Moving to the UK for university? Or helping your loved ones get ready for the move?
Between university paperwork, accommodation, packing your entire life into two suitcases and figuring out what you're going to eat for the first week, getting a UK phone number probably isn't at the top of your list.
It should be!!!
Having a UK phone number before you arrive can make those first few days a lot easier. You can use it when dealing with accommodation, contacting people in the UK, arranging things for your arrival and staying reachable once you land.
And no, you don't necessarily need to wait until you physically arrive in the UK.
Why Would an International Student Need a UK Number?
Think about everything you're trying to organise before moving.
You might be messaging a landlord about a room, speaking to your accommodation provider, arranging airport pickup, contacting a part-time employer or communicating with people you'll be meeting at university.Giving everyone your international number can get awkward pretty quickly.
A UK phone number helps a lot while you're getting settled. More importantly, you can sort it out before you leave home instead of spending your first day in the UK trying to figure out SIM cards and mobile plans.
Can You Get a UK Number Before You Arrive?
Yes. A virtual UK phone number can be set up before you travel, so you don't have to wait until you physically arrive in the UK.
With Cooee, you can choose a UK number and manage it through the Cooee eSIM app, allowing you to make and receive calls and send and receive SMS without waiting for a physical SIM card. And this also lets you use your UK number while travelling, so you can have it ready before you land.
That means one less thing to worry about when you're trying to find your accommodation while dragging a heavy suitcase through an airport.
So, What Will You Actually Use It For?
Quite a lot, actually.
Before you arrive, you might need to contact your accommodation provider, speak to landlords or letting agents, arrange viewings, communicate with people helping you settle in or stay in touch with someone picking you up from the airport.If you're looking for a part-time job while studying, having a UK number can also make it easier to give employers a local number for calls and interview updates.
Once you're in the UK, that same number can become your everyday contact number for calls and texts.
Do You Really Need to Buy a UK SIM?
Yes and no.. At some point it might make sense to grab a local plan. These local plans will be cheaper (particularly if you sign up to a long term bundle with a new device), but can’t be used while overseas.
This is one of the reasons a virtual UK number for students can be useful, it can be used anywhere.
With Cooee, your UK number is managed through the app rather than requiring a traditional physical SIM card. You can keep your existing SIM in your phone while using your Cooee UK number for calls and SMS.
So you don't have to land at Heathrow, find the nearest phone shop or start comparing mobile plans sitting in the airport !!
Getting Your UK Number Sorted Before Moving
The setup is fairly straightforward.
First, create your Cooee account and choose the UK as your destination. You can then select an available UK number and choose the plan that suits your needs. Cooee requires identity verification as part of the setup process, based on UK communication requirements.
One important thing for students to know: Cooee requires a valid UK address for UK numbers for regulatory compliance. During setup, you'll need to confirm that you have, or will provide, a UK address.
Once your verification and setup are complete, you can use your UK number through the Cooee app for calls and SMS.
So go ahead, sort this out while you're preparing for your move rather than adding it to your “things to figure out after landing” list.
When Should You Get It? Hint: Before You Fly
If you're moving to the UK for university, there's not much benefit in waiting until the day you arrive.
Getting your UK number before arriving in the UK means you can start using it while you're still getting organised from home.You can have it ready for accommodation conversations, pre-arrival arrangements and other practical things you need to sort out before your course begins.
Then, when you finally land, your number is already set up.One less job on the list.
What About Your Existing Number?
You don't have to immediately get rid of your current number.
If your existing number is still useful for family, friends or services back home, you can keep using it alongside your UK number.With Cooee, your UK virtual number works through the app, so you can keep your existing mobile setup while managing your UK number separately.That's particularly useful during the first few months of moving abroad
Worth Getting Before Uni? Here’s the Short Answer
If you're still at home getting ready for university, there's no reason to leave your UK number until the last minute.
Get your number sorted, complete the setup and have it ready to use before you fly. That way, when you're dealing with landlords, accommodation providers, employers or other UK contacts, you've already got a local number to give them.
With Cooee, you can get a UK virtual phone number through the app and manage your calls and texts without waiting for a physical SIM.
One less thing to figure out after you land.
