Best broadband for students

Match the contract to the term, not the year

The biggest student broadband trap is a 12, 18 or 24-month contract for a 9 or 10-month tenancy. Look for short-term or student plans (often around nine months) so you are not paying for an empty house over summer or paying to leave early. Some providers run dedicated student broadband for exactly this reason.

How much speed a student house needs

A shared house is the definition of "everything at once": several people streaming, gaming and on calls in the evening. Aim higher than you would for a couple.

• 2 sharers: 67 Mbps is usually enough.
• 3 to 5 sharers: 100 to 150 Mbps keeps everyone happy at peak time.
• Heavy gamers or big house: full fibre if it is available.

Watch the total cost, not just the monthly price

• Setup fees can wipe out a cheap monthly price on a short contract.
• Router delivery and activation sometimes cost extra.
• Split the bill fairly by putting one name on the account and using a shared pot.

Add the setup fee to the monthly cost across the whole tenancy to see the real price, then compare broadband deals on that basis.

Get connected from day one

Broadband can take two weeks or more to go live, sometimes longer if an engineer visit is needed. Order as soon as you have the address and move-in date so you are not stuck without a connection in week one. A mobile SIM-only plan with plenty of data is a useful backup while you wait.

The bottom line

Pick a short or student contract that matches your tenancy, size the speed for a full house at peak time, add setup fees into the total, and order early. That covers the three things that catch students out: contract length, evening congestion and a slow start.