When you're packing for uni, bringing some things seem obvious - clothes, valid IDs, your laptop/phone - but there's always a couple of things you can't be entirely sure if you'll need. Whilst you should always check your specific student accommodation rules and guidelines, here's a general guide to help you with what not to bring to university.
Candles
Candles initially seem like the perfect thing to help you settle into your new flat, especially if you're the type who likes staying in of a night with a cup of tea and the newest Netflix documentary. But they're also a significant fire risk, and any dripping wax can be hard to get out of carpets. For an alternative, look at reed diffusers or plug-in air fresheners - same clean smell for a lot less worry!
Large Furniture Items
As desperate as you might be to bring an extra storage unit or your desk from home (especially if you're driving to uni), there's usually just not the space for it! Your halls should provide a good amount of storage space and any necessary furniture (e.g. beds/desks), so don't worry about not having what you need.
Kitchen Appliances
Whilst you shouldn't forget your favourite mug and a couple of spare teaspoons, bringing expensive toasters, kettles, blenders or coffee machines to uni can often do more harm than good. You're going to be sharing your kitchen with anywhere between 4-7 other people whose domestic habits you don't know, and you DON'T want to be having an entire-flat argument over who broke your Nespresso machine within the first week. Furthermore, most student accommodations provide at least a basic kettle, toaster and microwave - so most of the time, you're only bringing spares!
Printer
Don't get me wrong, printers are allowed in halls - but they're often a waste of money, especially if you're living close to campus. Lots of unis allow students free printing, and even if yours doesn't, it's usually only a couple of pence per page - much cheaper than buying your own printer and constant supply of ink!
All Of Your Clothes
Whilst it might seem like a good idea to reduce the number of times you have to do laundry by bringing all of your clothes from home, the truth is you really won't need them! If you're anything like me, you'll find yourself wearing the same thing as many times as you can just out of sheer laziness, so don't worry about bringing dozens of different outfits. You likely won't have the space for them either - especially if they're summer clothes you won't wear for ages.
Iron + Ironing Board
In my year at uni, I never ironed a single thing. If you decide you want one however, wait until you arrive in your flat and discuss it with your flatmates. You might get a few different people to chip in for a shared iron, and they're not TOO expensive to begin with (£15-30).
Hope this helps - what would you not bring to uni?
- Eve (Kingston Rep).