Student SIM for UK: land with a UK number and 40GB already working, ₹2,999 ($35.99)
A UK local number in your name before you fly, 40GB for your first 30 days on EE, O2 and Vodafone networks, 100 minutes to India, then ₹1,699 a month with the same number.
UK student SIM at a glance
The Universal eSIMs UK student SIM (Arrive Connected UK) costs ₹2,999 ($35.99) for 30 days with 40GB on EE, O2 and Vodafone networks, a UK local number active before departure and 100 India minutes. Monthly continuation costs ₹1,699. Local prepaid plans in UK cost about £10 a month, approx.
Prices checked on 25 October 2026 · Hotspot allowed on every plan · Full refund if your phone cannot install the eSIM
Arrive Connected UK: plans and prices
Prices include GST. Pay by UPI, card or PayPal; parents can pay from India. A consultant code takes 10% off the starter.
Starter kit 40GB, 30 days
₹2,999 ($35.99)
- UK local number in your name, live within 48 hours
- 100 minutes to India
- Hotspot allowed
- EE, O2 and Vodafone networks
Monthly continuation 40GB, 30 days
₹1,699 ($19.99)
- Same UK local number
- 100 India minutes a month
- Renews only when you confirm
- Or hand off to a local carrier partner
Parent calling pack 30 days
₹999 ($11.99)
- 300 minutes India to your UK number
- 3GB in UK for a parent travelling with you
- Installs on the parent's phone
- Buy any time from your account
Arrive Connected UK pricing, launch pricing
What you need a UK number for in UK
Each of these verifies a local mobile by SMS or calls you back on it. With the UK local number active before departure you can start most of them from India.
Week-one tasks in UK that need a local number
How Arrive Connected UK works: the pre-departure timeline
Visa approved: order the kit (2 to 8 weeks before you fly)
Choose Arrive Connected UK, enter your passport details and travel date, add a consultant code if you have one for 10% off. Pay by UPI or card.
Within 48 hours: your local number is assigned
We email the UK number, the eSIM QR code and a one-page setup sheet. The number is yours from this point; give it to your university and bank.
One week before departure: install on Wi-Fi
Scan the QR on your phone at home. Takes two minutes. The data plan stays dormant until the eSIM first connects abroad, so nothing is used in India.
Departure day: switch it on at the gate
Turn on the Universal eSIM line and data roaming for that line only. UK networks connect automatically on landing and your 30 days start then.
Day 25: choose how to continue
Renew the monthly plan in the app, or take the hand-off to a local carrier partner. Your number stays the same either way.
iPhone install guide · Android install guide · eSIM not connecting?
UK student SIM vs local prepaid carriers vs Indian roaming
Carrier prices are approximate list prices for prepaid plans, indicative for October 2026, converted at indicative rates, and exclude activation fees and taxes where carriers add them. They change often; check the carrier before you decide.
Getting connected in UK: the options
The case for the kit is not that it is always the cheapest line item. Local prepaid can be cheaper per month once you are settled, and the day-25 hand-off exists for exactly that reason. The kit wins on the first two weeks: the number exists before you land, the identity check is done, and India calling is included.
Your first 7 days in UK: checklist
- Day 1Switch on the eSIM before passport control. Heathrow Wi-Fi needs an SMS code; your UK number receives it.
- Day 2Collect your BRP or confirm your eVisa status online, as your university instructs. Confirm current rules with UKVI.
- Day 3Complete university registration and set up Microsoft Authenticator with your UK number as backup.
- Day 4Open a bank account: Monzo or Starling in the app with your UK number, or a high-street student account with a bank letter from the university.
- Day 5Register with a GP surgery near your accommodation using the NHS App or the surgery website.
- Day 6Apply for a National Insurance number if you plan to work part-time.
- Day 7Set up contactless or Oyster, and a railcard if you will travel; a 16 to 25 Railcard saves a third on fares.
Timings are typical, not fixed. Immigration, university and bank rules change; confirm current requirements with your university's international office.
Universities and cities covered
Universities where Indian students commonly enrol
- University College London
- Imperial College London
- University of Manchester
- University of Edinburgh
- King's College London
- University of Birmingham
- University of Leeds
- University of Glasgow
- University of Warwick
- University of Bristol
- University of Nottingham
- University of Sheffield
Coverage is on the same national networks local students use. University-specific pages follow after launch.
