We highly recommend having a fully functioning phone while abroad. Relying solely on WiFi is typically not sufficient. Check with you phone service provider about international plans, or use a local SIM card. To use a local SIM card, your phone must be unlocked. If your phone is paid off, you can ask your phone service provider for the unlock code. Make sure you do this before you go abroad.

Comments from previous students regarding phones:

• Giffgaff, O2, Three, are all good. Students traveling only one semester can choose to buy ‘pay as you go’ sim card, which is much cheaper than the regular sim card.
• I used the brand giffgaff. I paid 10 pounds each month for unlimited UK text, 500 UK minutes and 2GB data. I skyped with parents by using wifi.
• Giffgaff is good. Prepaid 10 pounds a month for 4GB of data and unlimited text, 900 mins call. SIMcards were readily available. Signal wasn’t very good outside of school though. If you sign up for the pickup for international students, the greeters have a stack of SIM cards on hand to pass to you.