I am a third into my second year at university - meaning that I have been through the dreaded move across the country twice. Both of these times I have brought things that were useful and that I used a lot in my time living in Student Accommodation, and some items I question why I even thought about bringing them with me. So I thought I would compile everything into a list and tell you what I did or did not use during my time in university.
Before you read any further, I would like to just post a quick disclaimer that I am not saying that this is definitely what you should and shouldn't take to university. These are just guidelines from my own experiences and just because I didn't use something doesn't meant that it will not be useful to you!
There is a generic check list with categories that every website has, listing "essentials" to take with you to university. I am going to stick to these categories just for easiness, as a reminder they will be:
- Important Documents
- Electrical Items
- Kitchen Utensils
- Bedroom Items
- Bathroom Items
- Clothing
- Stationary
- Miscellaneous
Without further ado, here is what I found useful to bring with me to university and things that I probably should have left on the shopping shelf.
1) Documents
Valid Passport and/or Driver's License (ID)
ID is very important to bring with you to university. Not only will it allow you to get into clubs on those very important nights out that you will have, but you will also need it to buy important things like paracetamol or other medicines.
It is likely that your university will ask for a form of photo ID so that they can confirm that you have been registered to Student Finance and so you will be able to get your student loan, so make sure that you bring this with you!
University admission acceptance letter, Course Acceptance Letter, Accommodation Contract and Insurance Documents
All of these documents will be accessible online, so there is not really much point in bringing them with you and then shoving them into a drawer. I would recommend downloading them and putting them all together into a file on your computer, but save some time and a few trees while you are at it!
Student Finance Documents
Like the documents listed above, these documents will e accessible online, however, if I was going to print out any of these documents, I would consider Student Finance most important. So download and save these documents to a file, but if you have a printed out copy, keep it in a safe space in case you need to get in contact with Student Finance.
Bank Debit Card
Your bank card is very important. Make sure you bring it along with every thing else that you need.
Student Discount Cards (eg 16-25 Rail Card)
Likewise, your student discounts will be your lifeline while you are at university so take advantage of your rail card, totum card ect and bring them with you. They will be no good to you stuffed in a drawer to collect dust at home! I cannot tell you how many times I have used my rail card over the first year of my university, it has saved me so much money! It also provided a hefty discount on my train back from London when I travelled there for an interview so you will find that small little discount like these cards will be life savers for you! Instead of costing me £30 to go home, it costs me £12 which is CRAZY! Seriously, if you don't already have a rail card, you should get one as it saves you so much money!
2) Electrical Items to take to Uni
Mobile Phone
It's hard to imagine a university student who is not glued to their mobile phone anyway, so I imagine that a mobile phone will be at the top of most university students packing list.
Still, if you need convincing, a phone can be a very handy tool to keep in contact with the people you love at home. You can use it for those emergency phone calls where you have dyed all of your white washing green and you have no idea what to do or it can be nice to face time your younger siblings and showing them around your new room. Not to mention it can help you keep in contact with the people you have just met, just in case you get lost on a night out in a city you are unfamiliar with.
Laptop and Case
A laptop is a brilliant thing to bring along with you to university. It can be a tool to help you complete your work - weather it be writing essays or editing your photography work on Photoshop. It can also be a huge source of entertainment, especially if you have access to Netflix or YouTube. You can even play games on your laptop, so who needs to bring along a game console when you already have a a computer that runs games!
Printer and Ink
I have seen a printer on the list of recommended things to take to university, and honestly, I think that this is probably something you will be able to leave at home. My university halls last year were less than a five minuet walk from the university building, so if I ever needed to print anything out I always just went to the library or to a computer on campus.
I would say that if you are living further off campus, then maybe a printer is something that you will need to consider bringing along, but I don't really think you will be saving much money in the long run by bringing your own printer as buying the ink cartons can be very expensive!
USB Memory Stick
A USB Stick is vital to bring along with you to university. Always make sure you back up your written work, as if you don't have a back up and your laptop breaks or if the file corrupts you better be a fast writer. Not having a backup is not an excuse at university and you will not be granted a deadline extension because of it. You should probably save yourself all the heartache and bring along a USB because you never know if you're going to need it. It is better to be safe than to be sorry. At my university, if this happens and you do not hang anything in you automatically fail. You do have the option to resit, but your work will be capped at a 40%, so it is better to save your degree in the long run!
