Student broadband deals

Yes, if you have TV bingers and sport fans in your student house, look out for broadband deals with an entertainment and sports package built in. Pay TV can be a lot more affordable when you’re splitting the cost between a few of you, and all-in-one broadband and TV bundles might offer better value.

You’ll be able to mix and match plans, as well as access streaming services, smart TV apps and films on demand – all the entertainment you need for a big night in with your mates.

By bundling your services together, you’ll also only have one bill to worry about each month. A word of caution though – most TV packages will lock you into a contract of at least 18 months, so you’ll need to be prepared to make a long-term commitment.

Yes, potentially. In recent years, the big providers have introduced more flexible broadband deals aimed at those living in shared accommodation and students who usually go home during the summer months. 

If flexibility is important to you, there are providers who offer nine-month contracts. The downside is that they might cost more overall than a standard 12 to 18-month contract.

Also, many providers offer incentives to get you to sign up for 12-18 months. These can include free set-up costs, gift cards and reward cards, so it’s worth using our comparison service to review all your options.

If price is your deciding factor, see if it’s cheaper to pay for the entire period or pay a cancellation fee on a 12-month contract. This may still be better than taking out a short-term specialist package.

It depends on how you use your broadband. If there are more than three of you using devices, this will quickly eat up bandwidth.

Whether you’re streaming music, gaming, watching catch-up TV or researching your latest essay, you’ll soon get frustrated if your connection slows down or even worse, drops out completely. So it’s important you have broadband with a download speed that’s fast enough to cope with the demands of your household. 

For that reason, you may be better off with superfast fibre broadband. If you’re willing to pay a bit more each month, and it’s available at your address, you can get ultrafast speeds of over 100Mbps.

You can easily check your broadband upload and download speeds with our broadband speed checker. You’ll be able to see the average speeds each provider offers at a certain address but will need to be in the property to see the exact speed you’ll get.

If your service doesn’t deliver the speeds you were promised by your provider, when you signed up for your contract, get in touch with them. If the problem is on their network and they can’t fix it within 30 days, they must let you leave your contract without having to pay an early exit fee.

Potentially, yes. A small number of providers, including Virgin Media and BT, do offer broadband deals tailored towards students. But they’re not always available, and the window of opportunity to buy them might not last long.

Student deals are often only around for a few months before the start of the new academic year in September. But you should weigh up whether the discount and the package is right for you.

It’s up to you to decide. Your broadband provider will usually want the contract to be in one person’s name. So you’ll need to agree on who’s responsible for making sure your bills are paid on time and then work out who owes what. 

Having your name on a bill can help build up your credit score too if the bill is always paid on time and in full. To make it easier, you could download a bill-splitting app or set up a joint bank account for everyone to pay into.

Bear in mind that there is an element of risk with a joint account, though. If one of you fails to make your contribution for a bill payment on time, the credit score of everyone named on the account could be negatively affected.

Some providers offer broadband deals without the need for a credit check. These include NOW, Plusnet and BT’s Basic broadband. Even if you have to undergo a credit check, it won’t be as strict as applying for a credit card or loan.

That said, it’s a good idea to keep your credit rating healthy if you can – it might give you access to more deals. It’s a good idea to improve your credit score, if you can in the run up to moving into a shared house.

Almost every broadband deal will include a free WiFi router to support all your devices and, if it’s not free, there’ll only be a one-off charge. You’ll also need a working phone line, unless you’ve opted for fibre or broadband without a landline.

If you live in a big student house with WiFi ‘black spots’, it might be worth getting a router with a bit more oomph, or WiFi extenders that will make your signal travel further.

Typically it can take up to 14 days for broadband installations with a dedicated phone line, but it may be longer in some areas. Some fibre installations without a phone line are quicker.

Ultimately, it depends on whether an engineer has to come out or if anything needs activating. Your provider should be able to give you a time frame when you sign up for your deal.

Once you take out a broadband contract, you’ll have the right to cancel within the first 14 days without having to pay a penalty.

After that, you’ll most likely be charged a fee if you want to cancel before your contract’s up. Check how much it is though, as in some cases the early cancellation fee could still be worth paying if you want to switch to a better deal.

Plug your router into the main phone socket, if possible. Ideally routers should be installed in a central position, on a shelf or table, not the floor. Keep it away from:

• Devices that emit wireless signals
• Halogen lamps
• Dimmer switches
• Stereo or computer speakers
• Fairy lights
• TVs and monitors.

If you’re experiencing slow speeds, run a broadband speed test. You’ll be shown both your download and upload speeds. Test it in different rooms and on different devices to see where the problems lie. 

If the speed you’re getting is much slower than the one you were quoted, contact your provider for help.