tips for starting uni???

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Storage boxes for your room. I put some under my bed which is a good idea but check first whether you have room to do this under your bed or not.

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Extension leads

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Hangers

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Photos/things for your wall or pinboard

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Things to make your room feel cosy - blanket, pillows etc

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2 sets of bedding, 2 towels for when one is washing

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A clothes airer

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Clothes, but not too many! You won't need as much as you think- there will be nowhere to store it all and you can always swap your clothes out when it gets warmer.

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Tea towels

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Cutlery/crockery which is distinguishable or you will just lose it

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A pack of cards/other games

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Printers - you will be able to access this at the library and uni

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Candles

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Too many clothes

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All of your A Level/college notes - you won't use them all

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Too many kitchen utensils - only bring what you actually use at home

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Lots of expensive things as you may lose them

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Try to keep up with the work as you go along. It is easier said than done but it is a good idea to keep on top of this as much as you can.

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Similarly, try and write your work as you go along.

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Ask your tutors if you need any help. They are there to help you and will answer any questions so ask them as soon as you think of them!

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Try and do little and often. It depends on how you work but it is usually good to not do too much as once if you don't need to as it can get overwhelming

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Make sure you have fun things to look forward to to motivate you!

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Make use of the services that your uni offers. Often the library will have sessions for critical writing, essay writing, referencing etc so make use of these!

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Join a society. These are great ways of making friends and meeting lots of new people. Have a look at the freshers fair at what your uni offers and see if there are any that you like the sound of.

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See if there are any groups to join on social media. There will often be Facebook groups for your halls, your course and uni in general so see if you can meet anyone on here either before or after you start.

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See if your SU puts any events on. They are often good ways of meeting people and doing something fun at the same time so it is worth a try!

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Try and make plans with people you are living with. It's good to try and stay in the social areas as much as you can, such as the kitchen, as this is the best way of bonding with your flatmates.

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Try and have an open mind. Go in with the intention of being open to trying new things and meeting new people!

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Put yourself out there a bit. You will have to start conversations and ask people if they want to do things as they will often say yes, but you can't just rely on them to do it all the time!

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Enjoy yourself! It's a great experience and you will get to try so many fun new things so make the most of it and enjoy it!

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It's okay if you feel homesick or not happy all the time. While uni is a great experience, you will have times that you aren't enjoying yourself and this is okay.

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Comfort items: Anything that makes your space feel like home—photos, books, cushions, blankets, your favourite old teddy, etc.

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Towels: Bath and tea towels (2–3 of each usually work well).

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Too many books or hobbies: You likely won’t have time for everything you pack—unread books just take up space: believe me, I have lots!

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Stay organised: Planning ahead and doing a bit each day makes all the difference, especially if several deadlines fall at once.

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Get to know your flatmates: Once you’ve settled in, suggest hanging out or suggest going for a drink.

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Explore societies: A brilliant way to meet people with shared interests and try something new. At my university, we have a vast range from Archery and K-Pop to the Mature Students society and the Racing society (where students literally make and race cars).

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Bring a keepy cup - cafes often give you discount if you have one and it allows you to take coffee from home on the go

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Join in - societies, part time work, SU events - all these are great ways of meeting people and exploring new experiences

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Don't put excessive pressure on yourself - work hard and get into good habits, but protect yourself from burnout. Take breaks with friends, relax, explore town, go on walks, chill, do things you enjoy in between studying such as in the evening and Saturdays. Its important to get mental rest to stay motivated and nobody expects you to be spending all your time studying.

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Don't be afraid to ask for help from lecturers - its in their interest for you to succeed and do well, and so if you're struggling with a topic, use their office hour or see if they're available for a word after a lecture, or a quick meeting. Take bullet points of essay ideas with you or your plan in your head and ask for their feedback before writing it - they should be able to tell you whether you're in the right ballpark. More than often they are very happy to support you 🙂

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Get involved with research - ask to see if your lecturers have any projects going on they need any help with. If you're doing engineering, are there any carmaking or racing teams you can join? Do any of your lecturers offer research apprenticeship schemes or summer work?