Power Extension Lead
Extension leads were my saviour in y first year at university. I was luck enough to have four plug sockets in my halls of residence, however, there were in really awkward spaces, so bringing along some extension leads made life a whole lot easier. I would say bring at least two, so you do not need to have all of your electronics crammed into one area. I personally found that two extension leads were enough for me, but it completely depends on how many electronics you plan you bring with you.
Headphones
Head phones are vital during your time at university. Not only are they great on those long train journeys home, but they are also good to cancel out any unwanted noise you will get from your flat mates - and believe me you will hear things that you will never want to hear again! If the flat have a spontaneous pre drinks party and you are just not feeling up t it tonight, Headphones are the thing for you! It will save on flat disagreements and your sleep pattern!
Portable Speakers
I survived my first year just fine without a portable speaker, but this all depends on how much music you listen to/play out loud. Generally, I only listen to music when I go on a walk or travel, so I did not really listen to it much in my halls of residence. However, I know lots of people liked to bring a speaker along to a pre drinks party, so this one just depends on you personally.
Games Console
Personally, unless you are a hardcore gamer, I would maybe suggest leaving the PS4 and Xboxes at home during your time at university. Something small and portable is what you need, like a DS or a Nintendo Switch as they do not take up much space when packing. Even then, when you actually get into the swing of things at university you will probably not use these very often as you will be busy catching up with your uni work. Not to mention that you can get an array of games on your laptop, so why not give yourself the extra space to bring something more important along.
Chargers
Chargers are vital for any electronic item that you bring with you to university. Make sure that if you do bring your phone/laptop/DS ect you also bring along the charging lead, as it will be pretty useless to you without any power.
Batteries
Strangely enough, batteries were also something that I saw a lot on packing lists for university. Although they do not take up much packing space, I would recommend buying batteries when you get to university. Bring batteries along for what you need (ie if you have battery powered fairy lights, pre pack the batteries in the fairy lights before you move) and then if you find yourself in a situation where you need more batteries, you can just go out an buy more.
3) Kitchen Utensils
There's a lot of things in this section are a no brainier, but I will probably group things together and suggest how many of each thing you should bring along with you. You may be shocked, but some people do bring a massive 8 person dinner set with them, so this will just make sure that you do not go over board. Also, this section may vary depending on whether you are catered or not and what your catering package is like. If you have catered lunches, but still have to provide yourself with breakfast and tea, then you will need a few kitchen utensils in your bag! If you are unsure of what your catering is like at university, get in contact with your university's accommodation office to see if they have any more information for you.
Student recipe books
As some of you reading this may not have cooked for yourself before moving away to university having a few recipes is not a bad idea. However, if you bring along your phone or your laptop, you will probably be able to find some great student recipes online. If you do want to have a great cookbook with recipes to inspire you, you could have a look in charity shops to see if they have anything in stock for cheaper, that way you will save money but you will also get inspiration to try something new!
Small Cutlery Set
You will be needing at least one knife, fork and spoon when you go to university; I found that four was just enough for me. That meant if I didn't want to wash up after having a meal that needed a spoon, but I wanted to make a cup of coffee, I could just go to my drawer and get another spoon out. Any more than four may be a little excessive, but cutlery packs do usually come with four of everything, so you should be fine!
Plates, Bowls, Mugs and Glasses
Obviously when you go away to university, you will need something to drink out of and something to eat off, so you are going to need to bring along some plates and bowls ect. I would recommend bringing two of each item listed, as there may be a time when you cannot be bothered washing up straight away, or you may have a guest over and you both cook a meal. I would not recommend bringing along more than this as cupboard space in halls is limited, so plan carefully!
Sharp Knife, Scissors, Chopping board, Ladle, Spatula, Measuring Jug, Can Opener, Peeler, Whisk, Baking Tray and Oven Gloves
These items are vital if you are going to be cooking for yourself, make sure you bring one of each item with you to university (or one of each item that is going to be relative to what you plan to make).
Tupperware
You will need Tupperware to keep any leftovers from any meal that you make in. You will either have to struggle making portion sizes for one when you cook or you will need to make a meal usually meant for four and keep the rest in Tupperware. It is a lot easier to do the latter, so I would definitely recommend bringing along some Tupperware. It will also be handy if you ever need to make a packed lunch to bring along with you for whatever reason!
