Packing for university check-list!

I'm going to be starting my second year of university in less than a week, and this weekend I'm going to be moving into a student house with 3 housemates.

This time last year I wrote a blog post of what to take with me when I moved into halls. I've just reread that to see if it could help me when making a list of what to take with me, and it really did! It surprises me how much stuff I need to take even though I'm going into a different accommodation. 

So far I have lived in two different types of student accommodation. Both in halls but one was catered and shared facilities, and then for the majority of my first year I was in self-catered and en suite facilities. 

Below you'll find the list I used last year, with any additions I found to be useful. 

• Duvet

• Pillow(s)

• 2 sets of bedding (sheets, pillow cases, duvet covers)

• Mattress Topper (I actually used a mattress topper, a blanket and an old duvet on my bed because I'm fussy and the mattress wasn't very nice. I would recommend waiting until you get there and then see if you need to use any of those things. Remember, if it's truly terrible you can complain and get a new mattress!)

• Alarm clock (early mornings are going to become a familiar thing I'm afraid.

• Door Wedge (I found living with new people that it's best to have a door wedge and to use it frequently. It'll soon become obvious to the people you're living with that when your door is wedged open you're happy to speak, and when it's closed you're not feeling so social or you're busy doing work)

• Hot water bottle

• 2 sets of Towels (large and small)

• 3 types of bag (or a couple of multifunctional bags!) Handbag - for every day use, uni bag - to hold pencil case, notebooks, possible laptop etc., and an evening bag such as a clutch.

• keys and purse!

• Anything prescribed to you (i.e. I have prescription glasses and sunglasses, and asthma inhalers)

• Medical kit: paracetamol, ibuprofen, antiseptic cream, plasters etc.

• Toiletries: face wash, cleanser, toothpaste, toothbrush, moisturiser, hairbrush, spot cream, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, razor, flannel (x2), sponge, face wipes, make up remover, cotton pads/buds, those items for that special time of the month ladies, condoms (if you're that sort of person)...

• Wash bag to shove all your toiletries into (this is particularly useful if you're in shared facilities).

• Make up + bag. Don't over pack your make up, I know I did and it took up an entire drawer. Just pack your daily make up, and then a couple of extra's for going out!

• Any electrical items you think you'd want: shaver, hair dryer, hair curler, hair straighteners...

• Nail varnish + remover

• Push Pins. It's likely your uni room will have a notice board in it already - especially if you're living in halls so don't panic about that until you get there

• A4 lined notebooks (x2), A5 notebook (x1). The A4 notebooks are good for writing up your notes that you take in class in your A5 notebook.

• Memory stick. 4GB is probably big enough for you to back up all your assignments and important documents on if you need to. Don't clutter this with personal stuff - buy a second one for that. If you're doing a tech or computer course you might want to check with your course administrator if they have any suggestions on the size of memory stick you'll need as it's more computer based.

• Stationary: pens, pencils, highlighters, eraser, pencil sharpener, permanent markers, ruler, calculator, stapler, staples, hole punch, paper clips, pencil case

• A4 Ring binders, lever arch folders & plastic wallets

• Envelopes and stamps (Although I didn't think I'd need these, they came in more use than I thought, and it's better to have them than not to!)

• I.D. (driving license/passport)

• Laptop/Kindle/Phone/iPod/iPad/computer & their chargers/cables

• Camera + memory card(s)

• rechargeable batteries

• Printer, ink & paper

• Books

• Weekend bag (for those spontaneous visits home when you feel homesick when you need your mum to do your clothes washing for you)

• Clothes: your wardrobe at university probably won't be as luxurious as the one you have at home (and by that I mean I have a hole in the wall at my new house -literally) so pack lightly. Remember that even if it's warmer when you're packing, you'll be starting uni in September so it will very quickly become cold. I recommend taking 7 outfits with 5 extra tops, 10 pairs of socks and pants etc. You'll be washing these yourself so make sure they can all be washed in the washing machine easily.

• Shoes: Don't take many. A pair of boots, sandals/flip flops, pumps, trainers, heels (although don't wear them to the student union, there's no point) and maybe even some wellington boots.  

• *This isn't necessary but I would get a cheap airer for your room that you can hang your clothes on to dry. It's unnecessary to spend even more money on the tumble dryer when you can just as easily whack them on the airer and leave them there overnight. You'll definitely earn your money back after as little as a month. (you could also hand your clothes up around your room on doors, drawers and doorhandles if you're creative enough!)

• Take a mug or two with you, even if you're in catered accommodation. Everyone needs a hot drink or a mug of soup now and again. You can even go real student and make some noodles in a large mug!

• Toilet rolls - even if you're in shared facilities, it's always good to make sure you have a toilet roll, just in case!

FOR SELF-CATERED STUDENTS

It's likely that if you're living in halls you'll have to bring all your own stuff with you to cook with/eat with etc. When I lived in self-catered we shared things like washing up liquid but for the majority of stuff we used our own stuff (and after the many, many times of finding the washing up liquid I bought to be empty, and the washing up brush still clogged up with pasta pieces, I got my own of that too.) I enjoy cooking things from scratch and baking, so a lot of these things you may find you've never used and will never use at uni so just be sensible!

• Saucepan

• Frying pan

• Spatula

• Wooden spoon

• Mixing bowl

• Cheese Grater

• Serving Spoon

• 4 sets of cutlery (dessert spoons, teaspoons, forks, knives)

• Sharp knife

• Whisk (I had both a hand whisk and an electric whisk)

• Chopping board

• Washing up brush + liquid

• Brillo pad (wire wool)

• minimum of 2 plates, bowls, glasses and mugs

• Measuring jug

• Measuring spoons

• scales

I'll be sure to add to this if I think of anything else, but in the meantime if you have any tips for me or anyone else at university or who's moving away for the first time, please leave a comment below!