Stationery

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.

I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.

Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Reply 1

Manchester Metropolitan University

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.
I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.
Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Hi,

It's an exciting time starting a new academic journey. There are some helpful lists available online, although they tend to include those items needed for moving into accommodation but you can just refer to what is relevant: MMU - What to bring or MMU: Your first year packing list.

Hope this helps and all the best with your studies next year.
Mel 😊

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 2

Scotland Yard

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Anonymous

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.
I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.
Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Nowadays a laptop is all the rage, and very few people use stationery. But if you want to, then it's really just the same old same old notebook and pens of your choice, or paper sheets and binders, or... your call really.

Good luck with uni :smile:

Reply 3

University of Salford Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.
I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.
Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Hey,

It’s really smart to start thinking about this early so you can get yourself set up gradually. The kind of stationery you’ll need can depend a bit on your course and how you prefer to study, but there are definitely some basics that almost everyone finds useful.

A good place to start is with a few sturdy notebooks or notepads. Some people like one for each module, while others prefer a big ring binder with dividers so they can keep everything in one place. Pens, highlighters, and sticky notes are also essentials for note-taking and revision. It can also help to have a small pencil case, a ruler, USB stick, and maybe a few folders or wallets to keep printed materials or handouts tidy.

Since you’re starting to prepare early, you could slowly pick things up over the next few months, maybe start with the basics (pens, notebooks) and add extras like index cards or desk organisers later once you know what your study routine looks like.

You’ll quickly figure out what works best for you once the course starts, but having those essentials ready will make your return to studying a lot smoother!

Good luck 😊
Arslan – University of Salford Student Representative

Reply 4

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.
I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.
Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Hi @Anonymous

I mainly use my laptop so, like other people have said, there is not too much stationary that you need. I have a pencil case with pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, post-it notes and a gluestick. I also have a couple of notebooks and a folder to put any sheets in. When I started uni, I only had a few very basic things however have bought more over the last couple of years as I have needed new items.

Something I have found really useful is having some plain A4 or A3 paper as I like to make big mindmaps when I am studying or planning an assignment.

Hope that helps!
Sophie.
BCU Student Rep.

Reply 5

PinkMobilePhone

Chat Forum Helper, Life & Style Forum Helper

Original post

by Anonymous

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.
I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.
Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Depends what course you're doing really, and how traditional vs modern you are.

I personally am very traditional, and aside from my actual assignments that I'm submitting, I handwrite everything else. All notes handwritten. Plus my subject is very heavily essay based with lots of reading.
So I use:
Lever arch ring binders
A4 lined hole-punched writing pads (preferably narrow lined)
Dividers for my ring binders
Highlighters
Those little tiny thin colourful post-it tab things
Pens (papermate are my preference)
Printer
Laptop
Hole punch

My husband and daughter are both very modern and are doing digital art, so they just use their PCs. They don't need any stationery at all.

Reply 6

EssexStudentRep

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.
I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.
Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Hi @Anonymous 👋

Everyone tends to use laptops and tablets nowadays. However I use pen and paper for notes! I bring my tablet to work on but use pen and paper for notes. Everyone has a preference. I like to be organised and prepared so my pencil case is filled with pens, highlighters, scissor and glue and pencils and a eraser too. I also have plastic wallets and binders for my notes. Hope that helps! I personally take this all but dont use it a lot so you dont have to get this much. Just pens and notebook would probably do!

Essex Student Rep - Lavanya 💜

Reply 7

UniLancashire

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.
I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.
Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Hi there,

As you said everyone is different and has different ways of making notes. It's great that you are thinking about it early and getting organised. The type of stationary you need does vary from course to course to an extent. I studied a creative course therefore had a lot more stationary than you normally would need. What course are you going to be studying?

Many students now use their laptops or iPads however, there is something about a notepad and pen for me so that is what I did. I would start with one or two notepads, a few pens, pencils, highlighters and post it notes. I then bought more bit by bit after I started my classes and knew what I needed and liked using. We do have a handy checklist for stationary on our page here which also has checklist for moving into accommodation and much more.

Hope this helps 🙂
Best wishes,
^Zac

Reply 8

De Montfort University

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.
I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.
Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Hi there,

It really depends on a course, and often a laptop alone is sufficient. However, I same as you enjoy taking notes on paper. I believe it helps me to remember things better. Sometimes I never look at those notes again, but the mere action of writing information down helps me to remember it better.

So my usual choice is a black gel pen and some sort of a notebook, ideally something with hard cover. I also have 2 soft pencils, a ruler and an eraser in case I need to draft some sort of a graph or scheme.

Ilya,
Cyber Security student at De Montfort University :smile:

Reply 9

Kingston Zhi En

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.
I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.
Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Hi there,
What course will you be enrolling in? I would suggest having a reliable mechanical pencil, a handy calendar and some blank note books if you like to scribble. A large binder folder with plastic document holders is also a great way to organise your notes 🙂 If you are digitally inclined, I also like to use google docs to take my notes!
I hope this helps.

Zhi En
(Kingston Student Rep.)

Reply 10

ErasistratusV

What course is the first question.

I personally think a tablet and detachable keyboard and stylus is the way to go. Depends on your budget. I wouldn't (and couldn't) go on with paper and pen because any degree is going to leave you with folders of notes that are just an effort to lug around and do anything useful with. OneNote etc is where it is at- electronic notes.

Reply 11

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Going back to study next September and looking for advice as to what stationery to buy.
I know everyone is different but I’m in my 50s and don’t have a clue where to start.
Asking now asi I can buy a bit at a time

Hi,

As mentioned above, it really depends on how you prefer to study and what course. If you like handwriting notes, I’d recommend getting a few good notebooks and pens. In my pencil case, I keep pens, highlighters, a ruler, a pencil, and a calculator (as my course requires it). I also carry physical flashcards, as I like to make them for revision.

A laptop is also really useful for assignments and keeping your notes organised. Some people prefer iPads or 2-in-1 devices, so it’s all about what works best for you.

Hope this helps,

Tayba
Student Rep

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