5 items to keep in your uni bag at all times

Even if you’re only heading onto campus for a couple of hours, it’s time to get in your organised era and a few key essentials will help you be ready for anything. Your phone, bank card and keys are likely on your list already, but carrying a couple of extra items will mean you’re ✨always prepared✨.

Choosing the best uni bag will also help keep everything secure, be comfortable to carry and work well with every vibey on-campus outfit. So whether a designer label or a simple black tote is more your bag, here are some tips on finding the right option and what to put in it.

What bag should you choose for uni?

Buying a bag for uni from a brand you like at a discount is a good starting point. Dickies , Horizn Studios and Blacks all have quality options to choose from (and you can get money off if you have a UNiDAYS account). From over-the-shoulder carriers to rucksacks, key features of bags for uni students include:

• Secure fastenings such as covered zips and clasps to ensure all your items stay safe
• Lots of compartments for different-sized essentials, smaller inner pockets are handy for keys, while padded sections are useful for laptops and tablets
• Waterproof or weather-resistant materials that will stop water from getting in and ruining your items, it’s also handy if a bag is machine washable too
• Comfortable, adjustable straps that can be shortened or lengthened and can be carried easily from the bus onto campus into lectures and back again
• A style that can match any outfit (black uni bags are great for this) or stand out from the crowd (opt for a bold pattern or colour), depending on your preference
• Good capacity, so it has enough room to carry everything (from your gym kit to your lunch and spare shoes)

Once you’ve found your perfect on-campus companion, it’s time to pack it. Here are some items we suggest you should always take with you.

1. Tissues or wipes

Should an unexpected spill, annoying sniffle or grubby surface arise, you’ll thank yourself for having these at hand. Tissues are a winter must-have as colds start spreading across campus and work as handy mini napkins.

Wipes are helpful for cleaning your hands and gadgets quickly and regularly. They can also be handy to refresh your face on hot or long days. There’s a reason mums always carry them in their handbags!

2. Waterbottle

Hydration is kinggg! Drinking plenty of water helps you stay concentrated and energised. Having a reusable bottle also means you don’t spend a fortune (and create lots of plastic waste) buying a litre of mineral water every time you come onto campus.

Fill it up the night before your study day and put it in the fridge so it's ice cold when you put it in your bag. If you get bored with the plain taste of H2O, then drop in mint, berries or cucumber to give it a refreshing boost—did someone say Stanley cup?

3. Snacks

Hunger can strike at any time. So for the sake of your coursemates, it’s best to be prepared. Little square tupperware or bento boxes are useful for keeping your fave snacks safe and ready for quick snaffling. Grapes, vegetable slices or chicken chunks are great healthy options. Or you can pack nature’s most portable snack - bananas.

To fill up quickly between meals, buy protein bars or drinks in bulk and pop one in your bag each day. That way, you’ll always have go-to tastiness to restore your energy.

4. A portable charger

You don’t want to (finally) get into an essay flow for your laptop or tablet to die on you. Having a power bank means you don’t have to worry about finding a table with a plug point. Cafes, the bus and even the pub become sit-down-and-go study spaces when you have a portable charger at hand.

Plus, if you end up staying out a little later than planned, you don’t need to restrict your social scrolling for fear of a flat battery.

5. A notepad and pen

You’ve brought beautiful stationery with your student discount, so why not take it out and show it off? Electronics are great up to a point, but when it comes to scribbling down lecture notes, new ideas or just your shopping list or random thoughts, there’s nothing quite like putting pen to paper.

Handier than you might think, you’ll soon be finding any excuse to bring out your pink fur-covered notebook and bobble pen at any possible occasion.