you only have your student house for a year, you may end up paying an expensive early exit fee if you have to move out halfway through a 24-month contract.

Can you get student broadband on a low credit score?

Many broadband deals require a credit check in order to sign up. The bar for them is quite low because the monthly payments are small compared to a loan or a mortgage, so even if you have a relatively low score you may still pass them.

If you're still concerned that you won't be accepted for a broadband deal, your next best options would be to ask a housemate to sign up for it in your name or see if your landlord can organise it for you. Many landlords already manage student house bills so this may be the case in your new accommodation.

Also, if you're struggling financially, it might be worth checking to see if you are eligible for a broadband social tariff. These are discounted broadband deals that offer the same speeds as normal deals, but are available for those under financial payment support.

To see if you're eligible, you can visit our broadband social tariffs guide.

Check if you're eligible for a broadband social tariff

Which type of broadband contract is best for students?

There are various types of broadband contracts available, so students have some options. Each internet option has its pros and cons. Think carefully about your budget and what you need from a broadband package, and then try to choose appropriately.

Shorter broadband contracts

Shorter internet contracts are often worth choosing because they also give you more flexibility to move onto a different deal sooner. Contracts that last for longer (for example 24 months) lock you into the same Wi-Fi service for a long time, which gives you fewer opportunities to find a better option.

However, 12-month contracts can sometimes come with higher monthly prices as a result. So while you'll still be paying less in total than an 18 or 24-month Wi-Fi contract, it might be a slightly costlier option per month over that 12-month period.

Compare 12 month broadband deals

Browse our range of broadband deals with 12-month contracts on Uswitch.

12-month broadband deals

30-day rolling contracts for internet

If, for whatever reason, you’re not sure whether you’ll be at the same location over the course of the term, a 30-day rolling contract might be best for you. You’ll have the flexibility to cancel or renew your Wi-Fi package at any time, with one month’s notice. This is also useful if you’ll be traveling often.

However, this also comes at a cost. Internet deals like this usually cost more per month than a longer-term contract. Even though there won’t be a cancellation fee, you might still incur a setup fee, and you’ll also be paying for the router if you need one.

Compare no-contract broadband deals

Compare our range of 30-day, monthly rolling and 'no contract' broadband packages.

No contract broadband

Student mobile broadband

If you plan on going back to your parents' during the summer holidays, 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 (provided you have a good signal in the location you take it).

Mobile broadband deals

Search on Uswitch for mobile broadban ddeals available in your area.

Mobile broadband

TV packages with student broadband

Broadband and TV bundles are popular in general, but not when it comes to student broadband. Most providers only offer broadband when it comes to their student deals, because they're often built to be simple packages that just get you online.

The easiest way to watch TV at home when you're a student is usually with a streaming device like Amazon Fire. But if there are enough of you in the house that would be willing to contribute to a TV package, you could also opt for a more premium service like Sky Stream or Virgin Flex.

Broadband and TV deals

Take a look at the latest TV and broadband packages on Uswitch.

Compare broadband & TV deals

Our broadband expert says

“Student broadband isn't often found on comparison websites. So if you're starting a new term and you want to find a student broadband deal for your new house, you'll likely have to search directly with different providers.

If there aren't any offers that you find right for your situation, you could look for 12-month broadband deals. These are usually more widely-available across comparison sites like Uswitch, but providers should offer you a 12-month option to you if you ask them directly.”

Max Beckett, Broadband Expert

Student broadband FAQs

Can you cancel a student deal before the contract ends?

Student broadband deals are held to the same rules as normal broadband deals when it comes to cancelling early. If you choose to cancel your contract before the minimum term ends, you'll be expected to pay early exit fees to cover the remaining months of the contract.

This is often the total amount from the monthly payments that are left, but providers sometimes reach a different figure depending on how many months are remaining.

If you have a student broadband package though, you shouldn't need to cancel it early unless you are moving out of your home early. Most student broadband deals are 9-12 months long, lasting the length of a university year. So it's worth checking when your current deal is due to end to see if it already lines up.

What equipment will I need to install Wi-Fi at my student accommodation?

Almost all Wi-Fi deals come with a router that you’d need to install, if you don’t have your own third-party one already.

Providers will supply them for free as part of your package, but there may be a one-off installation charge depending on the deal you choose. You’ll also need a working phone line for most internet packages, but if you don’t have one already, the cost of this is usually included in the price.

If your accommodation is large or strangely shaped, you should also consider getting an additional router or a signal booster to avoid Wi-Fi dead zones.

Do student discounts exist for internet deals?

There are some, but they don’t seem to last long and are generally available only at the start of the academic year.

Make sure you read the fine print if you sign up for one, since some of these deals might have hidden costs or scheduled price increases later in the contract.

What do I do if I’m not getting the internet speed I agreed to?

If your Wi-Fi service ropes you in with a promise of high speed internet, but then you’re consistently experiencing lags or generally slow internet, simply contact them.

If there’s a problem on their network and they're unable to sort it within 30 days, they’re required to let you cancel the contract without charging any exit fees.

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Is the landlord or student in charge of broadband?

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