What is student broadband?

Broadband deals for students can be a tricky subject. Cost is a key consideration, but lengthy contracts also make things difficult if you’re not in the same house all year round.

Some broadband providers have recognised the need to provide a specialist student broadband service and offer 9 month broadband contracts to fit within term times.

Why should I choose a student broadband deal over home broadband?

Most home broadband packages have contracts of 12, 18 or 24 months. But cancelling early results in hefty charges, which isn’t ideal for those stretched student finances.

A student broadband deal has a shorter contract so you won’t be faced with cancellation fees at the end of the school year.

Which providers offer student broadband deals?

In the past we’ve seen student broadband packages from Virgin Media, BT and Sky.

Why can’t I find any student broadband deals?

Student broadband deals aren't common. They’re only offered by a few providers and are only available for a limited time, usually around the summer when it’s most likely people will be looking for a student broadband deal to start in September.

When student deals aren’t available our comparison table will display other packages we think students may find useful.

What are some alternatives to student broadband?

No contract broadband - With a no contract (also known as rolling monthly) deal you’ve got a 30-day agreement with the provider, which means it can be cancelled at any time without having to pay for more than the remaining month.

Short term contracts - Short term contracts have you sign up for a slightly longer period, typically three or six months. But these are rarer than even rolling monthly deals.

Can I get student broadband without a phone line?

Virgin Media offers student broadband without a phone line. All other ISPs use the Openreach (BT) telephone network and require an active telephone line.

Can I get student broadband with TV?

Student broadband with TV is available from Virgin Media. Another option to consider is a NOW TV broadband and TV bundle, which is available on a one month contract.

Is student broadband right for me?

The shorter contracts of a student broadband deal can save a significant amount of money compared to early cancellation of a longer agreement.

However, with so few options you may not find a service suitable for your needs. Student broadband packages also assume you’re only going to be there during term time, but it’s not unusual for students to live in the same house all year round. In that situation the best broadband deals for students are the same as any other home broadband user.

If this is your situation, a long term broadband and phone contract is the best value option. You’ll get the best deals when signing up (free setup, free equipment, perhaps a few months of free or half price broadband) and the monthly costs will be lower.

Can I use mobile broadband instead of student broadband?

With a choice of long and short term contracts and pay-as-you-go deals, mobile broadband is a very flexible alternative, and for some students it may be the ideal solution.

But mobile broadband does rely on access to a strong signal. And the relatively small data usage caps make it ill-suited to shared houses, or even one person using it for data-hungry activities like video streaming.

For further help and to see whether mobile broadband could be suitable for you, read our guide to using mobile broadband at home.