eSIMs for Students: Year Abroad, Erasmus and Turing Placements, and University Trips

The simplest setup for a student going abroad is a travel eSIM for data from the moment you land, with your UK SIM kept in the phone for bank codes and WhatsApp. Once you have an address, a student ID and a local bank account, you can decide whether a local contract is worth it for the rest of a year abroad, an Erasmus or Turing placement, or a long gap year. For a week-long university field trip, a travel eSIM on its own is usually all you need.

Last checked: 27 October 2026. Funding schemes, roaming terms and local SIM rules change, so check the official links below and your university's study abroad office before you go.

Turing Scheme and Erasmus+ in 2026

UK students' funding for study and work placements abroad is changing:

• The Turing Scheme is running for the 2026 to 2027 academic year, and it is its last. In a written statement to Parliament on 18 June 2026, the Department for Education said the UK will move from Turing to Erasmus+ in the 2027 to 2028 academic year. Universities and colleges apply for Turing funding, so students get it through their own institution. See the Turing Scheme website.
• The UK rejoins Erasmus+ from 2027. The UK and the EU finalised the agreement in April 2026, and the British Council is set to become the UK National Agency. The deal covers 2027. Taking part from 2028 onwards still has to be agreed. See GOV.UK Erasmus+ guidance.

If you are going abroad in 2026 to 2027 you will most likely be on Turing funding. If you are going in 2027 to 2028, ask your study abroad office how Erasmus+ grants will work at your university. Neither scheme pays for your phone directly, but your grant has to stretch a long way, so a cheap data plan helps.

Your first weeks abroad: a travel eSIM before any local SIM

The first few days of a year abroad are the busiest. You need maps to find your accommodation, messages to your landlord or halls, the university's welcome emails, and often online forms that send a code to your phone. A local contract is hard to get at this point, because most need a local address, a bank account or a residence document that you do not have yet.

A travel eSIM solves the first weeks:

1. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, with our compatibility checker.
2. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi a few days before you fly, then leave it switched off until you land.
3. On arrival, set the eSIM as your data line, and turn off data roaming on your UK SIM so your UK network cannot charge you.

Our dual SIM settings guide covers the steps for iPhone and Android. Travel eSIMs are data only, so you will not get a local phone number. Keep your UK SIM for calls and texts.

Do you need a local SIM for a year abroad?

For a semester or a full year in one country, a local SIM is often cheaper per month, and some services (local banks, doctors, delivery apps, part-time employers) prefer a local number. For a short placement, or if you move between countries, a long-validity travel eSIM is usually simpler. Many students do both: a travel eSIM for the first weeks, then a local SIM once they are settled.

What you need for a local SIM varies a lot. This table is a guide based on operator, university and expat information, not legal advice, so check with the operator before you go to a shop.

For Japan, Hokkaido University's guidance for international students explains that phone services generally need your residence card. Our Japan travel rules guide covers other 2026 changes. Wherever you go, a local SIM needs an unlocked phone.

UK roaming limits on long stays

Using your UK plan abroad for months is the most common mistake on a year abroad. UK networks design roaming for holidays and short trips, and their fair use rules let them charge extra or stop roaming if you stay away too long. As of 27 October 2026, their published terms say:

Many UK networks also charge a daily fee for roaming, even in Europe. Our UK roaming charges 2026 guide has the details. For a semester abroad, the safest approach is to use a travel eSIM or local SIM for data and keep UK roaming off.

Keep your UK number for banking and WhatsApp

Do not cancel your UK number before you leave. UK banks, Student Finance, your university and GP surgery may all send security codes to it, and your WhatsApp account is linked to it. Keep the UK SIM in your phone as the second line, with data roaming off. Our guide to keeping WhatsApp on your UK number explains how.

• Move to a cheaper plan. If you are out of contract, a low-cost SIM-only or pay as you go plan can keep the number alive while you are away.
• Check inactivity rules. Some pay as you go numbers are disconnected if they are not used for several months. Check your network's terms and make a chargeable action now and then if needed.
• Check text charges. Receiving texts abroad is usually free, but check your network's terms.
• Use an authenticator app where your bank or email allows it, so you rely less on texts.

On a student budget

• Student discount. SimplySIM gives a one-off 10% student discount code to a valid university email address.
• Use campus Wi-Fi. Many universities across Europe and beyond are part of eduroam, so your UK university login may work on your host campus. Set it up before you leave.
• Set big downloads to Wi-Fi only: photo backup, app updates and offline maps.
• Size the plan to your month, and top up if you run low rather than buying a new eSIM.
• Weekend trips. A Europe plan covers trips to neighbouring countries during a year abroad in Spain, France or Germany, without a new SIM at every border.

For more on choosing between long-validity and unlimited plans, see our long-stay eSIM guide.

SimplySIM plans for students abroad

On 27 October 2026, SimplySIM plans included:

Prices change, so check the plan page before you buy. The Europe plans cover 34 countries, including Spain, France and Germany. Browse all plans for Spain, France, Germany, the USA and Japan.

School, college and university group trips

For a field trip, language exchange or sports tour, a teacher or group lead can buy eSIMs for the group in one go and send each student their own QR code to install before departure. Whether students may use phones on the trip, and what consent parents need to give, is for the school or college's own policy. Each phone must support eSIM and be unlocked, so ask students to run the compatibility check early. For a short trip, a small fixed-data plan per student is usually enough.

FAQs

What is the best eSIM for students on a year abroad?

A long-validity plan for your host country or region, such as a 90 or 180-day plan, with top-ups if you need more. It gives you data from day one, before you have a local address or bank account. Keep your UK SIM in the phone for codes and calls.

Is the Turing Scheme still running in 2026?

Yes. The Turing Scheme runs for the 2026 to 2027 academic year, which the government says is its final year. The UK moves to Erasmus+ from the 2027 to 2028 academic year. Ask your university's study abroad office about funding.

Can I use my UK phone plan for a semester abroad?

Usually not for the whole time. EE, O2, Vodafone and Three all have fair use rules for long stays abroad, from around two months in a four-month period, and they can add charges or stop roaming. Use a travel eSIM or a local SIM for data instead.

Do I need a local SIM card for Erasmus?

Not straight away. A travel eSIM covers the first weeks. If you stay a full year in one country, a local SIM can be cheaper later, but contracts usually need a local address, bank account or ID number.

Should I keep my UK number while studying abroad?

Yes. Your bank, Student Finance and WhatsApp are linked to it. Keep it on a cheap plan with roaming off, and use a travel eSIM for data.

Is there a student discount on SimplySIM eSIMs?

Yes. SimplySIM emails a single-use 10% discount code to a valid university email address, one per student. See the student discount page.