International students – how to save money when calling abroad from the UK
- Skype
- Vonage
- UK mobile phone providers
- International calling cards
- International access numbers
- Top tips
- Your comments
While you’re studying in the UK you’ll want to find the cheapest and most convenient way of calling friends, family and tutors back home. There are several ways to save money when calling international numbers from the UK, and we’ve rounded up the best of them.
1. Skype
If you’ve got a computer, laptop or smartphone then Skype is your best option. It’s a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service that lets you make free or heavily discounted calls over the Internet.
You can use Skype to make free calls from one computer to another as long as you and the person you're calling have Internet access, preferably broadband, and the Skype application. There are also Skype apps for iPhone, Android and Symbian smartphones, but unless you connect to the Internet via a Wi-Fi network your mobile provider will charge you for the data you use when making calls.
Alternatively, if the person you're calling doesn’t have Internet access you can use Skype to call their landline or mobile from your computer or smartphone, but Skype will charge you to make these calls.
If you’ll be calling abroad often you can save money by signing up for one of Skype’s three unlimited international calls packages. The right package for you will be determined by which part of the world you’ll be calling.
Compare Skype international calling plans
Skype’s international calls packages are competitively priced and can help you to make significant savings if you regularly call international numbers from the UK, but only if those countries fall into one of the call plans above.
What do I need?
- A computer, laptop or smartphone
- An internet connection
- The Skype app installed on your chosen device
- A Skype account
- An international calling plan (if you want to call landlines or mobiles)
2. Vonage
Vonage is another leading VoIP provider, and their service works in a very similar way to Skype.
If you have a home broadband connection and a touchtone phone you can use Vonage to make cheap calls to dozens of top international destinations. There are four international calls plans to choose from and the right package for you will again be determined by which country you’ll be calling.
To use the service you’ll need a Vonage Phone Adapter, which you’ll connect to both your touchtone phone and broadband router. Any calls you make will then be routed over the Internet at a reduced rate. As with Skype you can use a smartphone app to make free calls to other Vonage users.
What do I need?
- A computer, smartphone or Vonage phone adapter and touchtone phone
- An internet connection
- A Vonage account
- An international calling plan (if you want to call international landlines or mobiles)
3. UK mobile phone providers
If you brought a mobile phone with you when you came to the UK you should avoid using it when calling abroad, as doing so may lead to some very high roaming charges. The UK’s main mobile phone providers - 3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, and Vodafone - each have a range of options for making cheap international calls, and you can join them on a pay monthly, pay as you go or SIM-only basis, depending upon your needs.
Click on the links below for details of the international calls plans from the UK’s top 5 mobile phone providers:
3 Mobile international calls (pay monthly & PAYG)
Orange Call Abroad subscription
What do I need?
- A mobile phone from the relevant provider, or an unlocked phone
- A SIM card from that provider
- A monthly contract or Pay As You Go credit
4. International calling cards
With an international calling card you can call many top international destinations for as little as a penny or two per minute. You can get one from most supermarkets and many shops, and they usually come preloaded with credit so they’re ready to use immediately.
To make a call with an international calling card you dial the access number and enter your PIN, both of which you’ll find printed on the card. You then dial whichever number you want including the full international dialling code, and the cost of the call will be deducted from the credit on the card at a highly discounted rate.
With some cards you may be charged on a per-minute basis for the call to the access number, and this charge may well be higher if you’re calling from a mobile phone. And check if your chosen card provider charges a connection fee for each call, as this too will be deducted from your credit.
As with anything else you should shop around and compare different card types to find the best deal. A good place to start is with the Tesco International Calling Card as it’s very widely available and easy to top up both in-store and via the website.
What do I need?
- An international calling card with sufficient credit
- A landline or mobile phone to access the service
5. International access numbers
International access numbers or “Simply Dial” services work similarly to calling cards, except you don’t need credit before you can call, just a phone and the access number.
To place a call you first dial the access number and, once you’re connected, enter the number you want to phone including the full international dialling code. The cost of the call will then be added to your home phone bill, or deducted from your calls allowance or PAYG credit if you’re using a mobile.
Using an international access number is a lot cheaper than calling straight from your landline or mobile, although they’re usually not quite as cheap as using a calling card. Again, beware of any connection charges and how much the call to the access number costs, as you’ll be charged per-minute for that “leg” of the call. Calls to international mobiles are often charged at a higher rate than calling a landline in the same country.
What do I need?
- A reputable Simply Dial access provider such as Briing.com (or look for one on Google)
- A landline or mobile to place the call
6) International landline call plans
Most UK landline providers have international calls packages that can help to cut the cost of calling home. There are a number of different providers and options to choose from, and different packages offer discounts to different international destinations.
For a breakdown of the UK’s main landline providers and their international calling plans please see our How to make cheap international calls guide.
What do I need?
- A landline phone service
- An international calling plan
Our top tips for making cheap international calls
- VoIP is the best option. If you’re calling between computers or smartphones it will be completely free, and even if the person you’re calling doesn’t have VoIP access you can still use it to make reduced rate calls to their landline or mobile.
- When using a VoIP smartphone app make sure to keep an eye on your data limits, as you may be charged a penalty if you go over your allowance.
- If you can’t use VoIP, compare all of your options to find the cheapest one for calling your chosen country or countries.
- Ask your Students’ Union welfare office or International Students office if they can recommend a cheap and reliable international calling card or Simply Dial provider.
- Check the small print to make sure the country or countries you want to call are included, and keep an eye out for hidden charges such a connection fees.
- Make calls after 7pm as this may give you an extra discount (check with your provider).
- If you're living away from your student home, for example when staying with a British family using a network like HOST UK - as many international students do each year, always get permission from the bill payer before using their phone to make any international calls.