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What to bring to uni on my first day? (communting to uni)

What should i bring to uni on my first day?
i will be staying at home and travelling to uni

(edited 8 months ago)

On the very first day bring:
A note book
Your phone
Pencil or pen
A calculator
Passport photos (you’ll see)
Water bottle
Money for food.
And put all that in a bag
Optionally ring ear phones so you can listen to music on the train.

(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 2

fortified_shi

Original post by Anonymous

WHat should i bring to uni on my first day?
i will be staying at home and travelling to uni

I’d think just a pen, something to write anything down in, and laptop/ipad. Most of the introductory stuff will be meeting the people in your department/course and having lectures of them introducing themselves and explaining how the course will run for the year. You might get a printed timetable just for the first week. Also I’d take some food because it will probably be a long busy day with not many breaks.

Reply 3

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

WHat should i bring to uni on my first day?
i will be staying at home and travelling to uni

Hi,

Starting uni is so exciting! Since you'll be commuting from home, you won't need to pack as much as someone moving into halls.

You might want to bring:
- Student ID/ the necessary documents to register for it. Your uni should communicate with you what you need to do and bring to acquire your student ID
-Notebook and pens/ laptop/ tablet
-Chargers!!! Especially if it's going to be a long day
-Printed or digital copy of your timetable and map so you know where to go
-Umbrella or coat
-Bus pass/ railcard/ money to pay for public transport or parking
-Snacks and water

Before you're first day, check if your uni has provided any specific information for new students. As you settle into uni life, you'll likely figure out what you need and what works for you but I often find it's better to be over-prepared then under-prepared.

Good luck :smile:

-Beth (Lancaster Student Ambassador)

Reply 4

martin7

People have said “take money.” Having cash with you would be a good idea, but I’d suggest you have a debit card with you too. Businesses are increasingly going cashless, and that applies to universities too.

Reply 5

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

As noted your first day will usually be mostly inductions and so on. However some paper and a pen are useful in case you need/want to make notes for yourself. You may want to bring some form of ID with you if needed. Check if you will need to bring any qualification certificates with you in person too.

Reply 6

Cranfield University

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

WHat should i bring to uni on my first day?
i will be staying at home and travelling to uni

Hi there!

There have been really good suggestions already, but let me add a few things to the list:

- A small water bottle. You’ll have to fit it in your bag, and of course when they’re full water bottles are heavy. For your fist day, I would recommend bringing a small one as most campuses have many refill stations, so you won’t go thirsty but also it wasn’t take up too much space.

- A pen and small notepad. You’ll be given a lot of information, and in many circumstances (like in lectures) it’s not appropriate to use your phone to take notes.

- A charger, and a charged battery pack. Of course, your phone is super important for connecting with all of your classmates. You’ll probably also need it to double check schedules and maps (which I would recommend screenshotting before leaving home). Overall, you’ll be on it a lot. If the battery does die, there will likely be places you can charge it, but having a battery pack means that you’re not ‘stuck’ there, you can grab coffee/lunch with your classmates, or walk around campus to find the library, the next lecture hall you’re in, or refill your water bottle!

- A purse/wallet with a little bit of cash. Most places do take card payments, but some of the older coffee/vending machines are still coin-only. For your first day, you may not have time to go and find an alternative. Also, choosing the most convenient option leaves more time to socialise!

- If you plant to take notes for lectures on your laptop, do bring it from day 1. It means you won’t have to worry about transcribing notes at a later date to keep them all in the same place. Just make sure that it’s fully charged the night before, and bring the charger anyway. Same applies for an ipad.

- Check what paperwork you might need to bring – ID, student number, a letter of registration, etc. If you have reserved a locker or anything like that, bring any confirmations of that too (especially if they have a locker number or instructions on how to pick up the key).

- Whatever small items you need to feel ‘nice’. I have chronically dry lips, and I would hate to make a crusty first impression, so lip balm always stays in my bag. Maybe you want to bring some gum/mints for fresh breath, a hair tie, hand moisturiser or hand sanitiser, all things you can keep in a small side pocket whenever you need them.

Hope you have a fun first day, and enjoy meeting everyone on your course!
Ciara
3rd year Agrifood PhD student
Cranfield Student Ambassador

Reply 7

University of Huddersfield

Official Rep

Anon,

Here are some suggestions.

- The typical stuff you would normally take in a rucksack.

- Any documentation they have asked you to bring.

- Black pens, especially if you have to fill out any forms. It's also good to have extra in case you lose one, in case one of the pens doesn't work or in case someone asks to borrow one.

- A notebook to write down any key information about the course.

- A different coloured pen/ highlighter to circle any important info they give you that you record in your notes.

- Mobile phone or personal planner to record key dates/deadlines.

- Extra money/ debit card so that you can grab a coffee or food with some of the new people you meet : )

Hope that helps,

Oluwatosin – 2nd year student – University of Huddersfield

(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 8

Chester Student

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

WHat should i bring to uni on my first day?
i will be staying at home and travelling to uni

Hi Anon,

Great question, and there have been some great responses already!

Since you are traveling, I'd recommend taking enough water and snacks to get you through the journey to and from university (if your commute is long), and chargers for your phone and laptop/iPad.
Make sure you have a notebook and enough pens/pencils just in case, and bring any necessary documentation they might have asked you to bring (i.e., student ID, passport, etc.).
Have copies of your student number, email, a campus map, and timetable available on your phone/laptop, so you can access them easily. You might prefer to print these off and have hard copies if this is easier for you!
Apart from that, and what has already been said, I'd recommend bringing anything you usually would if you would be out for a long period of time, such as money (a card, cash/change), lip balm, an umbrella, glasses, medication (paracetamol, antihistamines), etc.

Good luck, and I hope this helps!
Isabella

Reply 9

University of Sunderland Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

What should i bring to uni on my first day?
i will be staying at home and travelling to uni

Hi there,

On my first day I brought my laptop incase I needed it, as well as a notebook and pen to jot anything down from the induction. Also make sure to bring some water and a snack if you will be there for a long time, you may also need to bring lunch or money to buy lunch depending on how long you are there for.
Have a great first day!

Ellen
Uni of Sunderland
Digital Ambassador