Find the best student broadband deals
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Connecting your home to the world has never been so easy.
Internet is supposed to make our lives easier right? We deliver on this promise by making
subscribing to a broadband and/or TV deal as easy as it gets.
Monday to Friday – 8.30 am to 5.30 pm
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These days, a good reliable internet connection is an absolute essential for students across the country. Used for research, entertainment, socialising and shopping, the internet is an integral part of modern student life.
Last update: April 2022
In general, the more you pay for your broadband, the better your connection will be. Packages start from around £15 per month and go up to around £40 per month, although you can easily pay more if you want a package with a range of extras. Finding a deal that’s affordable and that offers enough bandwidth for all your streaming, gaming and socialising needs will ensure you get the most from your student broadband connection.
If you’re about to move into a student house, or if you’re already living with other students and are looking for a better deal, shopping around could save you money on your internet connection. Here, we’re taking an in depth look at the best student broadband deals on the market and finding out how you can grab an internet bargain.
Which suppliers offer a student discount on broadband?
Only a few UK broadband suppliers offer specially tailored student deals. These deals are normally based on 9-month contracts to coincide with the normal short tenancy period offered by student accommodation.
One of the main suppliers to offer this type of contract is BT. Signing up to a 9-month BT deal will ensure that you don’t pay for internet you’re never going to use. However, as 9-month deals are generally more expensive than 12 or 18-month contracts, they’re not always the best financial option for your student home.
Other 9-month offers and discounted deals aimed at students are occasionally available. These are generally advertised in August, September and October as students move into their new homes and start sorting their utilities.
A number of other suppliers offer packages focused on ultrafast internet. This is important as it’s common for multiple people in a student house to be on the internet at the same time. An ultrafast connection will ensure that you and all your housemates are able to stream, game, shop and socialise simultaneously.
Suppliers with superfast broadband deals include:
| Supplier | Service | Avg. speed | Average monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperoptic | Hyperoptic Ultrafast | 500 Mbps | £37.42 |
| Virgin Media | Virgin Media M200 | 213 Mbps | £33.99 |
| Sky | Sky Superfast | 65 Mbps | £27.55 |
| John Lewis | Fibre Extra Broadband | 66 Mbps | £29 |
| Onestream | Xstream Superfibre | 67 Mbps | £24.95 |
| Zen | Fibre 2 | 66 Mbps | £34.99 |
| Susckoo | Simple Broadband | 67 Mbps | £29.99 |
| EE | EE Unlimited | 38 Mbps | £26 |
| Now | Now Broadband | 36 Mbps | £23.41 |
Find the fastest student broadband in your area by calling SwitchBox today. Our team will search through all available deals to find the package that suits you perfectly.
Give us a call on 0330 818 6395
What is the best broadband for students?
Most student households will prioritise two things when it comes to their broadband deal: cost and speed. Ultrafast, affordable broadband will allow everyone in the property to use the internet at the same time and ensure no one has to break the bank in order to finance their internet deal.
In general, the more you pay, the faster your connection will be. Balancing the price and speed of your internet is key to finding the deal that’s right for you.
UK broadband deals vary significantly in both cost and speed. At the cheapest end of the spectrum, you’ll be looking at around £15 per month. In this price bracket, you’ll probably be able to expect speeds of around 10Mbps.
An average speed of 10Mbps is considered an acceptable broadband connection. It will allow you to stream films and TV, play computer games and shop without a problem. However, if multiple people are trying to stream TV or download movies at the same time, you may run into issues.
At the more expensive end, you could pay up to £40 per month for your internet connection. If you opt for a premium deal, you could get up to 500Mbps, making your broadband exceptionally fast. If your student house is full of gamers, or you have a lot of people watching TV at the same time, it might be worth paying more for a broadband deal that gives you the internet speed you need.
Where can I get the best deal on broadband for students?
When shopping around for your student broadband deal, it’s a good idea to use an impartial comparison service. This will allow you to look at a range of different offers and find the deal that’s right for you and your friends.
Find out how we can help by giving SwitchBox a call. Our expert team will be able to talk you through the different options available, find out about your priorities, budget and requirements and find the package that’s perfect for your household.
Give us a call on 0330 818 6395
What should I look out for when choosing a student broadband package?
Shopping around for a new student broadband deal can be confusing. Set up costs, monthly fees, freebies, average speeds and coverage all need to be taken into account when selecting a deal, giving you a lot to think about as you compare packages.
To help you navigate your way through the complex world of student broadband packages, we’ve picked out some of the most important things to consider when signing up for a new deal.
Contract length
As we’ve already seen, a small choice of providers offer 9-month broadband contracts that are specifically aimed at students. If you know for certain that you’re only going to be in your student house for the duration of the academic year, one of these deals may make it easier to divide up your bills and keep household finances simple.
However, if you think you might be in the same property for a full year, or even live in the house until you graduate, you may find taking out a longer contract gives you better value for money. In general, 12 and 18-month deals are cheaper than 9-month options. This is because suppliers like their customers to sign up for as long as possible.
