The ultimate university packing list
Take a look at our guide on what to pack for uni, plus get the chance to win a student essentials starter kit
You’ve got your place at uni and you know where you’ll be living. It’s time to start thinking about what you need to take with you and start shopping.
We’re giving away all the student essentials shown in this picture to one student starting City this September. What a fantastic prize! Keep reading for details on how to enter the competition, in the meantime, here’s our ultimate uni packing list.
Bedroom
Your bedroom will be where you spend a reasonable amount of your time, studying, sleeping or simply escaping for a bit of peace and quiet. Make it nicer by bringing stuff to keep it tidy, and brightening it up with a colourful duvet cover.
Duvet and pillows — bring your own even if your halls provide them
Bedlinen — that’s pillowcases, a duvet cover, fitted sheet and a mattress protector
Teddy bear– go for it. You’re definitely too old, but you won’t be the only one who brings a cuddly friend
Pictures to stick on the wall
White tac — so you don’t mark the walls and get fined
Coat hangers
Hairbrush and hairdryer
Doorstop — wedging open your bedroom door will help you make friends
Clothing
We probably don’t need to remind you to bring clothes. Hopefully, they’re already on your packing list.
Remember to bring casual clothes for during the day, fun evening stuff for going out and things to suit any weather. It might be sunny when you leave for uni, but by the end of the term, winter will most definitely have arrived.
Pyjamas and slippers to keep you snug
Underwear
Sports gear, trainers and gym bag, so you can join CitySport
Waterproof jacket
A sturdy bag or backpack, big enough to carry your books to lectures in
Laundry bin
Clothes drying rack
Bathroom
Toiletries — shampoo, shower gel, soap. Basically anything you use at home to wash with.
Toothpaste and a toothbrush
Toilet roll
Mirror
Towels — bring more than one so you have a spare when yours is in the wash
First aid kit — including painkillers, plasters, cold and flu remedy, tissues. You WILL get fresher’s flu. Be prepared!
Ensuite? HOW FANCY! Bring a bathmat, a toothbrush holder and a basket to keep your bathroom tidy
Bathroom cleaning products — like toilet duck. If you’re not sure what you need, ask the cleanest person you know.
Kitchen
Remember all this stuff will live in a communal kitchen. If you want to keep track of what’s yours, go for something colourful or distinctive. Have a rummage in a charity shop for cheap kitchen supplies that you can guarantee no one else will have. You need:
A knife, fork, dessert spoon, teaspoons
A big plate and a little plate
Bowl
Mug
Water glass and a wine glass. Don’t be a student cliché — you’re better than drinking wine from a mug.
Corkscrew
Cooking
If even beans on toast is beyond your culinary capabilities, treat yourself to a student cookbook. Jack Monroe is the CHAMPION of budget recipes and has several books.
Ladle
Masher
Serving spoons
Tin opener
Vegetable peeler
Cheese grater
Wooden spoon
Scissors
Saucepans
Frying pan
Chopping board
Sharp kitchen knife
Baking tray
Food storage containers
Tea towells. Bring a few, they will start to smell weird.
Oven glove
Miscellaneous essentials
An umbrella
Oyster card
Something to play music on
Headphones
UK travel adaptor — if you’re an international student you might need an adapter to plug in any electrical items you’re bringing from home
Extension leads
Passport photographs
Studying
Basically all the same stuff you used for A Levels. That includes:
Pens
Notebooks
Stapler and staples
Ringbinder
Laptop
Chargers
USB sticks
Academic diary/planner
Boring documents
They’re boring, but don’t forget them!
Passport
Driving licence
National Insurance number
Visa
Bank details and card
Student loan documents
This is a general guide to things you might want to bring with you, but don’t worry — you don’t need to buy it all. Bear in mind that all this will need to fit into one small room. Plus, remember you’re going to uni in London. We have shops here, if you forget something you can buy it after you’ve arrived.
Prize draw
Enter our prize draw to win a university starter kit from UniKitOut. The pack contains pots, pans, bedding and crockery. Basically everything you’ll need to settle into your accommodation. You can enter here and see the terms and conditions here. The prize draw closes on September 9th.
