Essential items you need for university

Deciding what to bring (and what not to bring) when packing for uni can be a daunting task. So we've put together a handy checklist for you to tick off that covers all the essentials.

Before we get started, some items are prohibited in our residences. Please do not bring:

• Candles, incense sticks or burners.
• Cooking appliances e.g. rice cookers, fridges, sandwich toasters, Air fryers, coffee makers
  
• Electric or gas heaters.
  
• Anything that may cause harm to yourself or others, including any form of weapon, chemicals, or fireworks
• Pets (including small caged animals)..
  

If we find an item that is prohibited in your room, we will send you an email to ask you to remove it from your room within 24 Hours. Onto the checklist!

Bedroom Checklist

• Bed linens
• Duvet
  
• Pillows
  
• Mattress protector
  
• Laundry basket
  
• Clothes and hangers
  
• Clothes rack
  
• Books and stationery
  
• Laptop
  
• Photos/decorative items
  
• Important documents (passport etc.)
  
• Plug extension
  

Bathroom Checklist

• Personal toiletries (don’t forget your toothbrush!)
• Toilet roll
  
• Towels
  
• Bath mat
  
• Bathroom cleaning supplies
  

Kitchen Checklist

• Plates
• Cups
  
• Glasses
  
• Pans
  
• Cutlery
  
• Baking trays
  
• Kitchen cleaning supplies
  
• Chopping boards
  
• Tea towels
  
• Binbags
  
• Tupperware
  
• Cheese grater
  

Non-essential (but nice to have)

• TV for your room
• Rugs
  
• Decorative cushions
  
• Plants
  
• Fan
  
• Photos

Clothes and shoes

You should carefully consider what you need to bring with you - remember space may be limited, so it is a good idea to bring clothing you know you will wear for the current season of the British climate. It is also a great excuse to visit home when you need to swap (and maybe have your laundry done for you too!).

If you intend to play a sport at university or visit the gym, you should consider this too. It is also a good idea to bring different types of shoes; you may be going on a night out one day, and walking to your lecture the next. Slippers are a great way to make your room feel like home. Throughout the term, there will be many occasions to wear fancy dress, so you may want to bring some old costumes with you. You should bring your own coat hangers too, and consider an outfit for a formal dinner on Welcome Week.

Electrical equipment

Remember to bring any electrical equipment that you may need to use with you. Your laptop or PC is likely to be a pivotal part of your academic study, check the equipment advice before you arrive. You may wish to bring extension leads or other equipment to help improve your comfort while studying. If you are an international student, you may need to bring a socket converter. Don't forget chargers for these items!

Please note, any electrical equipment that you do bring needs to be under 1200 Watts to comply with our safety regulations in halls.

Medication

If you are on a repeat prescription, please make sure that you have an adequate supply of your medication with you. You can also manage your prescriptions at the university, via Cripps Health Centre. You may also want to consider bringing general first aid items, such as plasters and paracetamol.

Important documents

The documents that you need to bring will vary from person to person but you should consider those that might be helpful while you are at university. These might include a driving license, course offer letters, or any registration details that you feel will be relevant. You will be informed of any specific documentation that you need to bring prior to your arrival.

If you do forget any of the essentials, then don’t worry too much as most things can be picked up once you arrive! A bit of forward planning makes the move-in process much smoother, which means you can focus on meeting new friends and getting settled in.