TSR Wiki > University > Freshers > What To Take To University
What To Take to University
This is a descriptive inventory of nearly everything you could possibly want to take to university with you. It has been compiled from suggestions given by people already at university to prospective students and freshers. Using this as a guide, rather than a prescriptive list, hopefully you shouldn't forget anything vital! (And if all else fails, you can always buy them when you get there!)
Not everyone will need nor want to take everything on this page. Please do not edit something out of the list simply if you yourself will not be taking it - leave the items there for people decide themselves if they will take it or not.
One thing I would like to point out is that before I left for University I was actually quite embarassed about the amount of stuff I was taking. DON'T BE. People will turn up with two car loads so if there is something you want to take, take it. I personally left my guitar effects pedal and amp at home and I am REALLY regretting it!
If you put everything you'll need for the first night and day in your bag (evening meal, toothbrush, change of clothes) you can be free to go out with your new friends and not get stuck unpacking.
Buying all this stuff can get costly and often you need to shout for some help. It's different for each individual, but try asking friends and families for their unused coffee machine or toaster - you'll be surprised. Sometimes you can link it with a birthday and get the masses of stuff you need. It can be tricky to ask. I used UniWishList.com to compile my list and found it a nice, easy way to ask your uncle and aunts too. After all, it can feel like moving into a new home.
Do remember you won't need everything on this list; some people will need stuff that others don't (i.e. if you're in catered halls you won't need a frying pan)! You can always go home and get it (unless you're in another country or in Scotland when you come from Reading...) or buy it when you get there! Taking stuff you don't need is a total waste of car space, and you'll need it!
Academic
- Reading List
- Academic Diary / Wall Planner / Calendar / Cheap dry wipe board
- Relevant Old Text Books and Notes - not all of them as they can take up a lot of space and you might not use them...
- Blank notebooks for taking notes at Lectures
- Pen drive/Memory Stick
- Dictionary
- Thesaurus
- Exam results/certificates (Some Universities use these during your induction.)
- Voice recorder if you have difficulty concentrating in lectures. (Do remember you'll have to make time to listen to it again, and ask for permission to record.)
Bathroom Items
- Hand Towels
- Bath Towels
- Bath Sheets
- Floor Towel
- Flannel
- Sponge
- Wash Bag
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Floss
- Cotton Buds
- Cotton Pads
- Make-up Remover
- Nail Varnish Remover
- Sanitary Towels/Tampons [For the females among us] - [Or males with nosebleeds]
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Dry Shampoo. Look for brands such as Batiste, or if you're well off, Lee Stafford. (Just in case you don't have time for a shower before a lecture, or get up late! Alternatively a hat works fine and you can shower later!) (Superdrug's own brand dry shampoo for brunettes works wonders if you're dark haired..and it's cheap!)
- Hair Gel/Wax
- Hairspray
- Hair brush/Comb
- Hair grips/clips/bobbles
- Body Lotion
- Body Scrub
- Razor/Epilator/Hair-Removing Equipment
- Shaving Cream
- Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant
- Body Spray
- Perfume
- Toilet Roll
- Wet Wipes
- Air Freshener
- Bathroom Scales
Bedroom Items
Bedding
- Sheets
- Duvet/Quilt - Most unis sell these on move-in day, but do check if they are provided, as they sometimes are!
