Half of Britain’s college students beginning college are clueless about dwelling away from mum and pop

A surprising 54% say they feel unprepared to cope with practicalities like cooking, doing laundry, paying pills and sharing student digs, according to research from Vodafone

Half of Britain’s students starting university life this autumn are clueless about living away from mum and dad for the first time and have to keep ringing home for help, a study has shown.

A surprising 54% say they feel unprepared to cope with practicalities like cooking, doing laundry, paying pills and sharing student digs, according to research from Vodafone.

The problems of living away from the family mean freshers make constant calls home for help with things like understanding a utility bill (34%), setting up broadband (26%) the correct temperature to wash clothes (20%), cooking a meal (20%) and emotional support (22%).

When it comes to finances, almost two thirds of current students say they underestimated the cost of food (63%), half (50%) underestimated accommodation costs, while a quarter 924%) were caught out by utility bills.

Alongside managing bills and household budgets, getting broadband set up is a key responsibility many students face for the first time with almost half (46%) splitting the cost with their housemates.

The research also found that broadband can be the cause of disagreement in shared accommodation, with more than half (55%) saying it has led to rows.

One in 10 (13%) housemates say spending long periods gaming was a source of friction, while slightly fewer (8%) have been annoyed by someone using too much bandwidth.

A third (33%) say the Wi-Fi password has been changed and withheld following a disagreement over bills or how the connection was being used.

To help make one part of student life simpler, Vodafone is offering a new flexible 12-month 5G Broadband plan – perfect for those planning their bills around the academic year. With no engineer visit, no landline required and no complex installation, students can get connected quickly with next day delivery and focus on settling into university life without committing to a longer-term contract.

Using Vodafone’s award-winning reliable mobile network, students signing up to Vodafone 5G Broadband can get connected with speeds of up to 50 Mbps for smaller households, or 150 Mbps for larger households.

A 50mbps 12-month 5G Broadband plan costs £20-per-month – just £5 per person in a four- bed shared home – whereas a 150mbps deal costs just £21-per-month, or from £5.25 per student for unlimited connectivity.

For students sharing with multiple housemates, Vodafone’s 150Mbps 5G Broadband plan offers the speed and reliability needed to support modern student life.

From attending online lectures and video calls from home, to streaming, gaming and downloading coursework, multiple users can stay connected at the same time.

The plan can support up to six simultaneous 4K streams, download a 1GB lecture recording in under a minute, and handle video calls while other housemates stream or game.

Jo Bryant, Etiquette Expert, said: “Starting university is a big step towards independence, and for many students it’s also the first time they’re responsible for managing a home with other people.

“From working out who pays which bill to agreeing on household chores and making sure everyone can get online, there are lots of new things to figure out – and sometimes those little decisions can create friction between housemates.

“Making things simple from the start can make a big difference. Agreeing how bills will be split, setting some basic house rules and choosing a flexible broadband option can help take some of the hassle out of sharing a home, leaving students to focus on enjoying university life.”

A Vodafone spokesperson said: “Student life is all about flexibility, whether that's where you live, who you live with or how you spend your money. That’s why Vodafone 5G Broadband offers a simple, flexible and affordable way for students to stay connected.

“With a 12-month plan that fits around the academic year, a £2 monthly student discount and no engineer visit needed, students can get fast, reliable broadband without the hassle of a long-term commitment or complicated installation.

“Whether you’re moving into your first student house or heading back for another year, Vodafone 5G Broadband makes it easy to get connected and get on with student life.”

Students simply need to verify their student status through platforms including GoCertify, Student Beans or UNiDAYS to access the discount.