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New keys, new housemates and a group chat already asking for the WiFi password. The only problem is that nobody has one yet.
Halls usually come with WiFi. A shared student house often doesn't, and a new broadband line can take a while to go live. You can still get everyone online in the meantime without signing up for something that outlasts the tenancy.
Check what your accommodation already includes
Start with whoever runs the building. Ask your halls, letting agent or landlord:
- whether WiFi is included in the rent;
- whether it reaches your room or only the shared areas;
- how many devices each person can connect; and
- who to contact when it stops working.
If WiFi is included but isn't working properly, report it to the accommodation provider first. A temporary connection can be a useful backup, but it doesn't replace anything your tenancy says the accommodation will provide.
Sort the long-term broadband early
In a shared house, one person usually takes out the broadband contract for everyone. Before anyone signs, check:
- the contract length against your tenancy dates;
- the earliest activation date the provider can offer;
- whether an engineer visit is needed; and
- what happens if you move out before the contract ends.
For a full academic year, a broadband contract is usually the cheaper way to stay online. Ask providers whether they offer a term that fits the academic year, so you are not paying for broadband after you have moved out.
Order it as early as you can. The options below are for the gap before it goes live, not a replacement for it.
Your options while you wait
Your phone hotspot
A hotspot shares your phone's mobile data with a laptop. It is fine for one person checking email or submitting coursework over a few days.
Check your data allowance first. Lecture recordings, video calls and game updates use data quickly, and several housemates sharing one phone won't last long.
Campus and library WiFi
Many UK universities provide campus WiFi, often through eduroam, which also works at other participating institutions. Campus is a sensible place for large downloads and deadline work while the house has no connection.
It won't help in the evenings or at weekends, when everyone is back at the house and wants to get online at once.
Pocket WiFi for one person
A Pocket WiFi device creates a small personal network over the mobile network and connects up to 10 devices. It suits one student who moves between the house, campus and a part-time job, and it keeps your phone free for calls.
If you just need your own connection, see the Pocket WiFi for the details.
A 5G Home Router for the whole house
A mobile Home Router plugs into the mains and creates one WiFi network for the house using 4G or 5G. There is no landline, no engineer visit and no fixed installation. The FlexiWiFi 5G Home Router connects up to 32 devices, so every housemate's laptop, phone and console can share it.
This is usually the most practical choice when four or five people need to get online before the broadband is live.
Split the cost before you order
Temporary WiFi is easier when the house agrees the money first. Decide who will book it, how you will split the rental and when it will go back.
One shared connection can be simpler than everyone topping up their phone data separately. Put the plan in the group chat so nobody is surprised later.
Check the signal at your address
Mobile internet depends on the signal where you live. Use Ofcom's mobile coverage checker to compare predicted 4G and 5G coverage at your exact address.
Busy student areas and older houses with thick walls can change what you actually get indoors. Treat the checker as a guide, then try the router in a few spots, such as near a window or higher up in a shared room.
Just arrived in the UK?
If you have come from abroad to study, setting up a broadband contract can take longer while you are still sorting a UK bank account or address. Temporary WiFi can cover the first few weeks while you settle in.
For options that travel with you from the airport, see WiFi hire for arriving in the UK.
When temporary WiFi is not the answer
Temporary WiFi is not the cheapest way to stay online for a whole year. If your broadband can be installed within a few days, a hotspot may cover the wait at no extra cost. If your halls WiFi works well, you don't need anything else.
It makes sense when the gap is longer than a few days, several people need to share, or your tenancy is too short or uncertain for a contract.
Keep it only as long as you need it
A temporary internet rental should end when the broadband starts. No contract. Rent it for as long as you need it. If the installation date slips, extend the rental. When the fixed line is working, send it back when you're done. FlexiPromise refunds 50% of unused rental days, subject to a minimum 3 day rental charge.
Check the latest delivery and returns information before you book so the device arrives before you need it.
Get the house online without overcommitting
Check what is included, book the long-term broadband early and cover only the gap. A hotspot or campus WiFi may be enough for a few days.
When the whole house needs a connection, a temporary Home Router keeps everyone online until the fixed line is ready. Delivered to your door. Send it back when you're done.
Useful to know
Frequently asked questions
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