- Pillows
- Cushions
- Mattress Protector - Not only if you have incontinence issues, but if you have a drunken mishap during the night ;)
- Blanket / Throw
more than one duvet and sheets is useful. Using dryers to dry things is expensive and it'll take a couple of nights to dry
Decorative Items
- Wall stickers from uni cube and alike. Better than posters as they dont need blue tac or cellotape. Reusable, temporary and non-damaging. www.uni-cube.co.uk
- Photos
- Postcards
- Framed leavers shirts/cards/notes
- Flag
- Clock
- A poster with your name and course to go on your door (it's inviting for your new flat mates and it can avoid the akwardness)
- Rug
- Cushions
- Beanbag
- Desk chair
- Door Stop (If you keep your bedroom door open you'll make friends with your new housemates much quicker)
- Cuddly Toys
- Hot Water Bottle
- Sleeping Bag
- Inflatable Bed
- Airbed Pump
- Lamp
- Disco Ball
- Lava Lamp
- Desk Lamp
- Fairy lights
- Plants
- Alarm Clock
- Phone
- Ornaments (not too many though as it can be overpowering and claustophobic)
- Clothes Wash Basket/Bin/Bag
- Small Bin
- Candles (make sure they're not near anything that will catch fire and you blow them out properly though as you don't want a fire on the first day)
- Air Purifier/Incense sticks - If you're like me and your room is always in a mess, it is possible to keep it smelling and feeling clean even though the cleaner last came over a month ago. A can of air fresher could also do the job. Incense sticks can do the job and can be bought for around £1 for 20ish, with a further pound for a holster (good for BO & heavier than usual smells)
Clothing
Everyday
- Normal, Casual Clothing
- Clean Underwear and Socks
- Comfy Shoes
- Onesie
- Dressing Gown
- Pyjamas
- Slippers
- Flip-flops (for communal showers/summer & 'beach' parties)
- Water-proof coat
- A warm coat, gloves, scarf, hat and a brolly (so many students pack in sunny September and get caught out/cold when Autumn/Winter starts to bite)
Formal
- Dark Suit/Evening Dress (suitable for black tie events)
- Smart Shoes/Heels
- Clothing Suitable for Interviews for Part-time Jobs
Other
- Special Clothing for Matriculation (e.g. Oxbridge and Durham - this should be specified by the uni)
- Uniform (ie. if your a Nursing student you'll get a uniform supplied but you need shoes etc)
- Swimwear
- Gym/Sports Clothes & Trainers
- Shoe Polish kit (You want those shoes shining for your job interview!)
Fancy Dress
Take any suitable tools and items that will come in useful for a costume. It's best to get them in advance otherwise you may pay over the odds.
- School Tie (for the school discos you're BOUND to have!)
- Face Paints
- Glitter
- Scissors
- Glue
- Paper Clips
- Sticky Tape
- Bin Bags
- Sewing Kit (safety pins!)
- Bed sheet (seriously so useful! Togas, ghosts, whatever but its worth having.)
Possibly clothes/accessories for:
- 80s Theme
- Beach/Full Moon Party
- Cowboy Theme
- Emergency/999 Theme
- School Disco
- Halloween/Christmas/Easter/Valentines
- Pink Theme (e.g. LGBT Nights)
- Mobsters theme
- Armed forces theme
- Cartoon theme
Cycle Items
- Bicycle (a crappy one is far less likely to be stolen. if its good, get insurance. its cheaper than you think)
- A very good lock, ideally a D Lock because cable locks are considerably inferior
- Puncture Repair Kit
- Pump
- Allen/Dave Keys (those bits of metal with a hexagonal cross-section) - Not essential but handy for tightening/removing parts
- Reflectives. (some unis will fine you if you don't use them)
- A rucksack if you plan to cycle. Panniers are good for shopping too.
- A water bottle & stand
- Bell and Lights
Driving/Car Items
- Important documents such as; Car ownership papers, Driving license, Insurance papers, MOT documents, Tax papers, Break-down membership
- Spare set of keys
- Parking permits / Swipe cards for car parks (Some universities, places of work and work experience placements require you to pay for a parking permit in order to park your car)
- Bucket
- Sponge
- Leather shammy
- Car shampoo (or washing up liquid works just as well)
- Wax
- Glass/ Window cleaner
- Tyre Shine
- Back to Black bumper spray
- Airfreshner
- Car mats; including plastic ones for winter/when the weather is bad
- Oil
- Screen wash
- De-icer
- De-misting sponge
- Map or Sat Nav
- First aid kit
- Torch
- Umbrella
- Warning triangle
- Spare fuses
Documents
- Passport Photos Take at least four, and keep some on you. Also scan some on to your computer to get quick reproductions for less (especially for ID that doesn't really matter)
- Passport
- Driving Licence
- National Insurance Number
- NHS Medical Card
- Details of your vaccination history
- Insurance Documents
- TV Licence (Not needed if you plan to use your TV only for watching DVDs/Playing Games etc.)
- Support Notification
- Any Information from your LEA, the SLC (Student Loans Company) or Student Finance Direct
- Your Unconditional Offer from the University
- Any documents regarding your accommodation
- Cheque Book
- Bank Debit Card
- Paying-In Book
- Bank or Building Society details
- Travel Discount Cards (16-25 Railcard etc) Great for cheap travel home
- CV & References
- CRB Check - Applicants copy (if required by your course)
- Exam Certificates
- Oyster Card (If in London; student Oyster cards are also available)
Electrical Items
- Extension leads Get Surge protected ones to protect valuable equipment
- Socket converter (if you are an international student)
- Computer/Laptop
- Laptop case/bag
- Charger
- Ethernet Cable [RJ-45] Most unis sell these but you can get these for pennies elsewhere
- Mouse
- Speakers
- Printer (you will most likely get printer credits at your library, so don't go buying a new expensive one!)
