Indians rank among the top 5 nationalities who visit the UK for higher education. This is not surprising when you consider the fact that some of the best universities in the world are in the UK.
For Indian students, this is a major phase in their life. They are going to face numerous challenges; some fun, some not-so-fun.
Regardless, it is important for them to keep in touch with their family and friends back home. A simple phone call or a video call can be a great remedy for homesickness.
So, to help Indian students, we have put together this blog on student phone plans. It talks about the numerous ways to stay connected, how one can choose the right student plan in the UK, and more! Head right in!
Different Ways Indian Students Can Make a Call from the UK
If you’re an Indian student in the UK, you have two ways to call your family in India. They are
Traditional Phone Calls
VoIP Calls
Traditional phone calls are the good ol’ method of calling. You simply dial the number and tap the phone button. Voila! You’re now connected with another person.
But there are complications. You cannot make a phone call to India if your plan doesn’t have the relevant benefits. Also, you have to follow the correct template, since you’re making an international call to India from the UK. We’ve covered both topics in the sections below.
VoIP, short for Voice over Internet Protocol, is the technological upgrade to traditional calling. You will need a third-party app, like WhatsApp, and a stable internet connection. Just make sure the recipient has the same app installed, and you can make voice and video calls as long as you’re connected to the internet. These apps work on Wi-Fi as well as a mobile network.
Now that you know about the two options available, let’s take a look at how you can choose the right student mobile plan.
How Indian Students in the UK Can Choose the Right Mobile Plan
The idea of the right mobile plan can vary from one person to another. For some, it can be a mobile plan with high data allocation. For others, it might be something that’s affordable.
Considering the phone usage of the average Indian student in the UK, we have put this list of factors that form the ideal student mobile plan.
Affordability: The best student phone plan comes at a very reasonable price. It should help students call back home and within the UK without straining their wallets.
High-Speed Data: The plan must come with plenty of high-speed data to meet the student’s internet needs. 5G is recommended, and 4G is the lowest you can go. Data volume is also important if you’re making international calls using VoIP apps.
International Calling to India: You will need a student mobile plan that features calling benefits to India. Look for a plan that has international calling as part of the benefits, rather than having to buy an add-on.
Unlimited local minutes and SMS: International calling aside, you will also need local calls and SMS to stay connected while you’re in the UK. The ideal student mobile plan comes with unlimited local calls and SMS.
Roaming Data: This is a good-to-have feature that’s useful for those who love to travel. Roaming data prevents the need to buy a local SIM card or deal with exorbitant call, text and data charges.
The Best Student Plans with International Calling
You now have a clear picture of the different ways a student can call India from the UK and what the ideal mobile plan for an Indian student looks like.
Considering these points, here are the best student plans from Lyca Mobile that are great for Indian students.
| Plan Name | Price/30 Days | Monthly Data | National Calls & SMS | International Calls | Roaming Data | eSIM Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All in One Plus 15 Student | £15.00 | 50 GB | Unlimited | 500 | 12 GB | Available |
| All in One Plus 20 Student | £20.00 | 100 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 12 GB | Available |
Here’s why these plans are the best bang for buck when it comes to student phone plans in the UK.
- International calls to India and other countries are a part of the plan. You don’t have to pay anything extra.
- The 12 GB roaming data can be used in the EU and India.
- You get super-fast 5G without any additional charge.
- You can retain your primary SIM and use the Lyca Mobile eSIM during your stay here. No need to swap your SIM card.
Points to Remember Before Calling Your Family Back Home
We’ve covered all the basics; now let’s talk about some quality-of-life improvements. Remember these points before you make that call back home.
Time Zone Differences
The UK is 4:30 hours behind India. This goes up to 5:30 hours when not observing daylight saving time.
What this means is that it wouldn’t be wise to call your family in India at 7 in the evening, as it would be 11:30 PM there.
So, keep the time zone difference in mind before you make an international call to India from the UK.
Follow the Correct Template
This is one of the more complicated aspects of making an international call from the UK to India.
You will not be able to connect to the recipient unless you dial the correct template.
Here is the correct format to follow when dialling an Indian number from the UK.
- UK’s exit code (00 when dialling from landlines/+ when dialling from mobiles)
- India’s country code (91)
- The area code of the location you’re calling (depends on the city/region)
- The Indian number (10 digits for mobiles and 8 digits for landlines)
So, if you’re calling an Indian mobile number from the UK, it would look something like this:
+ 91 XXXXXXXXXX
This is what you'd dial if you’re calling an Indian landline number from the UK.
00 91 80 XXXXXXXX
Pick a Plan with the Right Benefits
Even if you dial the correct template, you will not be able to make an international call if your current plan doesn’t have the relevant benefits.
This is why it is important to choose a student mobile plan that has international calling benefits to India.
A plan with unlimited international minutes to India would be ideal, but a plan with 400 or 500 international minutes would do as well.
Choose Between Traditional and VoIP Calls
This advice is particularly handy if you have limited international minutes.
Rather than relying on one specific method, switch between traditional and VoIP calls to get the best calling experience. Preferably, use the traditional method for voice calls and VoIP for video calls.
This way, you can conserve your international minutes and data while still staying in touch with your family back home.
Conclusion
Life as an international student can be tough. Sometimes, hearing the voice of your parents can just be the thing that keeps you going.
And to enjoy reliable connectivity between India and the UK, you will need a pocket-friendly student mobile plan.
Lyca Mobile has two affordable student phone plans that come with all the essential benefits. International calls to India and roaming data are included in the plan without you having to pay a penny extra.
You also get super-fast 5G data with these plans, so you can get a lot done with little to no waiting.
Get a Lyca Mobile student plan in the UK and enjoy local and international calling benefits at unbeatable prices. Order today!!!!