Your ultimate uni essentials list

What to pack for your uni bedroom

Your bedroom at uni is your private sanctuary, which doubles up as your personal living room and study area. There are plenty of homeware items you can pack to give your room a cosy, personal touch to make it homely.

Here are the essentials & extras to make it yours.

• Bedding: From the duvet itself to the covers and cushions, you'll need to bring your own bedding to your accommodation. It's always nice to bring a set from home for a sense of comfort and familiarity, something that helps you settle in nicely
• Bedside lamp: The likelihood is that you'll spend many late nights reading, so a bedside lamp is a must-have. Most uni accommodation has standard lighting, so you might want to set the ambience with additional soft lighting for a more relaxing vibe
• Compact clothing storage: With limited space available in your accommodation, it's good to be savvy with your bedroom storage. Think vacuum bags, stackable boxes, overdoor hooks and underbed organisers. If you're lucky enough to have a wardrobe, don't forget your clothing hangers!
• Mirror: You can't get ready for fresher's night without doing a fit check! An overdoor full-length mirror saves space and doesn't cost much either

Make it personal with decor

Being away from home isn’t always easy, whether it’s your first year or your third. Jazz up your room to make it feel like home.

• Photo frames
• A small rug to cover up what is often very uninspired flooring in student digs
• Fairy lights and candles for ambience
• Wall art or wall stickers for a pop of colour

Bathroom must-haves

In many university halls of residence, bathroom facilities are shared. That's why we suggest getting in touch with your roommates as soon as possible to discuss what bathroom accessories each of you will contribute, but it's not uncommon to want to bring along some personal items. From toiletries to cleaning essentials, here's what you should tick off your list:

• Towels: Take a flannel, hair towel and bath towel so you're fully equipped for full body washes. Some students prefer to take a spare for a guest or in cases where you're falling behind with the washing pile!
• Bathroom storage: If you're living in a fairly small space and only sharing with 1-2 individuals, it's useful to have a bathroom caddy or small basket tucked away containing your daily necessities
• Bathroom bin: For sanitary products and used razors, pick up a cheap bin with a lid to keep things neat and tidy
• Washbag: When you're switching between home and Uni, you'll thank yourself for picking up a washbag. Use this to transport and store shampoo, shower gel and toothpaste

Miscellaneous items not to forget

Aside from the exciting household items, there are a couple of recommendations that you'll need to remember. From home comforts to university paperwork, the following essentials should be taken with you:

• Course details and student finance documents: When it comes to enrollment and managing budgets, it's good to have all of your documentation well organised and ready to refer to whenever necessary. Course leaders will ask for things like bursary letters, accommodation paperwork and copies of your registration emails, so make sure they're with you
• Valid ID: Do not forget your ID! Again, this could be a requirement during the registration period, but will also be required if you're planning to head into the town
• Entertainment: When you're not studying or attending classes, you'll need something to keep you entertained. Whether that's a small games console, music speaker or an e-reader, bring at least two items from home that bring you happiness
• A range of clothing: Everyone has their favourite wardrobe staples, but make sure you're packing for every season and occasion. Think comfy hoodies, pyjamas and some evening attire - you can always pack light and buy more using your student discount once you're settled in!

Studying essentials

It’s not all fun & games – studying is a vital part of a successful time at uni, so make yours productive with our brilliant range of studying must-haves. Remember to check what furniture is provided before you move in, as some student homes come with desks and chairs already.

As with everything on this list, the items you take to uni depend on the course you’re doing, so check whatever you need off the list below:

• Laptop or tablet: A student-friendly laptop will become your best friend at University. Many students opt for compact models for convenience, as they're perfect for note-taking and don't weigh much
• USB stick: You're likely to spend a whole lot of time between working from your room and studying in the library, so take a memory stick to store all your coursework and notes to keep everything accessible, no matter the device you're using
• Headphones: Pack headphones for concentrating, studying and remote lectures - you'll reach for headphones a lot during your time in higher education
• Stationery: Everybody revises and takes notes differently, so buy stationery that best aligns with your methods. Highlighters and lined notebooks are some of our most popular products with students, along with sticky notes, pens, and folders to help keep everything organised

This may seem like a lot, but remember to use this list as inspiration – you may not need all of it! You can grab everything you need from this list from the Back To Uni page, where you can also find some cheeky student discounts on your shopping!

Uni essentials to skip, according to students

It's easy to get lost in the excitement of moving to student halls and end up taking way more than you need. While our uni essentials list is by no means small, there are a couple of items that you might want to leave behind.

We spoke to some post-graduates for advice on overrated and unnecessary items, to save you a job!

• One student said they packed way too many mugs, when in reality, they only ever used one
• Another student said do not overpack on kitchen tools, it's likely you'll share things like toasters and kettles - forking out on your own could end up being a wasted cost
• Many students also claim they didn't need half as many forks and knives - just a few will do!
• Buying a printer is said to be the biggest waste of time. With access to a library and a digital drive, it's unlikely you'll need to use a personal printer