What to take to university: your packing checklist

Heading to uni this September and not sure what to pack? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our ultimate uni essentials list. Here are our top tips on what to take and what you can leave at home - plus download your university checklist!

What to take to uni - five top essentials you mustn't forget

While you don't need to bring everything and the kitchen sink to uni, quite a few things are essential. Our uni packing list can help – download the full list here. We’ve pulled out some key items that you don’t want to miss!

1) Important documents

This includes your driver's license or passport (you’ll need some ID to get into various places!), plus your student finance, admission and accommodation documents. Find out a full list of documents you’ll need in our Ultimate Packing Checklist.

2) Home comforts

This is what makes your new room feel like home. It could be photos of family and friends, your favourite blanket or cushions or posters for your wall. Looking for ideas? Check out our guide to making your room your own, with help from IKEA.

3) Only your favourite clothes

Only take clothes you actually think you will wear! You don't need to bring your whole wardrobe, but some things to remember are:

• Comfy, casual clothes for uni - uni isn't a formal affair and most people will be wearing jeans, joggers and hoodies, so bring what you feel comfortable in. Ypu'll definitely want something soft and warm for those longer library sessions!
• Gym or active wear - you might want to join the gym, attend fitness classes or just hang out in comfy gym clothes.
• A smart outfit - you might want to apply for a student job, placement or volunteering and this will save you from panicking over what to wear.
• Nicer clothes - You'll do lots of socialising at uni, so you might want something a little more special than the casual clothes you wear to lectures. Although most students will still go out in trainers, it's nice to wear something a little special if you're off out for the night.

4) Stationery

If you manage to get through uni without picking up a pen, you’ll be doing well (or missing the point completely, depending on how you look at it). Pens, a notepad, highlighters and more can be super useful for making notes in lectures and revising for exams. Check out our full list of stationery essentials.

5) Chargers

So commonly forgotten! Make sure you’ve ticked off chargers for anything electrical – whether it’s a phone, laptop, electric toothbrush, or wireless speaker…. It might also be worth investing in a portable charger for days when you’re on the go all day.

6) Tupperware

One you might not have thought of is tubs and pots to put your leftovers in. Leftovers are the key to saving money as you can take last night's spaghetti bolognese into uni for lunch or pop it in the freezer for another day. 

What not to take to uni - four things to leave at home

More often than not, in all the excitement, you’re packing for uni and trying to fit absolutely everything you can into a suitcase or your parents’ or mate’s car and turn up with far too much stuff. So what can you leave at home?

1) Candles

If you’re moving into halls of residence, leave your candles at home! These are a fire risk and they won’t be allowed.

2) Appliances and too much kitchen ware

Appliances won’t be allowed unless PAT tested, and chances are there won’t be space for them anyway! There's not much point in everyone bringing a kettle and having 6 of them in one kitchen! The same goes for pots and pans, whilst you might want your own if you have dietary requirements, there's no need to bring enough to cook up a feast. A couple of plates, bowls and a pan should do the trick to start with.

3) A printer

You may be doing a lot of printing as a student, but that doesn't mean a printer is a necessity. It's something a lot of students bring only to find that it's cheaper and easier to use the printers and scanners on campus. 

4) Furniture

Most uni accommodation comes fully furnished, so there’s no need to splash out on expensive furniture, at least not until you’ve moved in and worked out whether you actually need any of it!