Your ultimate university shopping list

So you’re heading to uni soon? Congrats! It’s literally one of the most exciting times of your life, but the planning and shopping can be a little ✨overwhelming✨. Don’t be that housemate who turns up with nothing but noodles and a dream—check out our full uni shopping list instead!

For your room

Room essentials

• Pillows
• Pillowcases
• Duvet
• Duvet covers (have you seen the bedding options available at Urban Outfitters? Obsessed!
• Fitted sheets
• Blanket or throw
• A mattress topper—sure, it’s not essential, but it’ll give you maximum comfort in your new space!
• Cleaning materials
• A doorstop

Decor

• Photos of your friends and fam
• Battery-operated fairy lights—check your accom allows them first!
• A calendar
• A mirror
• A (faux or real) plant for the vibes
• A rug
• A whiteboard or corkboard
• A laundry basket

For the kitchen

• Plates
• Bowls
• Glasses
• Mugs
• A saucepan
• A frying pan
• Cutlery
• A wooden spoon
• A set of knives
• A grater
• A bottle opener
• A tin opener
• A travel mug
• A colander
• A whisk
• Reusable containers for leftovers
• A vegetable peeler
• A measuring jug

For the bathroom

• Towels
• Toiletries
• Hair products
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Toilet roll
• Flip flops—perfect for avoiding the communal shower ick!
• Basic first aid kit
• Painkillers

For your lectures and studies

• Laptop and charger or a tablet and charger
• USB drive
• Notebooks
• Pens and pencils
• Highlighters
• Sticky notes
• Scissors
• Course books

Electronics

• A desk fan
• Phone and charger
• Hair dryer
• Hair styling tools
• Earbuds or headphones
• An extension lead
• A portable charger
• A speaker
• Iron/ironing board or steamer
• A printer (optional)

Clothes & shoes

• Clothes hangers
• Everyday clothing
• Underwear
• Socks
• Sports clothes
• Trainers
• Fancy dress
• PJs
• Coats
• Jackets
• Slippers
• Dressing gown
• Going out clothes
• Formal clothes and shoes for interviews/formal events

Everything else

• Makeup
• Important documents: passport, ID, acceptance letter, insurance details
• Bag for lectures
• A tote bag
• An umbrella
• A sewing kit
• Reusable shopping bags
• Games

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.

Best places to buy uni kit

We’ve partnered with several retailers to provide students with awesome discounts on essential uni kit:

Amazon Prime - 6 months Prime trial and 10% Off selected items

ASOS - 10% Off

Apple - Savings on devices and apps

Flixbus - 11% Off on the app

LOOKFANTASTIC - Up to 21% Off selected items

Schuh - 10% Off

Uber Eats - £10 Off your first two orders

Waterstones - Up to 20% Off books.