Getting your back-to-school stationery essentials when you're going to university is super exciting. A new pencil case can make you feel like a new person! But what will you need for a university that you didn't need at school or college? It's easy to go overboard and buy the whole stationery shop but we're to help you avoid going overboard and breaking the bank.
Depending on what course you're studying your needs might vary slightly but this list is a great starting point. It's always worth checking if you have received a reading or equipment list from your course tutor. This will give you a clear indication if there is anything specific that you need to have ready for starting in September.
Stationery
We suggest setting yourself a reasonable budget when buying your stationery. It's all well and good having cute notebooks, fancy pens and boujie paper but if you get through them quickly (which you will when your assignments begin) you're going to have a mammoth stationery bill! Here are some ideas of essentials for most students:
- Pens
- Highlighters
- Pencil case
- Post-it notes
- A4 or A5 notebook
- Scissors
- Glue
- Index cards (really handy for quick revision)
Depending on your course, for example, if you'll be doing a lot of drawing or measuring, you might also need:
- Pencils
- Ruler
- Rubber
- Sharpener
- Scientific Calculator
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Organisation
Hopefully (if you're moving out) your accommodation will have a noticeboard/whiteboard. If not we highly recommend putting this on your list. It’s a great way of keeping all those random notes and important documents organised! Don’t forget push pins if you do have a noticeboard! Here are some other bits and bobs to help keep you organised:
- Lever arch folder(s)
- Calendar/planner
- Memory Stick/ hard drive (to back up all of your work)
- Paper clips
- Bull-dog clips
- Stapler and staples
Extras
Each student will have slightly different needs depending on what they're studying so here are some extra things you may like to consider but aren't essential:
- Printer and scanner - the printers at university are cheap and easy to use, so if you're going to be on campus a lot, you probably don't need a printer at home!
- Laptop - don't worry if you don't have your own - you'll have access to plenty at uni which you can access using our laptop loan lockers across campus.