It makes me feel very old to admit that it’s been a whole 3 years since I was a fresher at university, but it does mean that I’ve learnt a thing or two about student life – including what you should be taking with you. Everybody forgets something (for me, it was cutlery and a duvet), which is why I wanted to make a comprehensive, organised list to help out the Freshers of 2021!
With uni starting pretty soon, you might have already packed – but there’s no harm in double checking you’ve got everything you need. So without further ado, here is my ultimate packing list for university Freshers!
Household
Bedroom
- Duvet (don’t make my mistake)
- Duvet cover
- Bottom sheet
- Top sheet (optional)
- Mattress protector
- Pillow/s
- Pillowcase/s
- Coat hangers
- Cushions/a throw (optional)
Kitchen
- Cutlery
- Plate/s
- Bowl/s
- Mug/s
- Sideplate/s (optional)
- A good knife
- Cheese grater
- Chopping board
- Scissors
- Bottle opener
- Spatula
- Frying pan
- Cling film
- Bin bags
- Misc pan
- Tupperware
- Kettle
- Toaster
- Microwave (if not supplied)
- Bin (if not supplied)
- Washing up liquid
- Rubber gloves
Bathroom
- Shower mat (optional)
- Bath towels
- Hand towels
- Bin (optional)
Cleaning Supplies
- Kitchen cleaner
- Bathroom cleaner
- Cream cleaner
- Bleach
- Anti-bacterial wipes
- Floor wipes
- Glass cleaner
- Washing powder
- Clothes horse (much better than paying for a dryer and makes your room smell nice!)
- Laundry basket
Study
Electronics
- Laptop (don’t forget the charger!)
- Printer (optional – most unis charge a small amount for printing)
Stationary
- Notepad
- Pens
- Highlighters (optional)
- Pencils
- Ruler
- Sellotape
- Flash cards (optional)
- Bag for uni
- Big ring binder for notes
- Hole punch and stapler (optional)
- Any textbooks you need (these are usually available in the library – I’ve never bought a textbook yet!)
Health and Toiletries
- Soap/shower gel
- Hand soap
- Hand sanitiser
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Skincare products
- Cotton wool pads
- Toilet roll
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Razor/hair removal products
- Pads/tampons
- Condoms (safe sex y’all)
- Paracetamol/Ibuprofen
- Berocca (hangover essentials)
- Cold and flu remedies (Freshers flu alert)
- Any prescription medication
- Vitamins
- Makeup products
Clothing
- Tops/T-shirts
- Trousers/shorts/skirts
- Jumpers/hoodies
- Underwear
- Activewear
- Going out clothes
- A warm coat
- A waterproof coat (or an umbrella!)
- Shoes
- Trainers
- Boots
- Accessories
In Your Wallet
- ID
- Bank cards
- Railcard
- Some cash
- Store cards
I hope this list is useful, and if you think of anything else I’ve missed, please leave a comment and let me know! If you’re a brand new Fresher in 2021, remember to look after yourself and most importantly, have the best time. My number 1 piece of advice would be to have fun, but don’t feel pressured into partying EVERY night if you don’t want to. I went out approximately 0 times in Freshers and still made plenty of friends – your people will naturally drift towards you, so don’t stress!
