eSIM for Students Studying Abroad

Being a student overseas is a thrilling experience, but it also has its difficulties. One of the common things is how to keep in touch without going broke. It is necessary to stay in contact with family, take online lessons, and even find one's way around a new city.

Therefore, a cost-effective, long-lasting mobile solution is necessary for students. That is where an eSIM comes as a game-changer. Students can manage and install digital mobile plans instead of using physical SIM cards.

Even if you are studying in Europe or doing an exchange in Asia or summer courses in the US, an eSIM will keep you connected easily and without much inconvenience.  Keep reading to learn more.

Staying connected on a budget

Managing costs is one of the biggest worries for students travelling abroad, and the same case applies to mobile connectivity. Home carriers often charge outrageously high roaming fees that may take a significant portion of a student's budget.

Although purchasing a local SIM may appear to be a more cost-effective solution, it imposes the burden of locating a store, discussing identification, and occasionally agreeing to plans that you will never entirely utilize.

The use of eSIM technology makes the process even less complex and, in many cases, less expensive. Trying an  eSIM plan for the United States means you'll handle everything online and get connected while in the US.

You will not be overcharged for hidden roaming charges since your connection is charged directly to local networks, supporting weekly, monthly, or semester-long plans. In case a better provider is found, it would be possible to change instantly, without exchanging a physical SIM card.

For example, if you are a student visiting Spain to study, you can connect an eSIM with 180 days of very high data limits and then immediately downgrade to a short-term, low-cost plan to travel to France during the weekend. This is quite affordable and cost-saving.

Managing SIMs across semesters

As an international student, you can take various semesters in other countries. You can start your studies in Italy, study abroad in Germany on an exchange semester, and end with an internship in Singapore through the summer.

When using a traditional SIM card, with this constant movement, it means carrying several cards around, keeping details of phone activation, and having to fear losing or destroying them. An eSIM avoids these issues as all your plans are digitally saved in your phone’s eSIM manager.

You do not have to keep carrying multiple SIM cards with you, as all plans remain stored and ready to be put to use whenever you want them. If you visit a country you have visited before, you do not need to sign up again because you can easily re-activate your old plan.

The process of adding new plans is equally effortless since all can be bought and installed online without visiting a shop. You can also maintain your home country SIM when using an eSIM to get one-time passwords, bank messages, and other crucial calls.

Such convenience is what makes eSIM very helpful to exchange students abroad. You can see all your semester-specific mobile plans on a single device and can easily switch between them by tapping a few times on your phone settings.

Easy setup without tech support

Installing a physical SIM can include locating a local shop, navigating language differences, and completing complex activation procedures. Conversely, eSIM installation is straightforward; even a new user can do it without a technological understanding.

The majority of providers give you a QR code or an activation link. This is how it normally goes:

• Buy your eSIM plan on a reliable site.
• Get a QR code via email (or via an app).
• Make a scan of the code in phone settings under Add eSIM or Cellular Plan.
• Switch on the plan and begin utilizing it right away.

The time duration is usually less than 5 minutes. This convenience particularly comes in handy when you get to a new country, late at night, or on weekends when physical shops are closed. It is possible to land, hop on a wireless network, purchase an eSIM, and be online without delays.

Communication with family

The thing about studying abroad is that you are very far away and cannot be in touch with some people who are close to you, but with eSIM, it is much easier to keep in touch. Since eSIM can also be set up as a dual SIM device, you could have your home number active to receive SMS.

Calling and messaging apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Telegram are compatible with your eSIM data connection. This means it will be simple to video chat with your family and friends, send images, and update them in real-time.

Since you now have access to good mobile data, you no longer have to use unreliable public Wi-Fi in town or wait until you get to your dorm before you can talk to the people that matter. It is easy to talk to your family anytime.

Switching plans during breaks

Students studying in universities are often scheduled with long holidays between semesters, and most of them use this opportunity to travel or do small internships elsewhere. For those who still use the old SIM cards, it can be tedious to change mobile plans during such times.

An eSIM eliminates this pain by giving you the option to put your regular data plan on hold when you go on vacation or even an internship. You can add a temporary travel data plan to go during your break and return to your regular plan as soon as you get home.

For example,  assuming you are studying in Canada and going to Mexico during the winter vacations, you can pre-order a two-week Mexican eSIM prior to your departure and use it when you arrive in Mexico.