What's a student broadband deal?
If you're off to Uni or College and don't have the luxury of staying in a well-connected Halls of Residence, you'll need to think about how you're going to stay online.
Because it's not always possible to stay in accommodation for a full year, signing up to a lengthy contract could end up causing hassle. To help with this, some broadband providers offer shorter contracts that fit better within term times.
Student broadband: the key points
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What to look for in student broadband
Most home broadband contracts have a minimum contract term of 12, 18, or 24 months. This can be a problem if you're a student who won’t be staying in the same place all year. If you cancel early, it's likely you'll be charged additional fees. This obviously isn't great if you're budgeting your student loan.
Which broadband providers offer student deals and when?
Dedicated student broadband deals aren't too common. They’re only offered by a few providers and for a limited time. This is usually around the summer when it’s most likely people will be looking for a student broadband deal to start in October.
To see what's available in your area for shorter contracts, enter your address or postcode into our deals checker.
What should I consider when comparing student broadband deals?
Contract Length
Pay attention to dates and the cost of the service out of your minimum contract. If you don't cancel before your contract end date your service will continue - and likely at a much higher cost.
Speed
Larger house shares will need faster broadband.
The minimum download speed we suggest is 36Mb. But if you and your housemates will be doing a lot of online gaming or streaming HD content, you’ll want more.
For the majority of broadband deals, you won’t find great upload speeds, but that's OK. The download speeds offered should be enough for streaming Netflix, online gaming and general browsing. Upload speeds are more important for users who will be streaming themselves (hosting on Twitch, for example), making video calls and sharing files.
Whether you download or upload a lot, you should still keep any download and usage limits in mind.
For more help to understand broadband speed, read our 'ultimate guide to broadband speed'.
Gaming
If you like to de-stress over the evening and weekends with a few hours of online gaming, you're going to need a broadband package that can deal with that.
You want a reliable speed, a decent usage allowance, and a connection that isn't going to keep dropping your game during peak hours when everyone is online. However, you might be surprised to find not all games need a superfast connection.
If gaming is your thing, then you'll probably find it useful to check our Broadband for Gamers guide to help you choose a provider.
What usage and download limits should I go for?
Most broadband packages now come without usage limits, so you won't have to worry about how much you download and won't be charged for extra data.
Some unlimited services have fair usage policies or traffic management in place, but they won’t affect the majority of users. But it’s important to know about them...just in case!
What are some alternatives to student broadband?
If you can't find suitable student broadband deals, here are your next best alternatives.
- No-contract broadband
With a no-contract (or 1-month contract) deal, you’ve got a 30-day agreement with the provider. That means it can be cancelled at any time, without having to pay for more than the remaining month.
These types of deals only really make sense if you’re sure you’ll need to cancel within 12 months. These contracts tend to be more expensive than most 12-month deals and often have higher set-up fees.
- Short-term contracts
Short-term contracts have you sign up for a slightly longer period than no contract packages. It’s typically three or six-month terms. Unfortunately, these types of broadband deals are now rare.
- Broadband with no setup fee
This isn’t quite an alternative, but a convenient money-saving option. Some deals offer broadband with no upfront fees, which can save you money. You can use the filters on the table above to see these deals.
Can I use mobile broadband instead of student broadband?
With a choice of long and short-term contracts, as well as pay-as-you-go deals, mobile broadband is a very flexible alternative. So it may be an ideal solution for some students. It's also a good option if you don't have a landline or cable connection to your property and your landlord won't let you arrange an installation.
Three's 5G or 4G home broadband deals are available on a rolling monthly basis. You might find its 4G option too slow unless you simply want a service for browsing and email, but its 5G option is very fast (if you can get it) and should serve you and your housemates well. Just be aware that mobile broadband needs access to a strong signal.
Before you sign up, it's important to check out Three's coverage map to make sure you'll be covered.
For further help, and to discover whether mobile broadband could be suitable for you, read our guide to using mobile broadband at home.
Is student broadband right for me?
Shorter contracts can save students a lot of money. If you end up having to pay for the early cancellation of a longer 18 or 24-month contract, it can end up costing you a small fortune.
If you prefer to stay put over the holidays, the best deals for students will be the same as any other home broadband user.
If this sounds like you, a long-term unlimited broadband contract is the best value option. You’ll get the best deals when signing up.
Perks such as free setup, free equipment and perhaps a few months of free or half-price broadband. You might even find some good reward deals.
FAQs about student broadband
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Do students get a discount on broadband deals?
Students sometimes get discount on broadband deals. But it's more likely providers will offer discounts or rewards across a whole range of packages - regardless of whether you’re taking out a student deal. It’s always worth checking back in at Broadband Genie to try to find the best deals.
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Whose name goes on the bill and who pays?
This is a decision you'll have to come to a household. Remember, this person will be responsible for making sure the bill is paid on time, and they'll also have to cough up for any set-up fees. A bill-splitting app, like Acasa or online banking features for requesting money (i.e Monzo's split billing) can be the easiest way to get around this.
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Does student broadband include a Wi-Fi router?
Almost every broadband deal will include a free Wi-Fi router. If it’s not free, the one-off charges shouldn't be too high. You will normally need to return this device at the end of your contract, though. There's also a charge for damaged or lost routers.
You may also be able to use your own Wi-Fi router, but check with the provider in advance, as this isn’t always permitted. Bear in mind if you use this, you may not have access to tech support if something goes wrong.
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Do I need to pass a credit check for student broadband?
Most broadband packages require you to pass a credit check. This isn't as strict as applying for a loan or credit card, but if you don't have a great credit score, some providers may refuse you. If you're worried about this, you'll need to look at broadband deals without a credit check.
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How long does broadband installation take?
Broadband installation usually takes two weeks. This includes all the little administration bits. This means you’ll probably need access to your student accommodation before term starts if you want to be up and running on day one. Make sure to arrange that with the university, or your landlord.
The actual installation shouldn’t take more than a few hours. If your property has already been connected to the BT or Virgin networks (depending on which you’re signing up to) it’ll just be switching it back on. If the property hasn't been connected before, there may need to be a little bit more work involved. Make sure you get approval from your landlord before carrying out any new installations.
Expert Summary
One of the most important things you need to get sorted out before starting university is broadband. Making sure you have a good connection and can get online easily will make a big difference to your studies, and your leisure time.
Most fibre broadband deals now come with unlimited usage. This makes things easier, so you don't have to worry about being charged extra for data.
The main thing to avoid is signing up to a lengthy 18 or 24-month contract. It might be tempting to be lured into these, thinking you can cancel later, especially as they often have a cheaper monthly price. However, broadband providers take their contract agreement terms very seriously. Cancelling early isn't really ever an option unless there are special circumstances. Early termination fees can end up being expensive.
Sadly, this means you'll probably have to avoid dedicated broadband and TV packages, but there are a few options available. Rolling contract broadband can keep things a little more flexible and give you the freedom to cancel once everyone's left for the end of term. However, these tend to come with a higher set-up cost, which you'll need to cover before you get connected.