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Life becomes so much easier when you buy these things after arriving at Uni! My best advice for packing for uni is leaving things such as bathroom supplies, cleaning equipment (from laundry pods to tea towels and sponges/sprays), stationery you want for uni etc.

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Buying all of these before moving to uni means you have less space in the car for other things you might want to take from home. You can buy those in almost any shop once you arrive to your uni town so it makes the most sense to buy them once there.

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The same goes for food - you don't need to do a food shop until you get to uni and have unpacked!

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HOWEVER, if there are specific things you want to bring from home (such as your own electric toothbrush or something you can only buy locally for example) then of course it is worth buying those first

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A lot of people forget to bring important documents such as ID/passport with them so don't make the same mistake!

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If you are thinking of applying to work whilst at uni, you might need other documents such as your NI (national insurance) number and a copy of your birth certificate - I needed them for a few things!

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Documents sent by your uni or by student finance - you don't necessarily need these but I would bring them just in case there is an issue and you need information from them, such as your customer number for student finance etc

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I would bring a small folder with all these documents, so you can keep them in one place - please keep them secure and in a safe place though!

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I personally found assignments so much easier when I broke them into smaller chunks and worked on it piece by piece!

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First steps would be to decide on your sections and sub-headings - e.g. if it is a report then the sections would be intro, materials, methods, results, discussion, conc - break these down even further into relevant sub-headings for what you will be talking about

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Give yourself chunks of words or sections to complete - either 'write 300-400 words per day' (change the number depending on how long your assignment is and how long you have to do it) or 'finish sub-heading X by end of day'

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This way, you have a specific focus as well as an end point for each day to keep you motivated!

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Extension leads – plug sockets are always in weird places. Basic kitchen stuff – one plate, bowl, mug, pan, and cutlery set is plenty. You’ll quickly learn what you actually use. Laundry basket + drying rack – super useful and often forgotten. Slippers or flip flops (if you have shared bathrooms).

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Fancy kitchen gadgets (blenders, toasters) – you won’t use them and they might not be allowed.

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Too many clothes – wardrobe space is limited.

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Stationery overload – you’ll end up using a laptop most of the time.

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First year often “doesn’t count” toward your final grade, but don’t ignore it — it’s the time to build study habits without intense pressure.

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Go to lectures/seminars even if they aren’t compulsory, showing up regularly helps you stay on track.

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Start organising notes from Week 1 (OneNote, Notion, etc. are great for this).

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Ask for help early — don’t wait until exams to realise you don’t get something.

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Say “yes” early on — go to events, even if they’re awkward or out of your comfort zone. Everyone’s trying to make friends in the first few weeks.

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But also know it’s totally okay to need downtime or not click with everyone immediately.

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Budget wisely — Fresher’s Week can be pricey, and your loan needs to last a while. Use apps like Monzo or Emma to track spending.

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Get basic stationery: Grab some pens, a ruler, an eraser, and a notebook for lectures or seminars. You don't need a huge stash, as a lot of course materials will be online anyway

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Hold off on buying loads of textbooks: Most essential readings will be available in the university library or online. Your lecturers will let you know if there's a specific book you absolutely must buy.

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Don't overbuy kitchen gadgets: Space is often tight in student accommodation, so it's best to stick to the basics.

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Once you get your timetable, take some time to familiarise yourself with it. Knowing what days you have lectures and seminars will help you get organised.

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Sign up for student discount websites/apps like UNiDAYS, TOTUM, and Student Beans. They're such a lifesaver for discounts on food, tech, beauty, and more.

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Get loyalty cards for supermarkets (Tesco, Co-Op, Lidl, and Asda) and pharmacies (Boots, Superdrug). You'll earn points and get vouchers, saving you money whether you're living in accommodation or commuting.

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Take advantage of the reading materials your lecturers give you. They're specifically chosen to help you understand the course content and are super useful for referencing.

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Create a study plan. Breaking down your revision by topic each day helps ensure you cover every aspect of your exams, coursework, or assessments without feeling overwhelmed.