By
ResLifeEmily
Posted 2 weeks ago
Fri 11 Jul, 2025 12:07 PM
So you need a UK SIM card while you're studying at the University of Bath? Here's a complete guide of how to get one:
1. What?
What types of SIM Cards are available?
It’s easy to find a UK SIM card- they can be purchased online, from the nearest mobile phone store, or prepaid SIM cards can be found in most large supermarkets. The important thing is finding one that works for you! Before you're here, you’ll have to figure out which type of SIM card plan suits you best:
This is the standard option if you have a phone you would like to use in the UK. It’s especially convenient if you have a dual-SIM phone, in which case you can swap between your UK and home SIM card if you want to travel back and avoid roaming fees.
Network providers will offer you a free SIM card and you choose which plan works best for you. In general, the more you pay, the higher your data allowance will be. Most plans will be paid monthly; however, you can usually get better value for money if you commit to a 12-month plan.
You can order a physical plastic SIM card or E-SIM Card online. Is a physical or E-SIM card right for you?
If you want to purchase a new phone for your time in the UK, a mobile phone contract is the one for you. This includes data, minutes, and a SIM card, like with the SIM-only deal- however you also get a mobile phone. These are generally longer term than SIM-only plans, and you will have to commit to a 12 month or 24-month period.
This is a flexible option that allows you to literally ‘pay as you go’, and top up your phone with data, texts, and minutes as and when you need them.
It’s ideal if you’re not planning to use your phone too much during your time in the UK, however if this is not the case, having to top up your data allowance frequently may be annoying.
2. Why?
Why do you need a UK SIM card?
Buying a UK SIM card as soon as possible is a great way to avoid crazy international roaming fees and stay connected with friends and family while you're studying at the university! If you purchase one online before you arrive in Bath, you can immediately get connected to a UK network, allowing you to navigate arrivals more easily.
3. Which?
Battle of the SIM Cards: which brands offer the best SIM card deals for students?
It's a good idea to have a look around and search for the best SIM card deals across brands. This is particularly recommended if you're planning on signing a longer-term mobile phone contract, as brands are more likely to include bonuses in their deals.
Whether you're interested in added extras, affordability, or greater data allowances, here's a run-down of the best SIM card deals for students at the moment:
For the streamers and social media lovers:
Voxi's plans are widely acknowledged as the best if you use a lot of social media and streaming services. The Vodafone-owned service offers Unlimited Social, Video, and Music plans, which allow you unlimited access to WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more (depending on which plan you pick) without cutting into your data allowance!
Best SIM-only plan right now
For £20 a month, you can get 300GB of data, which includes Voxi's Unlimited Social, Music and Video. This means you get unlimited access to social media platforms and streaming services without using up your data allowance.
It is worth mentioning that the subscriptions are not included in the plan, so you'll benefit more if you have existing subscriptions to the streaming services.
For the streamers and social media lovers:
If you haven't already got the subscriptions, Vodafone offers long-term plans that include subscriptions to some streaming services in the price (unlike Voxi)!
If you sign up for some of their 24-month Vodafone Entertainment plans, you can get free Amazon Prime (including Prime Video) or YouTube Premium.
Want to stick to the basics?
Or, if you just want to stick to a simple plan, they offer Vodafone Basics if you sign up for 12 months, like 80GB and unlimited UK minutes and texts for £8 a month.
O2 makes it very easy to choose which plan you need, as they have a handy data usage calculator on their website and can help you pick which plan is best for you (based on your requirements) if you're unsure!
Several of their plans include a subscription to Disney+, Amazon Prime, Amazon Music Unlimited, Audible, and others.
Best SIM-only plan right now:
For £19.99, you can get 150GB data, international roaming, and 6 months subscription to a streaming service of your choice!
Big on data & affordability
If you want a plan with lots of data, then Three is a good choice. If you commit to a 24-month contract, they offer unlimited data for just £20 a month!