Bottle Opener
Its no secret that university students like a drink or two, so if you are planning on buying a cheeky beverage for pre drinks then you may need to make sure that you pack your trusty bottle opener, otherwise there will be no alcohol for you.
Frying Pan and Saucepans
Frying pans and saucepans will be vital if you are doing your own cooking. I would recommend bringing no more than two saucepans and one frying pan with you, as I find they do take up most of the room in your cupboards.
Colander
During my time at university, I can't ever say that I have used a Colander. I would say bring one if you feel like you would not be able to live without it, but other than that, stick to bringing a sieve. Colanders are bulky and take up a lot of space, and I find that my sieve does just as good of a job as a colander does. I would recommend leaving your colander at home!
Cheese Grater
Depending on how much you like cheese, I would recommend bringing a cheese grater along with you to university. Although you could survive the year buying pre grated cheese, you actually get less in these packets and end up spending more money! So if you are a cheeseoholic, bring your cheese grater!
Tea Towel
There is bound to be a spillage somewhere in your student halls when you go to university, so tea towels are vital! I would say that you can never have too many tea towels, but don't go overboard with them!
Washing up Liquid, Sponges, Bin Bags, Tin Foil and Cling Film
All of these items are kitchen staples, so if you can fit them in a box that is brilliant! However, if you do not have room for these items, it is not going to be the end of the world if you leave them at home. I would recommend either bringing these items along with you or putting them on your shopping list for your first shop!
4) Bedroom Items
Basic furniture should be provided by your university accommodation, regardless of where you end up staying. This should include a bed, bedside table, desk, chair and wardrobe, so you will not need to worry about packing these items!
Duvet and Duvet Covers, Pillow and Pillow Cases and Bed Sheets
First of all (and in my opinion the most important things to bring with you to university) you will need to bring your own duvet and pillows. Sizes depend on your accommodation, since some places had single beds, some have 3/4 beds, so buy your bedding according to size. However, it is not a bad idea to buy a double duvet and cover to match, since you may have a double bed in your second year any way and you could always double it up and use it as an extra warm cover on those cold winter nights you will have to endure. Pillows are probably according to preference, so buy as many pillows as you need and can fit in your car.
Mattress Protector
A mattress protector is not a terrible thing to bring with you to university, as it will make sure that your mattress does not get any stains on it. You also do not know who had that bed before you, so it is great for hygiene purposes. Save yourself the trouble of having to pay a fine for a stain, and buy a mattress protector.
Hangers
You will definitely need to bring hangers with you, as you will need to hang up clothes in your wardrobe. Bring plenty, but not too many as I find that wardrobes in halls are not exactly the biggest.
Laundry Basket
A laundry basket is a brilliant thing to bring along with you to university. You will be super organized if you bring along a "Lights, Darks, Colours" basket as it will help you organize your washing and will make sure you don't accidentally dye your favourite white t-shirt blue. Do make sure that you have one that you can easily carry though, as the Laundry Facilities at both student accommodations for my university were a trek away from my room.
Small Mirror
In halls, you will probably have a big mirror somewhere, whether it be in your room or in your bathroom if you are en-suite. I would recommend if you are somebody who enjoys doing make up bringing along a small mirror so you can get ready with ease rather than having to drag your makeup bag over to your sink every morning.
Clock
A clock is not necessary, although I did take a small alarm clock with me to university (which I never used the alarm on it...oops). Ultimately, I would say leave your clock at home unless you are planning on leaving any electronic device that has a clock on it at home. My clock was ultimately an extra and I never really checked it for the time. Plus if you have a wall clock, there probably won't be any where you can hang it in your room.
Clothes Horse
Again, a clothes horse is an item that I just didn't bring with me to university, and I found that I survived just fine without it. Of course, doing your washing will be a lot cheaper if you brought a clothes horse along with you, but I found that I preferred just using the dryer as it was much quicker and wasn't actually that much more expensive than not using the dryer.
Desk Fan
For the 3 days a year that the UK actually has nice weather, I would say avoid bringing a Desk Fan. I believe that fans were actually not allowed in out accommodation, so check with your accommodation office first if you are planning to bring one.
