The best way to find student broadband deals is to use our comparison tool.
Make sure to filter the results by speed, price and contract length, as these are the most important considerations when looking for student broadband deals. After all, you don’t want to stretch your budget too far or commit to a contract that will need to be terminated early. Also, while opting for slower speeds can be cheaper, you may end up with slow loading times or unequal coverage in your accommodation.
What is student broadband?
Student broadband typically has shorter, more flexible contracts, which better reflect the academic year. The most common options are a 30-day rolling contract or a 12-month package.
Rolling contracts can be cancelled with 30 days’ notice, but they often come with expensive upfront costs and higher monthly fees. Although 12-month contracts are cheaper, they may need to be terminated early if you leave your accommodation, and this will incur a fee.
Some providers offer nine-month contracts, which may be ideal for students. However, these deals are few and far between, and none are available at the time of writing.
Student deals often offer better value than traditional broadband contracts. To access these deals, use your college or university email address that ends with “ac.uk”.
Factors to consider with student broadband deals
Before using our postcode checker to find the best broadband in your area, consider the following key factors.
Who’s paying the bills? Even if you’re splitting the cost of broadband, the contract will only be in one person’s name. To avoid having your internet cut off, ensure everyone in your accommodation can afford your chosen package and can pay their share on time
How will you use the internet? If members of your student house have an internet-intensive course or are avid streamers or gamers, you’ll need higher download speeds
Which type of broadband do you need? Although full fibre broadband is the fastest, it’s not yet available nationwide. Fibre broadband still offers superfast speeds and often costs less than full fibre
Do you need a landline? While fibre broadband deals require an active phone line, full fibre does not. If full fibre is not available in your area, you will need to have a landline installed
What’s the data allowance? Most deals are for unlimited broadband, giving you access to as many downloads and as much data as you need
What’s the contract length? Student broadband deals are characterised by shorter contract lengths. Rolling contracts or 12-month packages are the best options
Do you need a wifi booster? If you live with multiple people on different floors, you must ensure everyone has reliable access to the internet, so look for deals that come with wifi boosters or speed guarantees
What are the setup times? If you check how long your student wifi will take to install, you can plan accordingly. Depending on the installation process, someone may need to be present to ensure everything goes smoothly
Are there any additional costs? Additional costs can include installation, setup and activation fees. While these are mostly one-off charges, you should confirm that everyone in your student accommodation can afford them
Types of student broadband
Several types of student broadband contracts are available, and each has benefits and drawbacks.
No-contract broadband: this is a 30-day rolling contract with high flexibility. Unfortunately, these deals are usually more costly than long-term contracts
Nine-month broadband: this is ideal for the academic year, but it’s rarely available and only offered at certain times of the year by a limited number of providers
12-month broadband: this is the most common student broadband, lasting for just one year. However, you may need to terminate a 12-month contract early if you need to leave your student accommodation
Mobile broadband: since it works with mobile data and not traditional infrastructure, mobile broadband is a great option for those without access to fibre or full fibre
Satellite broadband: while expensive, satellite broadband is one of the only options available for students living in remote locations
Tips for getting cheaper student broadband
Broadband can be a significant expense for students living on a budget, so here are some money-saving tips to help you keep your monthly bill to a minimum.
Be aware of price hikes: as advertised at the start of your contract, price hikes occur yearly and are linked to inflation
Consider a fixed deal: although this is likely to cost more monthly, you won’t be faced with a price increase later in your contract
Pay upfront where possible: if you can, paying upfront will reduce the overall cost
Opt for paperless bills: some providers offer a small discount on their monthly fees if you choose digital billing
Choose unlimited broadband: most deals are unlimited, so there are no additional fees for going over imposed limits
Consider bundling services: opting for a broadband and TV deal is more expensive but may represent better value if you frequently use the services included
Look into non-student deals: depending on where you live, traditional deals may be cheaper than student broadband deals
Which provider should I choose for the best student broadband deal?
There are plenty of broadband providers in the UK, but not all have suitable deals for students. We’ve rounded up the best student broadband deals from selected providers with shorter terms and lower monthly costs.
*Prices correct at the time of writing, 8 August 2024, and may be subject to rise mid-contract
Student broadband deals FAQs
EE, Plusnet, Sky and Onestream offer student discounts via Student Beans. To access these deals, sign up for an account using your student email address ending with “ac.uk”.
Student broadband deals don’t usually come with bundled TV services. Typically, they are either broadband-only or broadband and phone deals.
If you want a broadband and TV package, check out deals from providers such as NOW, TalkTalk or Sky.
No nine-month broadband deals are available from any major broadband provider at the time of writing. Any such deals are usually available between July and October, but only a small number of providers have offered them in the past.
Rachel is a seasoned writer who has been producing online and print content for seven years.
As a home tech expert for Independent Advisor, Rachel researches and writes buying guides and reviews, helping consumers navigate the realms of broadband and home security gadgets. She also covers home tech for The Federation of Master Builders, where she reviews and tests home security devices.
She started as a news and lifestyle journalist in Hong Kong reporting on island-wide news stories, food and drink and the city’s events. She’s written for editorial platforms Sassy Hong Kong, Localiiz and Bay Media. While in Hong Kong she attended PR events, interviewed local talent and project-managed photoshoots.
Rachel holds a BA in English Language and Creative Writing and is committed to simplifying tech jargon and producing unbiased reviews.
Amy is a seasoned writer and editor with a special interest in home design, sustainable technology and green building methods.
She has interviewed hundreds of self-builders, extenders and renovators about their journeys towards individual, well-considered homes, as well as architects and industry experts during her five years working as Assistant Editor at Homebuilding & Renovating, part of Future plc.
Amy’s work covers topics ranging from home, interior and garden design to DIY step-by-steps, planning permission and build costs, and has been published in Period Living, Real Homes, and 25 Beautiful Homes, Homes and Gardens.
Now an Editor at the Independent Advisor, Amy manages homes-related content for the site, including solar panels, combi boilers, and windows.
Her passion for saving tired and inefficient homes also extends to her own life; Amy completed a renovation of a mid-century house in 2022 and is about to embark on an energy-efficient overhaul of a 1800s cottage in Somerset.