Also, if you know any other students in need of a UK SIM Card, you can refer a friend and get up to £80 cash...
Smarty
Smarty uses the Three network and most of their plans are rolling-month contract so you have the flexibility of being able to cancel whenever you want. They also have Data Discount Plans, which means that if you have any unused data in your account at the end of the month, they give you money off next month's bill!
A great budget choice:
GiffGaff offers lots of cheap data plans, with the smallest one starting at £6 for 2GB (including unlimited calls and texts) on a monthly rolling contract- so you can cancel at any time.
If you're willing to sign up for 18 months, it's 6GB for £8. With unlimited calls and texts, this allows you to stay connected to your friends and family while studying.
A great budget choice:
Lebara is owned by Vodafone, and offers some of the most affordable SIM plans.
30-day plans start at £5 per month for £5, or £4.50 if you sign up to a 12-month contract. You can also get at least 100 international minutes for calls to countries outside the EU, making it a great choice for international students (and roaming in India and Europe is free).
Best SIM-only plan right now:
Lebara offers 30GB of data, unlimited UK minutes & texts, and 100 international minutes for £10 a month.
If you're unsure how much data you may need from a plan, online data usage calculators help you estimate so you can make a decision about which plan will suit you best! Either search online, or use this one here: data usage calculator to get a general idea.
4. How?
How do you actually buy a UK SIM Card?
We recommend that you buy before you fly! Buying a SIM Card online before you get here is great as it means you can get immediately connected to a mobile network, and focus on the other important parts of arriving in Bath. Many companies allow you to purchase their deals online and have the physical SIM Card sent to you, or you can purchase an E-Sim Card.
Figure out what your priorities are, and decide on the provider and plan that works best for you!
If you're signing up for a mobile phone contract, providers often require some documents (proof of identity, proof of a UK address, and UK bank account) so it may be best to wait until you have arrived in the UK.
Buying your UK SIM card is a great way to get prepared for arriving in the UK- it's one less thing to think about! Many companies have an order online option, and even if you don't purchase one before you arrive, they have same or next day delivery options for SIM cards, so you don't have to wait long.
This is where it can get a bit tricky, as some providers require proof of a UK address and don't ship internationally. However, you can order SIM cards to your home address before you leave for the UK, like with GiffGaff.
This step can only be done once you're in the UK, as you will need to be connected to a network. Your chosen provider will likely have different instructions and options to activate online (for example, some SIMs activate as soon as you put them in your phone, other providers may send you a one-time PIN, or ask you to input the new SIM card's serial number to connect you).
It's important to note that the activation process isn't always immediate. In general it should only take a couple of minutes, however it can sometimes take up to 24 hours if there is network congestion. If you're having issues, check it's been inserted correctly, or contact customer support for further help).
You're now ready to go!
Top tips:
Buy before you fly!
Arriving in a new country can be overwhelming. Having a UK SIM Card in your phone right from the start means you can call, text, and use data without seeking public Wi-Fi or purchasing a local SIM in a rush- which isn't always easy if you don't know where the shops are yet!.
Student discounts
Many providers offer student discounts! This could either be by providing an ac.uk email address (your University of Bath email address), or specific codes from student discount websites (such as UniDays or Student Beans). Lucky for you, before semester starts is the perfect time to be buying tech & electronics, as most brands offer student discounts at that time to support new university students!
International minutes
If you're planning on travelling in between semesters, it's a good idea to pick a plan that has a good amount of international minutes, allowing you to roam in countries outside of the UK.
Increasing costs
Make sure you don't get caught out by increasing costs! Whilst most monthly fees stay stable, it's a good idea to check the terms and conditions to make sure you're aware of any changes in your bill (this is why some people opt for a 12 or 24 month contract, to freeze the costs).
Phew! That's a lot of information!
If you're still not sure which plan is best, how to buy, or have any questions, feel free to contact internationalsupportservice@bath.ac.uk or reslifesupport@bath.ac.uk