Small Safe
I did not bring a safe with e to university, but that was because I took out an insurance policy while I was in Student Halls. Had I not had insurance, I would have probably brought a safe along with me, just to keep my valuables safe. I would still be very careful with leaving your door unlocked though. Always lock it when you are going out, and if you are worried about flatmates or guests sneaking into your room while you are in the kitchen or taking a shower, lock your door and bring your key with you. That will ensure all of your belongings are protected.
Photos
Photos are a fantastic thing to bring along with you to decorate your room with. I have been in a few university rooms where there was no real effort put into decorating the room and the notice boards were left bare, and it made me feel very sad. It's no wonder that those particular people were struggling the most with homesickness. The second y mum and dad left me in my room I took out the photos and put my favourites up on the notice board. It was all filled with photos, but it and me feel so much better, and made it feel like the people who were most important to me were with me through my whole university journey. Bring as many photos with you as you can and make sure you decorate your room with them, I promise you it will make you feel so much better if you feel homesick.
Vacuum Storage Bags
I only discovered how useful vacuum storage bags were when I moved to my second year student house. I would totally recommend bringing some with you if you can, as they were very useful when it came to packing clothes it doubled the amount that I would be able to bring with me! And trust me, being on a Performing Arts course means I have to bring twice as many clothes - every day clothes and dance / performance outfits. It isn't just me bringing along too much for once.
5) Bathroom Items
Bath Towel, Hand Towel, Tooth Brush and Hairbrush / Comb
These items are essentials that you should bring with you to university. I would even go as far as recommending to bring two sets of Bath Towels and Hand Towels, so that while you are using one set you can put another set into the wash. Although it would not be the end of the world if you forgot any of these items, you will be able to pick up replacements at the shops that are local to you.
Tooth Paste, Hand Soap, Shampoo, Shower gel, Toilet Roll, Plasters (small first aid kit), Paracetamol, Sanitary Products, Razors and Shaving Cream
These are all items that are essential to have at university, however, you can probably get away with leaving them at home and buying new items when you move into your new home and go for your first shop. Although in both times that I have moved away for university I have brought these items with me, but if you are really struggling for room in your car, I would suggest buying these items when you get to university.
Flip Flops
You may be wondering why flip flops are listed here, but on the website that I followed when I was packing for university in my first year they recommended bringing along a pair of flip flops to wear when you go to and from the showers in your Halls of Residence. I would definitely suggest bring a pair of shoes for inside, whether it be slippers or flip flops, purely because the floors in your halls of residence may not necessarily be the cleanest. The carpet in our hallway and the kitchen floor were absolutely filthy at times, so it was more hygienic to keep wearing some sort of shoe.
Dressing Gown
A dressing gown is something that will be really useful to you, especially in the colder months. Your heating in your halls of residence will only come on at set times, so most of the time your room will be quite cold. There was even a point in Spring where they turned off the heating in our flat to save money and it was the coldest week I think that I spent in halls.
Hair Straighteners, Hair Dryer, Make Up, Nail Cutters and Tweezers
All of these items are just extras, so depending on your get ready routine, you may or may not need to bring these items with you to university. I would definitely recommend bringing these items in moderation though if you do bring them, particularly makeup. Only bring what you need / use, and leave the rest at home. If there is anything you are missing that is at home, you could always just collect in on your next visit home.
Contraceptives
This all depends on the type of person you are, and how sexually active you are / plan to be when you are at university. If you aren't planning on sleeping with anybody then you can leave your contraceptives at home. However, if you are planing on getting up close and personal with someone, then make sure you have the proper protection! (I cannot believe I have sexual advice now on my blog wow)
Medication
Of course, if you have any medical issues make sure that you bring any medication that you need with you. You do not want to die at university.
6) Clothing
I can definitely say that while you are at university you will need to wear clothes. You're welcome for the advice in advance. I would keep in mind the amount of storage space you have at university when packing clothes; if you know you will only have a small wardrobe then don't bring along a ton of clothes. On the other side, if you know you will have a generous amount of space in your wardrobe, go wild! Here are the clothes that I generally wore when I moved away to university, although if there is anything not listed that you want to bring don't feel like you cannot bring it. It is just what I personally brought with me.
