IPhone 5 - How to get as a new student in the UK?

I'm a new permanent student in University in the UK, and I've been here for about two weeks now. I have a UK bank account set up and residency and everything, and I need a monthly contract with a phone, which would be ideal. Thing is- I'm refused by places such as O2 because I need to have lived here for at least three months prior. This is incredibly annoying, and I'm certain that I'm not the only one in this position! Is there any way around this? For example if I get my friend to bring their proof of residency? How thorough is this check? I could get a pay-as-you-go plan for now, but it doesn't meet my needs, and in the long run is more expensive than the monthly contract that I want. Any help?

You will have to buy outright SIM free
and get a PAYG sim

depending on your use, many articles are showing that it is actually cheaper to do it that way, as when you add up the total costs for 24 months of say 10 pounds/month PAYG and a phone (240 + 500 = 740) it is significantly less than most of the 80 pounds * 36 pounds/month contracts. (approx 980)

T-mobile were doing an iPhone SIM with 12 months free interent for an iPhone
Giff Gaff do good rates (uses O2 network/owned by O2)
O2 do a nice international SIM with 1p-2p/min calls to most countries and sensible UK call rates, plus gives free mins/texts for each top up plus keep the topup for spending after the allowance is gone.

heavy internet user: look at the THree network and their all-you-can-eat plans (still only 15 /month for the cheapest - so now 860 total cost).

So still want to go contract?

See Money Saving expert as an example
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-iphone - click past the email popup

Another
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/features/mobile-phone/3323582/iphone-4s-pay-as-you-go-or-contract/

Oh and your other bit. The check is personal so.
> if I get my friend to bring their proof of residency?
Then they would be signing the legal agreement and be legally liable.
They would be fools to do so… As you would have the goods and be able to run up bills, but they be taken to court and end up with a broken credit record.