- USB Lead
- Paper
- Ink (colour & black for inkjet, Toner for Laser)
- External Hard-drive
- USB Pen-drive
- CD-R/RW (for creating hard back ups)
- Mobile Phone
- Charger
- USB Lead
- Headphones
- Digital Camera
- USB Lead
- Memory Card
- Battery
- Charger
- Lenses, filters, etc. if you have a DSLR
- Television
- DVD Player
- DVDs (a DVD wallet case might be a good idea if you want to save room by not taking tons of boxes)
- SCART/composite video lead
- Power lead
- Freeview box
- Games Consoles
- MP3 Player/iPod
- USB Lead (Charger)
- Mains Charger
- Headphones
- Docking Station
- Speakers
- CD Player
- Headphones
- Alarm Clock
- Wall Clock
- Desk Fan
- Rechargeable batteries
- Hair Dryer
- Hair Straighteners/Curling Tongs
- Iron
- Ironing Board (Small tabletop one, perhaps? Or just use the table itself if it's clean, but make sure you put a towel down first! Some unis do provide ironing boards.)
First Aid Items
- Prescription Medication including contraceptives
- Condoms you can collect a stack at freshers and get a C-Card allowing you free condoms
- Painkillers Essential after your first couple of nights
- Plasters
- Blister Plasters
- Bandages
- Support Bangages
- Sling (or improvise and use a scarf/coat zipped down)
- Antiseptic Wipes
- Antiseptic Cream
- Eye wash
- Eye patch not as in pirate one tho
- Bonjela
- Cold/Flu Remedy
- Throat Lozenges
- Anti-allergy Tablets
- Hydrocortisone Cream
- Afterbite (for insect bites/stings)
- Sudocrem Works wonders for alsorts of things such as minor burns and sunburn, bites and even on acne
- Mosquito repellent (Jungle formula deet from blacks usually does the job)
- Cold/Hot Pack
- Safety Pins
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Hangover Remedy i.e. Resolve
- Rehydration/ Diahorrea tablets
- Vitamins
Tips;
- Keep the number for local Dr's Surgery/Dentist
- Keep a number for Next of Kin in your phone under NOK or ICE (Next of Kin or In Case of Emergency)
- Familiarise your self with where the local A&E and Drop-in centres are
- Remember 111 for non-emergency medical advise
- & 999 for emergencies
- If you suffer with long term conditions such as Diabetes, Epelipsy keep an ID braclet/locket/book with your name, age, condition, medical list and number to phone with you just incase
Kitchen Items
Appliances
Beware: If you are sharing you may end up with many of the same appliance in one house. Also some universities do supply these in varying states of working order for those in university accommodation
- Mini-Fridge
- Coffee Maker
- Kettle
- Toaster
- Toasted Sandwich Maker
- Steamer
- Slow Cooker
- Waffle Iron
- Bread Maker
- Food Processor
- Soup Maker
Equipment
- Small Casserole Dish
- Small Frying Pan
- Wok or Large Frying Pan (with lid)
- Large Saucepan (with lid)
- Small Saucepan (with lid)
- Flat Baking Tray (for Oven Chips!)
- Tin Opener
- Bottle Opener (You will become very popular with this)
- Corkscrew
- Vegetable Peeler
- Garlic Crusher
- Pastry Brush
- Egg Cups (or perhaps shot glasses - 2 in 1!)
- Cheese Grater
- Wooden Spoons or Spatulas
- Masher
- Microwavable Bowl
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Jug
- Pizza Cutter
- Sieve
- Colander
- Whisk
- Chopping Knives
- Chopping Board
- Lemon Squeezer
- Kitchen Scissors
- Apple Corer
- Kitchen Scales
- Cake Tins
- Egg poachers
- Melon Baller
Storage
- Tupperware (Plastic tubs for storing left overs. Write something on the lids and the tubs to prevent them going missing.)
- Sandwich Bags
- Biscuit Tin
- Fruit bowl
- Plastic lids (like the ones you can get for pet food or from little jars of nutella) are really handy for covering tins that are going in the fridge like beans
Tableware
- Glasses (Wine Glasses, Shot Glasses, Pint Glasses, tumblers, high-ball)
- Cutlery (Knives, Forks, Spoons) Tip - Taking just 1 or 2 of everything will encourage you to wash them straight away but make sure you have enough to have people over for a takeaway dinner
- Crockery (Plates, Bowls, Mugs, Cups)
Basic Ingredients
- Salt
- Pepper
- Herbs and Spices
- Sugar
- Sweetners
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise/ Salad cream
- Hot Drinks (Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, etc.)