- T-shirts/Tops
- Dresses
- Skirts
- Jumpers/Hoodies
- Jeans
- Tights
- Coat
- Socks and Underwear
- Pyjamas
- Hat, Scarfs and Gloves
- Trainers
- Slippers
- Smart shoes or Heels
- Watch
- Backpack
- Gym Clothes
7) Stationary
Stationary is something that you will need to bring with you regardless of your university course. The amount you will need to bring will vary depending on your course and how obsessed you are with stationary. I'm going to sort the stationary into stuff that you will probably need on your course and little extras that may come in handy if you choose to bring them along.
Essentials:
- Pens
- Pencils
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Highlighters
- A4/A5 Writing Pad
- Student Planner
- Ring Binders
- Post-it Notes
- Pencil Sharpener
- Eraser
Extras:
- Pencil Case
- Stapler and Staples
- Printer Paper
- White Tack
- Calculator
- Course Textbooks
- Coloured Pencils
- Coloured Pens
8) Miscellaneous
Here are some other items that you may want to consider bringing with you to university.
Weekend bag
A bigger bag is a great thing to bring along with you for when you want to go home. You can take home items that you make have brought that you do not actually need, and you can also bring back anything that you may have accidentally left. Alternatively, you can take home all of your washing for your mum to do at home. Personally, I have a small suitcase that I take to and from home with me just because it is easier to transport to and from my house in my hometown and my house back at my University town, but the type of back you have is completely up to you!
Umbrella
An umbrella will come in very handy if you are caught in the middle of a rain storm. This is an item that you should not leave at home.
Cash
I am one of those people that pays for everything on my card, however, it was handy to bring along some change with me to university, as our washing machines initially only used change and card payment was not accepted. Change will also come in handy for any bus fares you have to pay, so make sure you do bring along a little bit of change. It is also helpful to leave some money in your purse / wallet, as you never know when you will be in a situation where you need to take a taxi and you can't pay with card.
Water Bottle
Having a water bottle was really handy for keeping an eye on how much water I was drinking. I brought mine along with me to university as I am on a very active course, however, it is a very good thing to have with you anyway at university, so definitely bring your water bottle along with you.
Lighter
I have never really needed a lighter at university, but if you are somebody who smokes or likes scented candles than this is something that you may want to bring with you.
Hot Water Bottle
My hot water bottle was vital during those colder nights at university, make sure that you bring one with you since, as mentioned before, the heating in Student Accommodation can be temperamental at times.
Bicycle
Where I am currently attending University, a lot of people ride their bikes. I have never been to a city where people ride their bikes so much. If you can ride a bike and it can somehow fit in your car then definitely bring it to university. It is good exercise and is faster than walking, so there is no real downside to it!
Iron and Ironing Board
Both of my student accommodations have supplied an ironing board, so you probably won't need to bring an iron with you. I would also recommend leaving your iron at hoe. Nobody is going to care that there are a couple of creases in your home. In my time at university, no body has made an attempt to use the ironing board, so give yourself more packing space by leaving these items at home.
Musical Instruments
If you play a musical instrument, university is a fantastic opportunity to bring them along. I left my guitar at home during my first year and it was something that I deeply regret as there were so many opportunities where I would have practiced playing, but I could not because I had left it at home. If there is room to bring it then you should definitely bring your instrument along!
Cards
Cards are a very good social tool to bring with you to university. However, I found that every student accommodation gives you what is essentially a "Starter Box" and there is generally a set of cards in that box, so you don't have to worry too much if you forget your cards.
Beers or Spirits, Tea, Coffee, Milk and a Box of chocolates or Biscuits
As soon as you move into your house/flat you will want to break the ice with your flat/house mates. It is ideal to sit and have a tea or coffee and some sort of snack and get to know each other. If there is room, I would bring these items with you to your university, but again, if there is no room in your car, ensure that you buy them from your local shop.
Keys for Home
Of course, you are going to want to visit home at some point while you are at university and you may even plan a spontaneous surprise visit. You should keep your house keys for hoe with you, just in case you get home and there is nobody at the house. There would be nothing worse than sitting outside after coming home to surprise your family and waiting for somebody to finish work and let you in.
There you have it, what I would recommend bringing to university and what I would recommend leaving at home. Please understand - as mentioned at the start of the post - that these are all items that I personally found useful in my time at university and things that I just did not use. If there is something that you don't want to bring on this list or if there is something not on the list that you want to bring, please go ahead! Thank you so much for reading this blog post and please check out my other posts - I have made other posts about university life so you should check those out!