Cities
- London
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Leeds
- Coventry
- Nottingham
Intakes
- Autumn: mid to late September
- January: mid January, many taught masters
Most Indian students fly between 5 and 25 September. Order by mid August; the Heathrow arrivals rush means the free Wi-Fi SMS code often fails without a working number.
UK tips from the setup sheet
- The UK student plan includes EU roaming on the partner networks, so a weekend in Paris or Amsterdam does not need a second plan.
- A UK number from day one matters most for Monzo and Starling; both reject sign-ups without one, and they are the fastest accounts to open.
- Keep your Indian SIM on a cheap plan so Indian bank OTPs still arrive; keep its data roaming switched off.
Registration and regulation. UK prepaid SIMs do not require identity registration. Banks and the NHS expect a UK mobile that stays with you; keep the number when you move to a monthly plan.
Policies that apply to this plan
Reviews from students in UK
Verified reviews from students, filtered by country and university, appear here after our launch beta. They come from Trustpilot and our own post-arrival survey. We do not show placeholder or purchased reviews. Read the review policy.
UK student SIM questions
What does the UK student SIM include?
Arrive Connected UK includes a UK local number in your name that is live before you fly, 40GB of data for 30 days on EE, O2 and Vodafone networks, 100 minutes of calls to India, hotspot, and a setup sheet with the UK first-week checklist. It costs ₹2,999 ($35.99) including GST.
Why do I need a UK number before I land in UK?
GP surgeries and the NHS App confirm registration and appointments by text to a UK mobile. International students pay the health surcharge and are entitled to register; confirm with your surgery. Monzo, Starling, HSBC and Lloyds verify a UK mobile during sign-up and for every large transfer. A +91 number fails at the first step for most of them. With the number already on your phone you complete these from India or on day one.
How much does the UK student SIM cost per month after the first 30 days?
The monthly continuation costs ₹1,699 ($19.99) for 40GB a month with the same number and 100 India minutes. A full first year, starter plus 11 months, comes to ₹21,688. Local carrier prepaid plans cost about £10 a month (approx. ₹1,060 to ₹1,590) and charge extra for India calls.
Which networks does the UK student SIM use?
EE, O2 and Vodafone networks. Your phone picks the strongest signal in London, Manchester, Birmingham and across the country. Campus coverage at University College London, Imperial College London, University of Manchester is on the same national networks that local students use.
Is 40GB enough for a student in UK?
For most students, yes. Campus and accommodation Wi-Fi carry most video and downloads; mobile data covers maps, messaging, video calls home and hotspot for a laptop. Students typically use 15GB to 35GB a month. If you expect more, the Global eSIM 20GB top-up can be added from the app.
Does the UK student SIM need identity registration?
UK prepaid SIMs do not require identity registration. Banks and the NHS expect a UK mobile that stays with you; keep the number when you move to a monthly plan.
When are the UK intakes and when should I order?
Autumn: mid to late September. January: mid January, many taught masters. Most Indian students fly between 5 and 25 September. Order by mid August; the Heathrow arrivals rush means the free Wi-Fi SMS code often fails without a working number.
Can my parents call me on the UK number?
Yes. Any Indian phone can call the UK local number at that operator's international rate, or use the parent calling pack: ₹999 for 300 minutes to your number plus 3GB of data valid in UK for 30 days, for parents who travel with you.
How do I use a consultant code for the UK student SIM?
Enter the code at checkout. It takes 10% off the starter, so ₹2,999 becomes ₹2,699. Your consultant earns 15% commission. If your consultant does not have a code yet, send them the education consultants page.
What if my phone does not support eSIM?
We post a physical student SIM with the same UK local number and plan to any address in India in 1 to 3 days, with KYC completed online under DoT rules. See delivery and KYC. Check your phone first with the compatibility checker.
Related pages
• All student SIM countries
· • Arrive Connected kit explained
· • For education consultants
· • UK travel eSIM for short visits
· • eSIM compatibility checker
· • Physical SIM delivery and KYC
· • Student connectivity checklist
· • USA student SIM
· • Canada student SIM
· • Australia student SIM
· • Germany student SIM
Land in UK with your number already working
Order after your visa is approved. UK local number within 48 hours, 40GB from the moment you land, 100 minutes home. Full refund before the number is assigned.
Arrive Connected UK student SIM
Student SIM for the United Kingdom with a UK local number before departure, 40GB starter data on EE, O2 and Vodafone networks, and 100 India minutes.
Product Brand: Universal eSIMs