Other
- Apron
- Oven Gloves
- Tea Towels
- Baking Foil
- Greaseproof Paper
- Cling Film
- Marigolds/Washing-up gloves
- Bin Bags
- Recipe Book/ Instructions from your mum
- Sandwich bags/tupperware box for DIY lunches
- Timer
Laundry and Housekeeping Items
- Washing Powder
- Fabric Softener
- Laundry Bag
- Clothes Horse (university may provide)
- Coat hangers
- Febreeze
- Washing-up Liquid
- Cillit Bang
- Sponge
- Cloth
- Kitchen Roll
- Scourer
- Cleaning Equipment (though often provided by universities)
- Washing-up Gloves
- Black Bin Bags
- Anti-bacterial wipes
Miscellaneous Items
- Lots of home cooked food in tuppawears ready to be thrown in the fridge/freezer for when you're too lazy to cook.
- Tissues
- Loose Change (for washing machines)
- Extra Storage – Boxes, Shelves, Hanging pocket organizer, etc.
- Holdall or Weekend Bag - a wheely suitcase is useful for lugging crates of alcohol back from the supermarket!
- Rucksacks are useful for carrying items around leaving your hands free, or if you like walking (D of E nostalgia!)
- Handbags for nights/days out
- Torch (wind-up ones are best!)
- Pen Knife
- Safety Pins
- Small Sewing Kit
- Small Tool Kit
- Matches/Candles
- Spare bulbs
- Lighter
- Watch - always good for suddenly realising you've got a lecture in 2 minutes!
- Hooks/Sticky Hooks
- Door Wedge
- Doormat
- Board Games
- Cards
- Balls/Frisbees
- Sports Equipment
- Musical Instrument(s)
- Umbrella
- Local Taxi Number
- Local Map
- Local Dr's Number
- Local Dentist Number
- Takeaway Menus
- Vouchers for anything and everything
- 0800 REVERSE or 0800 MUM DAD (for reverse charge calls)
- Tray
- Super Glue - very useful for fixing things
- Carrier Bags
- Store Cupboard Ingredients (Oil, Spices, Tin and Packet Food)
- Alcohol For the love of god take some wine and spirits and invite some neighbours over to make friends
- Water bottle
- Money
- Small safe for valuables / documents
- Traffic Cone (interesting conversation starter; may also be used to hang excess coats) Its better to pick this up along the way on a drunken night than intentionally take one with you though..
- Small Plastic Drawer Tower - Argos often have them- invaluable extra storage space.
- Spare Birthday Cards, for when you forget
- UV pen to mark valuables so if they're stolen and then found again by the police they can be returned to you
Personal Items
- Nail Scissors
- Nail File
- Tweezers
- Hairbrush/Comb
- Hairclips
- Hairbands
- Perfume
- Make-up
- Jewellery
- Nail varnish
- Moisturiser
- Lip Balm/Chap Stick
- Prescription Glasses
- Spare Pair of Glasses
- Contacts
- Brace/Retainer & Accessories
- Earplugs - for those noisy nights (people keeping you up) and for nightclubs if you have ear problems like me v_v
Stationery Items
If you are staying in halls, the information you receive from your university should tell you what will be provided in your room. Many rooms will already have a noticeboard, for example, so you won't need to buy one. Some students recommend taking only the bare minimum in terms of stationery, and then buying the rest as and when you need it after you've settled in.
- Printing Paper
- Jotter or Reporter Pad
- Pen Drive/ Memory Stick
- Pens
- Pencils
- Highlighters
- Permanent All-Surface Markers (useful for marking what's yours! & when someone passes out)
- Ruler
- Eraser
- Sharpener
- Tipex
- Pencil case
- Pen pot (ones with multiple pots can store paperclips, staples, etc. as well as the usual pens and pencils)
- White Tack or Blu Tack
- Scissors
- Sellotape
- Hole Puncher
- Stapler
- Staples
- Treasury Tags
- Paper Fasteners
- Paper Clips
- Post-it Notes or Flag Markers
- Sticky-back Labels
- Pins for sticking things to any cork boards provided
- Elastic Bands
- A4 Ring Binders
- Lever Arch Folders
- Hole-reinforcers
- Paper/Plastic Wallets
- Clipboard
- Calculator (especially if you're doing maths, but even if you're doing English Literature)
See Also
