Student broadband

Students are typically looking for good-value broadband contracts - often with added extras like free calls, free laptops or TV deals.

See below for a selection of the best student broadband packages including mobile broadband, short contract and free laptop offers.

Compare broadband deals ideal for students below.

If required, you can check your availability with our postcode checker.

Sort packages by: All packages Bestsellers		Speed	Downloads	Contract	Monthly cost
#1	AOL Broadband Wireless Flexi Off-Peak Free wireless router & off-peak calls. No minimum contract. Sign up on 0800 049 1283 More info…	up to 8Mb	10Gb	1month	£4.99 (first 3 months, price can vary on area) Sign up »
2	3 Mobile Broadband Plus - USB Stick Free small & slim mobile USB stick More info…	up to 2.8Mb	5Gb	18months	£15.00 Sign up »
3	Vodafone Mobile Broadband - USB Modem Free USB modem. Enter promo code "mobilebb01" for a free Nokia phone More info…	up to 3.6Mb	3Gb	12months	£15.00 Sign up »
4	3 Mobile Broadband Plus (Free Laptop) Free USB modem stick & HP 530 laptop (worth £320) More info…	up to 2.8Mb	5Gb	18months	£35.00 Sign up »
5	TalkTalk Global Off-Peak Inclusive broadband & off-peak calls. Sign up on 0800 049 7864 More info…	up to 8Mb	40Gb	18months	£3.25 (first 3 months, line rental £10.50) Sign up »
6	Tiscali Option 1 Free wireless router, connection & weekend calls More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£4.49 (first 3 months) Sign up »
7	3 Mobile Broadband Plus - USB Stick Free small & slim mobile USB stick More info…	up to 2.8Mb	3Gb	12months	£15.00 Sign up »
8	Virgin Media M Phone (Cable) Fibre optic broadband with free weekend calls, modem & PCguard More info…	up to 2Mb	Unlimited	12months	£4.50 (landline £11) Sign up »
9	AOL Broadband Wireless Flexi Anytime Free wireless router & anytime calls. No minimum contract. Sign up on 0800 049 1283 More info…	up to 8Mb	10Gb	1month	£4.99 (first 3 months, price can vary on area) Sign up »
10	PlusNet Option 1 Free line rental, modem, off-peak calls, VoIP & overnight usage More info…	up to 8Mb	1Gb	12months	£4.99 (first 3 months) Sign up »
11	Tiscali Option 2 Free wireless router & free connection More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£6.49 (first 3 months) Sign up »
12	O2 Broadband Standard Free wireless router. Discounted for all existing O2 customers More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£7.50 (£12.50 for non-O2 customers) Sign up »
13	Virgin Media M (Cable) Fibre optic broadband with a free modem & PCGuard. Landline not required More info…	up to 2Mb	Unlimited	12months	£9.00 Sign up »
14	Madasafish Max Free connection, wireless kit & static IP More info…	up to 8Mb	5Gb	12months	£9.99 (first 6 months) Sign up »
15	Tiscali Talk 1 Free line rental, wireless router & weekend calls More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£9.99 (first 3 months) Sign up »
16	Virgin Media XL Phone (Cable) Fibre optic broadband with free wireless router & weekend calls More info…	up to 20Mb	Unlimited	12months	£10.00 (first 6 months, £11 line rental) Sign up »
17	Namesco Bronze Free router. Extra bandwidth for a small fee More info…	up to 512Kb	1Gb	1month	£10.95 Sign up »
18	3 Mobile Broadband Plus (Free Laptop) Free USB modem stick & HP2133 laptop (worth £400) More info…	up to 2.8Mb	5Gb	24months	£35.00 Sign up »
19	T-Mobile Web'n'Walk Plus (Free Laptop) Free Acer laptop (worth £360). Carphone Warehouse special deal More info…	up to 4.5Mb	3Gb	24months	£30.00 Sign up »
20	3 Mobile Broadband Plus (Free Laptop) Free Acer Aspire Laptop (worth £360). Carphone Warehouse special deal More info…	up to 2.8Mb	5Gb	18months	£35.00 Sign up »
21	Sky - £16 Free wireless router, 1 TV mix, UK evening & weekend calls More info…	up to 2Mb	2Gb	12months	£16.00 (plus £11 line rental) Sign up »
22	Sky Max Free wireless router & security suite More info…	up to 16Mb	Unlimited	12months	£10.00 (existing Sky TV customers) Sign up »
23	3 Mobile Broadband Lite - USB Stick Free mobile USB modem stick. Carphone Warehouse special deal More info…	up to 2.8Mb	1Gb	18months	£10.00 Sign up »
24	TalkTalk UK Weekend Free weekend calls to UK landlines. Sign up on 0800 049 7864 More info…	up to 8Mb	40Gb	18months	£4.99 (line rental £10.50) Sign up »
25	TalkTalk Global Anytime Inclusive broadband & calls. Sign up on 0800 049 7864 More info…	up to 8Mb	40Gb	18months	£5.25 (first 3 months, line rental £10.50) Sign up »

Student broadband explained

Although your parents may try to convince you that all they took to university was a knap-sack filled with sticks and they got along just fine, broadband has become an essential utility for students in this day and age.

Universities are operating more and more on the internet, sending out vital e-mails, leaving important posts on their website, and uploading notes and course content. And don’t forget those websites that are essential to nailing that impossible essay. In fact even without taking the work aspect into consideration, it can pretty difficult just to live without the internet!

Click on the links below to sort the above list by:

Monthly Cost as with all student purchases, cost is a key consideration. The key is not to look solely at this factor however- it is important to bear in mind other factors such as listed below.
Contract length signing up to a 12 month contract is not ideal, if you are planning on going home or travelling during your considerable summer and Christmas holidays. Instead consider a month by month contract that will give you the flexibility you need.
Download allowance will you be using the internet purely for checking emails and surfing the net? Unlikely. Consider whether you will be downloading music and movies with a bit of course work on the side? In which case you will need a good deal more of download allowance and would do well to consider an unlimited package.
Package deals If you are living in a flat-share you might consider going for a phone, broadband and TV bundle such as offered by Sky or Virgin Media.

Tips for laptop users

Consider any of the wireless and mobile broadband packages above to find the deal that will give you maximum flexibility.

Note: Though the mobile broadband packages above may seem more pricey than their fixed-line alternatives, you will be saving an average of £11 a month on line rental - worth considering if you intend to use your mobile phone for most of your calling.

Mobile broadband: compare all packages and deals here.

Think carefully about your budget and what you need from a broadband package, and then try to choose appropriately.