The Ultimate Student Packing Guide
It’s time! You’ve accepted your offer, confirmed your student loan and paid the deposit on your new room in student accommodation, and now it’s time to pack. But what exactly do you need to pack?
Everyone will tell you something a little different and it’s so easy to panic and just take everything (I’m talking to you, never-once-used iron) so make sure you break it down, cover all your basics and remember, if you unpack and realise you didn’t bring a single piece of cutlery, you can always pick some up for free with our Bucks New Usage initiative or borrow from a housemate until then.
Important documents to take to uni
- Valid passport and/or driver’s license
- University acceptance letter
- Accommodation contract
- Contents insurance documents and your National Insurance number.
- Financial documents such as Student Finance statements or bursary letters
- Prescription medication
- Medical records such as vaccination history and prescriptions
- Bank card (have you considered switching to a student account?)
- Passport photos
- 16-25 railcard for great train travel discounts
- Totum card
Electronics and study essentials for uni students
In pride of place in your room will be the shrine that is your desk! Make sure you've got everything to pimp it up and keep your studies in check!
- Laptop, desktop, or tablet
- Chargers - phone, tablet, laptop
- Printer & ink
- Stationery. Notebooks, folders, diary/planner, pens, you know the drill!
- Books
Bedroom essentials for university students
Moving on to where all the magic happens (we’re talking about those well deserved zzzz’s!) it’s the bedroom
- A duvet (and two covers - wear one, wash one style)
- Pillows
- Pillowcases
- Mattress protector
- Mattress topper
- Bed sheets
- Coat hangers
- Clothes airer
- Extension cable
- Photos of friends and family
Bathroom essentials for uni students
Bathroom items are vital for uni, whether you’re using a shared bathroom or you’ve got your own space - lucky you! You’ll want to ensure you’ve got all the toiletries you need for the first couple of weeks, but don’t overdo it. Your space might not be big enough to include all the home comforts you’re used to!
- Towels – you should only really need two bath towels, a hand towel and bath towels
- A bath mat – get a bath matt!
- Laundry basket
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Skincare
- Bath matt
- Shower caddy
- First aid kit – so many bumps, cuts and bruises will happen in your first year so make sure you grab a kit.
- Paracetamol – for everything from a hangover to computer headaches and the ever dreaded Fresher’s flu.
Toiletries cover a wide range of things and this is personal to you, but we would recommend buying the loo roll and handwash once you arrive to save some space in your already crammed car.
What clothes should I bring to uni?
You don’t need to bring your entire wardrobe, or all your shoes, and fancy getup. For the most part you can break it down into summer/winter. Your first term at uni will be in the colder months before you head home where you can swap out your winter coats and boots for t-shirts, shorts and flip flops. Here are the essential clothes you should bring to uni.
- T-shirts
- Shirts
- Tops
- Dresses/skirts
- Jumpers
- Sweatshirts
- Jeans
- Smart trousers
- Suit jacket
- Raincoat
- Winter coat
- Underwear
- Tights
- Socks
- Gloves
- Hats
- Tie
- Pyjamas
- Trainers
- Smart shoes or heels
- Slippers
- Watch
- Handbag
- Gym clothes
- Swimming kit
Fancy dress is a freshers fortnight staple, but you don’t need your whole dressing up trunk. Dress codes are always revealed before you arrive so you’ll know exactly what to pack. If you're ever in doubt, then maybe try out the local charity shops with your flatmates once you've moved in.
Kitchen items
Although pasta and pot noodles is the commonly accepted diet for students, it’s still nice to have a few kitchen essentials to get you ready, and we want to promote healthy habits.
- Large pan or wok
- Frying pan
- Sauce pan
- Baking tray
- Lasagne dish
- Scissors
- Tongs
- Cheese grater
- Bottle opener
- Can opener
- Sharp cutting knives
- Chopping board
- Wooden spoons
- Spatula
- Peeler
- Sieve
- Mugs
- Glasses
- Bowls and plates
- Food storage tubs
- Tea towels
- Sponge
- Food supplies
- Tea
- Coffee
- Milk
- Bread
- Eggs
- Bacon
- Cereal
- Biscuits
- Bananas
- Pasta
Cleaning items for uni accommodation
You are an adult now, and with that comes with new responsibilities, including cleaning up after yourself. It’s worth packing a few cleaning items to make sure you’ve got everything you need to keep your space and your clothes clean and fresh.
- Laundry detergent
- ​Colour catching sheets
- Antibacterial wipes
- Surface spray
- Washing up liquid
- Washing up sponges
Miscellaneous things to take to uni
There are always a few extras you may not have initially thought about. But now we’ve got the basics covered, here are some extra things you might like to take to uni if you’ve got the space.
- Card games
- Board games
- Storage solutions such as boxes and pen pots
- Hot water bottle
- Backpack or medium-sized bag
- Umbrella
- Padlock
- Water bottle
Student packing tips
Once you’ve thought about everything you need to pack for uni, it’s time to consider how to pack it. But fear not! With a few handy tips, we’ll have you packing your bags efficiently in no time.
Start early
The sooner you start your packing, the less overwhelming it is. It always takes longer than you think, so if you start a few weeks before you head off, you should be all done with time to spare. Plus, you’ll afford yourself some time to dash to the shop if you’ve forgotten anything!
Break it down
Instead of attempting to do all of your packing in one go, try to break it down over a few days or weekends in the run-up to your leaving date. It’s a good idea to make a list of where you’re putting things as you go and be sure to start with the things you use least often so you don’t need to pull them back out again.
Create a dedicated packing space
If you’ve got space at home that you can use as a dedicated packing station, we’d advise you to do so. Get all your boxes and bags out ready, with a good supply of bubble wrap, packing tape and pens. That way, once you start packing your things, you can easily gain momentum in one clear space.
Roll your clothes
Rolling your clothes takes up much less space than folding, and also prevents you from needing to iron them when you get to uni. Always pop your heavier items on the bottom, followed by your lighter things. You can also make use of the side space by tucking lightweight items down there.
Make use of boxes
If you’ve got some used cardboard boxes lying around, these are great for packing light items. You can fit quite a lot into a cardboard box, and once you’re unpacked, they can either be recycled or stored compactly for something else. Try to avoid placing heavy things in there and instead pop them into wheeled luggage for easier manoeuvering.
Invest in sturdy bin bags
Like cardboard boxes, you won’t need to hold onto bin bags after you’ve used them, making them ideal for space-saving in halls. They’re great for packing light items that can be squashed down in the car, ensuring you can save room for something else! Be sure to buy the sturdy bags though as the lighter ones can rip very easily.
Remember, if you ever feel like you're missing some essential accomodation stuff, pop into Bucks New Usage on our High Wycombe Campus where you can nose around and pick up anything you need from cutlery to bedding, pots to lamps, and even toastie makers. This can be really helpful for International students, as you will have a limited luggage allowance and this can help you to save money on new items.
Rusty's Refill Station
Located within the Students' Union, we also have the cute lil corner called Rusty's Refill Station. At an incredibly discounted price, you can pick up household essentials like laundry pods to pasta. Feel free to pop in <3