In a student house, the broadband has to survive five people streaming, gaming and joining lectures at once, on a contract that ends before the next academic year.
Our simple pick for most house shares is Virgin Media M500 Student Broadband. It runs for 12 months rather than 24, and its 516Mb average download speed gives a busy house plenty of bandwidth. You need a valid .ac.uk email address to order, and your house must be on Virgin Media’s network.
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Student broadband options
| Best for | Package | Average download / upload speed | Monthly price now | Price from April 2027 | Contract | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most house shares | Virgin Media M500 Student | 516Mb / 52Mb | £30.99 | £34.99 | 12 months | .ac.uk email needed |
| Two or three students | Virgin Media M125 Student | 132Mb / 20Mb | £26.99 | £30.99 | 12 months | .ac.uk email needed |
| Large or gaming-heavy houses | Virgin Media Gig1 Student | 1.1Gb / 104Mb | £29.99 | £33.99 | 12 months | .ac.uk email needed |
| No Virgin Media, no installation | Vodafone 5G Broadband 150 | 150Mb | £21.00 | £24.50 | 12 months | Needs strong 5G signal |
Prices are for new customers ordering online, checked on 15 October 2026. Virgin Media’s student deals are seasonal and can be withdrawn.
Picking a speed for a house share
Count the people, then think about the busiest evening. Each 4K stream needs 15Mb or more, according to Netflix’s own guidance, and games consoles download updates that can run to tens of gigabytes.
- Two or three people: 100Mb to 150Mb is comfortable.
- Four or five people: aim for 300Mb to 500Mb.
- Six or more, or keen gamers: consider 900Mb or above.
Upload speed matters more than students expect. Group video calls, uploading coursework videos and streaming gameplay all depend on it. Virgin Media’s upload speeds are lower than full fibre rivals at the same download speed, so a house of content creators may prefer a full fibre provider with stronger upload.
Contract length and term dates
Most student tenancies run for 10 to 12 months. A 12-month contract that starts in September ends close to when many tenancies finish, which is why these deals exist. A 24-month contract would leave someone paying an exit fee or handing the account to next year’s tenants.
If your tenancy is shorter than 12 months, compare the cost of a rolling monthly deal in our no-contract guide.
Order early. Installation usually takes up to two weeks, and longer in the first weeks of term when everyone orders at once.
Whose name goes on the bill
One housemate holds the account, passes the credit check and is legally responsible for paying. Set up a standing order from each housemate to that person before the first bill arrives. Make sure the account holder’s tenancy covers the whole contract.
Cancelling at the end of the year
Most providers need 30 days’ notice. Put the contract end date in a shared calendar and give notice before you move out, or the service will roll on at the out-of-contract price. Return the router if the provider asks, as some charge for unreturned equipment.
FAQs
Which providers offer student broadband?
At the time of writing, Virgin Media is the only major provider with dedicated student packages. Other providers offer 12-month or rolling deals that work for students without a student label.
Do I need an .ac.uk email for student broadband?
For Virgin Media’s student deals, yes. Universities usually issue this address once your enrolment is confirmed.
Can students get broadband without a credit check?
Most contracts include a credit check. If the account holder has little credit history, a provider that offers deals without a credit check, or a pay-monthly 5G service, may be easier.
Is 5G broadband good enough for a student house?
It can be, but speeds depend on indoor signal and how busy the local mast is. A wired connection is usually more consistent in the evening.