Going to University is a hugely exciting time and there is much to do in the run-up to starting freshers week. For most young adults and their parents getting organised for moving to uni is a little overwhelming and very time-consuming which is why we are here to help you with the ultimate uni essentials list for freshers.
We have done the going to uni thing once before with our daughter and we made some mistakes with what to take and what to not bother with! Our mistakes mean that we are passing on invaluable advice so grab a cuppa and read on!
We are basing this ultimate uni essentials list on those moving into halls, either university-owned halls or private halls. If students are moving into a house share they will need to know what is provided for them and adjust the list somewhat.
Uni Essentials Needed For Freshers
Firstly students will need to submit assignments in a digital format, therefore a laptop is pretty essential unless they plan on only working in the library. The advantage of taking your own laptop means that you can work easily in your room. Students will need to type up their work and submit it for marking, they will also need access to a laptop for research. A further advantage of a laptop is that they can stream Netflix and other channels which means that they don’t need to take an additional TV.
Very have a number of great deals on laptops, tablets and chromebooks. We found that an HP laptop worked well for our daughter who didn’t need any specific spec for her course. The HP 14s is a great laptop with long-lasting battery life and HP Fast Charge technology. This model lets you work, watch entertainment, and stay connected all day. Integrated precision touchpad with multitouch support speeds up navigation and productivity. All in all, it does a great job. It is really lightweight and practical for students of all ages and stages and costs under £500.
Students will not need a printer as we learnt! I remember standing in line to hand in assignments and stupidly assumed that would be the case! I forgot I went to uni in an era before digitally submitting things! The printer my daughter took was never once used!
Bedroom Essentials
Bedding will be needed, this includes taking a duvet, duvet covers, bottom fitted sheet, pillows and pillowcases. We found that having two sets worked well. The mattress in university accommodation can be a bit hot and miss so it is also recommended to get a good mattress protector. This not only protects the mattress but can make it comfier.
Students will need towels for their bathrooms. and if they don’t have an ensuite a wash bag for transporting their shampoo toothbrush etc etc to the communal bathroom.
Storage is often lacking in halls and we found that a basket was ideal for storing shoes. The students will also need a laundry bag of sorts for their dirty washing.
Obviously, the students will be taking their clothes but they will also need coat hangers. On this note, I’ll add that it is a good idea to pack clothes in large blue IKEA bags or similar. Taking a suitcase just takes up so much storage space. Bags that can be squished up is much easier for transporting clothes to and from uni.
Whilst we are talking clothes an Oodie or wearable blanket is very handy. Although halls are often warm and big comfy blanket will keep you warm and snuggly. With the cost in heating going up – this could also be a clever money saving hack to keep warm. My teens love their oodies and it was a great investment.
Students will benefit from having a decent weekend bag if they are travelling to stay with friends or coming home at weekends. A sports-type bag is ideal as you can pack a weekend’s worth of stuff in one.
Next, we recommend an extension lead as there might not be many plug sockets in the right places. An extension lead can make life that bit easier, especially for all their chargers.
A speaker is a good investment, it probably isn’t essential but it is a welcome piece of tech in the kitchen for prees (drinks before going out) or in the bedroom.
Hairdyer and straightners will be needed.
Soft furnishings can make a room feel more homely and this might include a small rug, a cushion or two on your bed, plus photos for your noticeboard. Remember to take some pins, blu take or command strips for hanging things up.
Kitchen Essentials for Freshers
It is easy to go overboard with kitchen essentials but really there is no need! A couple of plates, cereal bowls, glasses, mugs and a couple of sets of cutlery are needed. You don’t need a place sitting for six it just gets lost, broken or goes missing!
You will need a couple of saucepans, frying pan, a tin opener, scissors, spatulars and a bottle opener!! A few sharp knives and a chopping board and you are probably covered. A few containers to keep leftovers in are useful for the fridge.
A baking tray for the oven will be required along with oven gloves and tea towel. Other utensils will be useful depending on what you eat lots of, maybe a potato masher or cheese grater for example.
Do check what the uni halls provide, this usually includes, kettle, toaster, microwave, iron and ironing board. Therefore you don’t need these and I know very few students that iron anyway!! My daughter did find a blender really useful as she made lots of smoothies. My son will also want a blender for making protein shakes so it can be a useful item but it is not essential.
Stationery Uni Essentials for Freshers
Stationery will certainly be needed! The usual pencil case with pen’s pencils and other key items will still be needed. Much like when the students were at sixth form or college they will need similar items for day to day studying.
Alongside this they will need some way of organising and taking notes. Pukka pads are a great way along with a few lever arch folders – maybe one for each module. This way students can print off lectures notes as needed and keep their own notes organised.
A desk organiser or student diary is also really helpful for keeping track of dates, events and deadlines. There will be reading weeks, course dates, assignments due and your fresher will need to manage their time without parents checking in with them!
A wall planner works well for those who are visual learners. Instead of a diary that is out of site out of mind a wall planner that can be colour coded and is constantly on display works best. This one from Amazon is good or a weekly planner is another alternative.
Post it notes are a students friend! They are just useful for so many different things from playing drinking agmes like ‘who am i’ to writing lists of things to buy when shopping!
A ‘school bag’ is still needed for carrying bits around the uni campus. Likewise a reusable water bottle is eco friendly and saves constantly buying soft drinks.
The Extras!
A basic first aid kit containing some plasters when they cut themselves chopping veg! Medications they usually take, plus vitamins etc. Freshers’ Flu or killer hangovers are a curse of university so be prepared with paracetamol, berroca and some flu meds.
Card games and board games are a great way to break the ice and get to know your flatmates.
Books for personal reading, maybe a games console if that’s how you relax.
All the chargers for phones, watches, and laptops.
If you play in any sports teams or clubs take your essentials for that too which could include shin pads, hockey sticks, gloves, Astro boots, darts, climbing gear – whatever your thing is, make sure you take it, join the club and find your tribe. It can be easy to let your hobby slide when starting uni as you don’t want to walk into a new club or society but it is in those places you are likely to find those who share the same values and attitudes as yourself. so be brave!
Final Thoughts
We hope that this ultimate uni essentials list helps you get organised but remember if you forget anything it doesn’t matter after all the supermarket won’t be far away and amazon deliver to to halls too so no matter what you can always get things later. Most of us pack our freshers off with far more stuff than they need. My daughter plays hockey and managed to forget her hockey skort which she realized the day before her first game! She had a mad panic but it all worked out in the end!
Other useful posts about starting uni can be found in the uni category but this post on the Pros and Cons of Taking a Car to University and How to Take Notes from a Textbook To Ignite Your Success is good reading.
