by The results are in. You’ve accepted your offer. You’re off to uni! But first things first: you’ve got to get packed. We’ve created the Ultimate Fresher’s Packing List to make sure that you won’t forget any of the necessities you need for your first year at uni.
It can be a nerve wracking time in August and September before Freshers begins. The summer lull between college and university is finally coming to an end and you have to start thinking about your time at uni.
For many students heading off to uni at the age of 18, it’ll be the first time you’ve lived away from home, without your parents keeping you organised. There will be so much buzzing around your brain as soon as your offer gets accepted that creating your own list of what to take with you for your first year at uni will hardly be a priority.
Fortunately we’ve taken all of the hard work out of it by creating the ULTIMATE Packing List for Freshers. Sign up above to download a version of the checklist that you can print off, stick on your fridge and tick as you go. Or read on to find out what we think are the necessities and why.
Clothes
Of course you’re going to want your normal everyday clothing plus plenty of night out attire, but here are the less obvious clothes to remember for Freshers:
- “9am lecture” wear – you want plenty of variations on the theme of “as close to pyjamas” as you can get. When you’re rolling out of bed at 8.50am for that first 9am lecture after a heavy night during Freshers, you’re going to understand why.
- Fancy dress outfit – every Freshers Week has its own iconic fancy dress night. Try to find out your theme in advance so you’re prepared, but Disney, school uniforms and beach attire will always go down well.
- Flip flops – you don’t want to get caught out in the communal bathroom without them…
- Waterproof jacket – on your student budget, you’ll be catching a lot more public transport and doing a lot more walking. Make sure you don’t turn up looking like a drowned rat.
- Bag/backpack – so much easier than trying to carry piles of books alongside phones, laptops, wallets and more.
- Dressing gown – for quick cover ups in your halls and in case of late night or early morning fire alarms. And there will be plenty of these.
- Loungewear – you’ll find you’ve got a lot more time for lounging at home than you did during school days.
- Gym kit – most unis will give you the use of a subsidised gym so you’ll want that kit for your downtime.
Electricals
- Laptop – for uni work…and essential Netflix time.
- Phone – need we explain?
- Headphones – for when you need to zone out and concentrate on your work…and for Netflix.
- Chargers – and plenty of them. Take back ups, because they will inevitably disappear into the depths of your halls.
Bedroom
- Duvet & pillows – some halls might supply them, but we recommend taking your own. You’ll be far more comfortable knowing you’ve got your own rather than ones that have may or may not have been used before.
- Bedsheets – take at least 2 sets so that you’ve always got one when the other’s in the wash. Or take multiple for when you can’t be bothered to do the washing – at least you’ll have clean sheets then.
- Laundry bag – rather than letting your dirty clothes pile up in the corner.
- Clothes horse – you could use a tumble dryer, but there’s no guarantee your halls will have one, you might shrink your beloved garments, and it just plain costs money.
- Alarm clock – we all hate them, but we all need them.
Bathroom
All necessities and need no further explanation! Of course, you’ll have your own personal faves and needs to add to the list, so make sure to check it over.
- Towels
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Washbag (body wash, shampoo, conditioner)
- Razor
- Deodorant
- Medication
Kitchen essentials
Most halls have a shared kitchen, so it might be worth finding your future flatmates and figuring out how you can buy these between you to save on money and to keep more cupboard space for food and drink.
- Crockery set
- Cutlery
- Mugs & glasses
- Saucepan & frying pan
- Oven trays
- Tupperware
- Bottle opener
- Tea towels
- Oven gloves
- Vegetable peeler
- Sharp knife
- Dish cloths
Extras
Not absolutely necessary, but some additional extras to make your halls feel a bit more like home:
- Torch – you never know when it might come in handy!
- Posters – to give your room more of a homely feel.
- Fairy lights – the iconic student halls decoration. Super cosy.
- Washing powder – your halls might have it, or you can buy it elsewhere, but always handy to start off with some.
- Photos – reminders of people you’ll miss at home.
- Scissors – another “you never know when you’ll need them” item.