Opting for one of these longer deals could save you money. However, make sure you don’t sign up for too long or you could be left paying for your student internet long after you’ve moved out.
Setup costs
A lot of UK student broadband suppliers charge set up costs when households take out a new contract. These cover the expenses that providers incur when installing routers, cables and other equipment in your home.
Set up fees can add a lot to the average monthly cost of a broadband deal, with some companies charging as much as £60 to get you online. Choosing a deal with zero set up fees will help to keep your internet costs to a minimum.
Broadband speed
Internet speed is probably going to be one of the most important considerations for student houses in the UK. After all, the faster your internet is, the easier it will be for everyone in the house to use it at the same time.
Average internet speeds can vary between suppliers, deals and geographical regions. Make sure you check what sort of average speed you can realistically expect from your preferred provider before signing on the dotted line.
Monthly cost
The average monthly cost of broadband deals in the UK can range from £15 to £40. Some deals cost even more. Before you take out a new student broadband deal, talk to your housemates about how much you’re each willing to spend. This will ensure that everyone is happy with the internet deal you opt for.
Extras
Some student broadband deals offer more than just internet. Possible extras include free phone calls, free mobile SIM cards and even satellite TV. While these freebies probably aren’t enough to make you pay considerably more per month, they may help you to decide between similar deals, so it’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for any extras.
How can I check my broadband speed?
If you’ve already signed up to a broadband deal and want to know how fast your connection is, simply search for ‘internet speed test’ online. This will take you to a range of sites that can check your connection in seconds.
If you haven’t yet selected a student internet package, but want to know what sort of internet speed you could expect, you’ll need to speak to your potential provider. They’ll be able to tell you about average speeds in your area and give you a good idea of the speeds you’ll get if you sign up.
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What is the typical contract length for students?
Most students opt for 12-month broadband deals. Although some shorter 9-month contracts are available, these don’t always offer better value for money and so many households prefer to go for a cheaper, year-long contract.
If you’re planning on staying in your student property over the summer holidays, or living in the same house for a number of years, it could be well worth signing up for a 12 or 18-month deal.
Student broadband deals 9 months
If you have your heart set on a 9-month contract, the provider with the best choice of deals is BT. BT offers a selection of fast internet packages that can be taken out for 9 months. These vary in price from £27.99 to £33.99 per month. The same deals over a 12-month period would cost between £24.99 and £31.99 per month.
What do you need in order to set up broadband in your home?
When setting up a new broadband connection in your student house, there are a few bits of paperwork you’ll need to collect before signing your contract. Importantly, you’ll need to provide your supplier with your bank details so they can take payment every month.
Talk to your housemates about who’s going to be responsible for this bill before you call your chosen supplier. In most cases, the bank account holder will need to give permission for their account to be used, so make sure the nominated housemate is there when you start the process.
Alternatively, you could consider setting up a joint bank account for household bills. This can remove the individual responsibility from any one housemate and make it easier to split your finances.
Once you’ve signed up to a new broadband provider, they’ll send you a router, modem and any other equipment that’s required to get your connection up and running. In some cases, you’ll be able to install this equipment yourself, in others, an engineer will be sent out to do the work for you.
How long does it take to install broadband?
If there’s already a working phone line in the property, your broadband could be up and running in just a few days. However, if a new phone line needs to be installed, it could take up to two weeks for your connection to become active.
Do I need to buy a router?
Your internet provider should send you a router when your broadband is being installed. Some internet providers charge set up costs when installing a new broadband connection. This will normally cover the cost of a router.
How do I cancel broadband?
If you want to cancel your broadband connection at the end of your contract period, you’ll need to get in touch with your internet supplier to ask them to stop your deal. This is normally a fairly straightforward process. However, you may need to provide a month’s notice so make sure you get in touch with your supplier as soon as possible.
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FAQ
Does Virgin Media offer student discounts?
Virgin Media doesn’t currently offer a discount to students. However, the broadband supplier does occasionally offer students freebies and vouchers when they sign up.
What will the length of the broadband contract be?
Most broadband contracts last 12 to 18 months. It is possible to find 9-month contracts and even 1 month rolling deals, but these are likely to be more expensive and so offer poorer value for money.
Which is the best broadband for students?
The best broadband deal for your student house will depend on your budget, the number of people you live with and how heavily you use the internet. Use our impartial SwitchBox comparison service to find the deal that’s right for you. Give us a call on 0330 054 0020
Can I get broadband without a phone line?
It’s possible to find a number of broadband deals that provide an internet connection but no phone line. This can be a good option if everyone in your house has their own mobile phone and you don’t want to pay extra for a landline contract.
However, in most cases, you will still have to pay line rental. If you want to avoid paying line rental altogether, you’ll need access to full fibre broadband or Virgin Media’s cable broadband.
Updated on 9 May, 2022
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Alex
Broadband Specialist & Copywriter
