How to choose the Best Student Broadband Deals

Save time and money when choosing a student broadband package. Our top tips will help you find the best broadband deals in your area.

It’s almost impossible to imagine studying away from home without access to a fast, reliable broadband Internet connection.

As a student you’ll be relying on the Internet to research your assignments, to email tutors and friends, to download coursework, to keep in touch with friends and family back home and for the occasional bit of socialising of course.

There are some great packages for you to consider when selecting your student broadband provider, with special offers and features specifically aimed at academics.

There are so many options that you may find it difficult knowing where to start. So, let us take you through the different things you need to consider when choosing a student broadband package.

1. Choose the right contract length

One of the differences between student broadband packages and other home broadband packages is the contract length. ISPs know that students tend to move home for the summer or move to new accommodation for their second and subsequent years, so the broadband packages they offer to students usually have shorter contracts than their standard packages. This can be great news, as it means that you don’t have to pay for a 12-month broadband package that you won’t be able to use if you’re away over the summer.

Some providers offer broadband packages on short contracts that last the 9 months of an academic year. Others offer 3 month contracts for greater flexibility and some offer 1 month contracts. As a rule, you’ll pay a slightly higher monthly cost for short-contract broadband but, in the long run, it could save you money.

However, just because you're a student, it doesn’t mean that you have to opt for a short-contract broadband deal. If you will be living in the same student house for more than a single academic year then you can save money by choosing a package or bundle with a 12 or 18-month contract, especially if you're staying in the house over the summer months.

2. Shared connections

It’s very important that you consider how many people will regularly be sharing your broadband connection as some packages have a maximum download speed and monthly download allowance that you need to take into account.

Download speed

The top speed you’ll get from your broadband service is determined by a number of factors such as the package you sign up for, the distance from your local exchange and – crucially - how many people will using the connection at any given time.

If you’ll be living on your own then a slower package of up to 10Mb should be fine, especially if you’ll only be using your connection for light browsing and emailing. You should be able to get a cheap package and it should be fast enough for your needs.

Shared student houses

If you’ll be living in a shared house with a few friends then you'll need a faster connection. If one housemate is streaming music upstairs and another is playing videogames online while you're trying to get that coursework done it may well lead to bottlenecks - and arguments.

With a group of you splitting the monthly cost of student broadband you should be able to afford a fast connection. A faster broadband package won't cost you that much more, so don’t be tempted to scrimp on the cost of a higher download speed.

Broadband contracts tend to be in one name only, and the responsibility for paying the bill will fall to that person. Work out between you who’s going to be responsible for the broadband package or bundle and make sure that they have the funds in their account to cover the bill when it comes. Some providers may allow you to put multiple names on the bill so give serious consideration to doing so if it’s an option; otherwise it may lead to problems if one or more people move out before they’ve settled their share of the bills.

Fibre optic broadband

If you live in a cable area you can get fibre optic broadband which usually delivers actual download speeds much closer to the advertised speeds than ADSL over the phoneline broadband can. But, if lots of people will be accessing the internet at the same time you’ll need to think carefully about how slow your connection may become, and invest in a sufficiently fast package.

Monthly download allowance

The monthly download allowance, or usage allowance, is perhaps the single biggest factor you need to consider after cost when choosing your student broadband package.

You can get cheap broadband package with a fixed monthly download allowance which should be enough if you're the only one using the connection. Keep video streaming and downloads to a minimum.

Don't fall for false economy

If you’ll be living in a crowded house full of ardent web surfers then you should consider an unlimited broadband package. A bargain basement package may seem attractive but don’t fall for false economy.

With six students all on Facebook, YouTube and Spotify at all hours of the day and night you’ll soon eat through a low usage allowance. Do the smart thing and pay the extra for a package with a high or unlimited usage allowance to avoid any penalties or, worse, disconnection at a critical time.

Bear in mind what the connection will be used for. If you’re on a film course you may have to upload and download movies as coursework while architecture and engineering students frequently have to download large files to work on. The last thing you need is to find that you can’t download or upload your coursework when that deadline draws near. Make sure you get the right balance of monthly download allowance and cost at the start of term.

3. Broadband without a phone line

Virgin Media

If you live in a Virgin Media area then you have the option to sign up for broadband without a phone line. This can save you money over the course of your student years as you won’t have to pay line rental.

Mobile broadband as an alternative

If you don’t live in a Virgin Media area consider mobile broadband. You can choose from a range of contract lengths or go for a pay as you go deal if you prefer and you’ll be able to take your broadband with you wherever you go. If you sign up for mobile broadband from your existing mobile phone provider you may also qualify for a discount on your monthly fee.

4. Consider broadband bundles

By opting for a bundle instead of a broadband only package you can get one or more extra services from your chosen provider, such as a digital TV package or an inclusive calls plan.

By bundling services in this way you’ll usually be able to make some savings when compared to taking each service from a different provider and you’ll have the convenience of combining all your charges on a single bill at the end of the month.

In Virgin Media cable areas you can get a Virgin Media student bundle with unlimited fibre optic broadband, inclusive weekend calls and your choice of either a basic or a deluxe TV package, and all on a short 9-month contract.

More widely available are bundles from Sky and BT. Both providers offer a range of broadband, TV and phone bundles that allow you to select the specific level of each service that suits your needs. Currently neither BT nor Sky is offering short contracts, preferring instead to offer their bundles on standard contracts.

Save money with a longer contract bundle

Will you be staying in the same accommodation for 18 months to 2 years? If so you’ll be able to save even more money by signing up for a longer contract, and have more providers to choose from. For less than £15 a week you can get an unlimited broadband package, TV recorder, hundreds of TV channels, inclusive evening and weekend calls plus your line rental – all on one bill. And if you’re splitting the cost amongst a group of housemates then you’ll be getting all of these services for just a few pounds each per week.

5. Don't forget extras

Make sure you take into account the extras and freebies on offer when choosing your student broadband deal. It’s often the case that if you opt for the very cheapest deal you won’t get as many perks as you would if you’re willing to pay just a few pounds extra each month.

These freebies can include a free wireless router worth £50 or more, brand-name online security software to protect your precious coursework and unlimited Wi-Fi minutes, so you can continue your browsing in any of the several thousand public “Hotspots”. Consider if opting for a cheap package with no extras will end up costing you more in the long run, and choose carefully.

6. Compare student broadband deals

Now you’ve got a better idea of what to look out for when selecting your student broadband package you're now ready to compare student broadband deals. Keep these things in mind as you do and you’ll be able to find the right deal in no time at all:

Which student broadband deals are available in your area?
What will you be using your broadband connection for?
How many people are going to be using your connection?
Would you benefit from other bundled services, such as digital TV or inclusive calls?
Do you live in a cable broadband area?
Will you be in your property long enough to avoid the higher costs of a short contract?
Will a bundle be more cost-effective for you?
Will you be splitting the bill with any housemates?

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