UK Students
Many of you may simply decide to keep the mobile phone you already have. However, if you’re looking to save money, Save the Student is a good place to start – https://www.savethestudent.org/mobile-phone-student-deals
Non-UK Students
If you bring your mobile phone with you to the UK you might find that you are charged highly if you decide to use it to make phone calls while you’re here. If you want to use a mobile phone in the UK there are two options:
1. Unlock your existing phone (if it is locked to a particular provider) and buy a new SIM card that allows you to make cheap UK and international calls. There are many companies who sell SIM cards, including the network operators themselves. Lebara and Giffgaff are just two of many companies who sell SIM cards with competitive international call rates. To get a good overview of what is available you should go to a reputable mobile phone shop such as Carphone Warehouse.
2. Purchase a new mobile phone. There are five major mobile phone networks in the UK which sell a variety of handsets from different manufacturers on Pay As You Go and Pay Monthly contracts. They are EE (incorporating T-Mobile and Orange), Vodafone, O2, 3 and Virgin Media. Pay As You Go (also known as Prepaid Credit) is credit which is purchased in advance of the service used. Adding credits to your phone can be done by using a ‘Top-Up’ card at a local store or by using your bank card at an ATM. Pay Monthly contracts can vary in length from a rolling 30 day contract to longer fixed terms of 12, 18 or 24 months.
Pay As You Go Comparison
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Easier to control spending | High initial cost for the handset unless you buy a basic model |
| No early termination fee | Can pay more for calls, text messages and mobile data (internet) |
| Freedom to change networks | Calls to international or premium rate numbers may be blocked |
| Able to be used by those unable to take out a contract | May not be able to roam internationally |
Pay Monthly Comparison
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| fixed monthly cost | must be over 18 |
| set number of calls, text messages and mobile data (internet) are included | must have a UK bank account |
| handset price often includes calls to international or premium rate numbers | the monthly fee will be taken from your account every month – whether or not you can afford it |
| may be able to roam internationally | contractually obliged for the length of contract |
| termination fees for early release from contract |
We recommend that you take your time to look in the different stores and at what is available as the same deal may be cheaper elsewhere. Be careful of getting into a contract before you’ve considered all of the pros and cons listed above. If you leave the UK before the end of the contract you will be charged for all outstanding payments up until the end of the contract. You should also consider getting mobile phone insurance when purchasing a new phone.