As soon as you step out of your flight, you want to update your family and friends of your arrival, your bags are heavy and following the signs while managing other things feels like a task, and to add to the stress, your phone shows NO SIGNAL!
This is not true for people opting for eSIM, as it is instant activation, which can be done before or after you land. Imagine an international student with an activated eSIM. As soon as he lands, he can text and update his family, his social, and use maps in the new city, everything uninterrupted and without added stress.
An international student’s need from eSIM is quite simple: they need a fair price, good coverage, instant activation, and freedom to move across countries without getting heavily charged.
Connectivity Challenges for International Students
There are 4 big problems any student landing in the UK tends to face when it comes to connectivity.
Overpriced Roaming: Using your home number and SIM is never advised, as it can trigger extremely high roaming fees, especially if you are someone with a higher reliance on data.
No Activated SIM: Depending on physical SIM means looking for a store at the airport, standing in long queues, or ordering online and waiting for the SIM to arrive, and then some more waiting for activation. All this while you are out of data access or getting overcharged for using roaming on your home number.
ID and Travel needs:
Most operators require your local ID to get you tied up to a contract. Or some operators do not allow you good roaming options, so while exploring places around or even if you are someone traveling with friends, or peers for assignments or fun, you will be charged higher roaming rates.
These reasons make eSIM with an affordable plan the prime phone need for students moving to the UK.
How eSIM Solves These Problems
A quality eSIM with a quality brand like Lyca Mobiles can not only address but also solve these problems without burning a hole in your budget.
Multiple Countries. One Carrier. One eSIM: Lyca Mobile’s many plans cover multiple regions, not only in the EU but across countries. So, you can explore around the UK in the EU as well as have a usable plan even when you go home during breaks.
No Store Visits, No Unnecessary Paperwork: You can buy Lyca Mobile’s eSIM online and activate the number simply by scanning a QR code, which gives you access to a usable phone number within minutes. This saves you time, no standing in long queues, or looking for stores to buy a SIM, and doesn’t require paperwork.
Transparent pricing and Easy Top-Ups: Lyca Mobile’s plan clearly lays out details of the plan, how much data and call & text allowance, as well as in unlimited plans, what the caps are, this is the same for roaming and international callings. Apart from transparency, Lyca Mobile provides easy and flexible top-ups; you can choose plans or change them as per your usage and lifestyle needs.
eSIM for Short-Term VS Long-Term Students
Choosing the plan you need to choose for your eSIM completely depends on the length of your stay, travel habits, and lifestyle needs.
Short-Term: Students coming to the UK for summer school, one semester, or as exchange students for a shorter period of time should choose prepaid bundles or plans with fixed validity to make the best out of the perks Lyca Mobile provides. You also need to look for countries in which roaming and calling are allowed so that you can make the most out of your short yet adventurous stay.
Long-Term: Students who are coming to the UK for multi-year degrees or planning to study and do an internship both in the UK, need a high data and higher international calling and texting plan. As well as plans with higher roaming options, like the bundles and plans with Lyca Mobiles
Choosing plans based on the stay term and usage needs helps a lot of students to save while in the UK or even while traveling.
Device Compatibility & Setup Tips
It is of high importance for international students to ensure that their phone or device is compatible with eSIMs before they buy a plan. You can make sure that it is unlocked and supports eSIM technology.
How to check compatibility: Most modern Android and iPhone models are compatible with eSIMs. You can check in the network settings for ‘Add eSIM’ or Add Mobile Plan’ options.
Quick Setup:
For iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM. Scan the QR code and follow the prompts.
For Android: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM. Scan the provided QR code.
Optimize Dual-SIM: You can use your home physical SIM for bank and emergency calls, and keep in touch with your friends or old friends at home. eSIM for UK calls/text and data usage.
Home data OFF: Make sure you turn off mobile data access OFF your home SIM. This will help you prevent getting charged for roaming accidentally.
When used correctly, an eSIM is the best lifeline. It works instantly on arrival, keeps you connected even when you cross the border, and eSIM is more secure, making it easier to manage.
FAQs
Can I keep my physical SIM active?
Yes, you can keep your physical SIM active even when you use an eSIM. An eSIM being digital allows you to use dual SIM features on a single device.
Is eSIM safe & secure?
Yes, eSIM, being a digitally embedded SIM, is more secure and safe than a physical SIM, as it cannot be removed or cloned.