Deciding what to pack for University is incredibly overwhelming, but don’t worry, My Baggage has you covered.

So, you’re getting ready to make the big move and set off on the adventure of your life! But as well as being exciting, packing to go to university can be incredibly stressful. Whether you’re moving to student halls and somewhere off-campus, it’s a great idea to pack all the must-haves for uni, from household essentials to bathroom supplies and the important documents you don’t want to leave behind.

The majority of new students haven’t spent more than a few weeks away from home, so unsurprisingly, it’s difficult to know exactly what to bring to uni and what to leave behind. What if you forget something important and can’t get it until Christmas? Thankfully, we at My Baggage totally get it (we’re experts at this sort of thing) - but don't just take our word for it, check out our reviews.

To help make this process as painless as possible, we’ve put together our Ultimate Packing List for Moving to University.

✔️ Important documents

✔️ Electrical items

✔️ Clothing items

✔️ Academic items

✔️ Kitchen items

✔️ Bedroom items

✔️ Bathroom items

✔️ Toiletries/Medical items

✔️ Miscellaneous items

✔️ The essential non-essentials

✔️ Before you pack

✔️ Getting your personal effects to Uni


Are you going to uni/college in the USA? Don't worry, we have you covered. Check out our comprehensive list of things to bring to college here.

Important Documents

The following documents will be extremely important for your move to university, especially during your first few weeks. Make copies (paper and digital) of all of them and keep all of them together in a secure file to ensure none of them goes missing.

Passport, Licence or official ID

University Documentation

Course Acceptance Letter

Student Finance Documentation

Accommodation Documentation

Bank Details and Bank Card

Passport Size Photographs

National Insurance/Social Security details

 

Electrical Items

You can't get through university without your laptop, how else will you be able to procrastinate over unfinished essays and binge-watch Netflix with your new flatmates? Other than the obvious, we've included a list of electrical items, you simply shouldn't leave home without.

Laptop/PC and charger

Earphones

Phone and charger

Hairdryer, Straighteners, etc

Extension lead

Speakers

External hard drive

USB, Ethernet, HDMI cabin, etc

Adaptors

Web Camera

 

Clothing Items

You'll already know what clothes you want to bring, from your favourite shoes to the ultimate party dress, but we just thought we'd give a quick summary just in case, so you're covered for any occasion.

Comfortable clothes

Everyday clothes

Everyday shoes

Formal clothes

Formal shoes

Smart casual clothes

Nightwear

Seasonal clothes (hats, scarves, etc)

Costumes (for the parties!)

Dressing gown

Swimwear

Backpack

Gym clothes

Clothes hangers

Raincoast

Winter boots

Slippers

Flip flops

 

Academic Items

Stocking up on books, notepads and stationery items can add a significant amount of weight to your bags. If you are low on room, you can alternatively, get these items when you arrive at university. Most campuses will have a college shop, that will provide essential stationery items and more. But there are a few essentials you should pack, just to get the ball rolling.

Journal, diary or planner

Sellotape

Pens and pencils

Sticky notes

Paper clips

Stapler and staples

Highlighters

Folders


Your university will send you a recommended reading list, but it's best to purchase these books once you arrive. Not only will these textbooks cost a pretty penny, but they will add unnecessary weight to your luggage. Many universities offer a discount for buying these reading lists in the university bookshop or have second-hand book sales at the beginning of term. It's a good idea to go with this option and save yourself some much-needed space and cash.

Kitchen Items

Don't worry you don't have to bring everything and the kitchen sink to halls of residence. Your kitchen will be stocked with electricals, so you can leave your kettle, microwave and toaster behind. If you are in doubt as to what is included, you can contact your accommodation office before the big move, just to keep yourself right. However, there are items you will need to invest in, we've outlined these below.

Some bowls and plates

Cutlery

Mugs and glasses

Reusable food containers

Travel mug

Bottle opener

Tin opener

Saucepan

Wok

Sharp knife

Baking tray

Frying pan

Oven gloves

Tea towels

Cheese grater

Potato/Vegetable peeler

Sponge or dish cloth

Tinfoil

 

Bedroom Items

In halls of residence, your furniture will be covered, leaving you to worry about the basics. Remember to double-check the size of your bed, before buying bed linen. If you need to save on room, these items can be purchased on the day you move in.

Duvet

Duvet cover

Pillows and pillowcases

Bed sheets

Mattress protector

Clothes storage

Laundry bag or basket

Doorstop

Earplugs

Hot water bottle

Rubbish bin

Mini sewing kit

 

Bathroom Items

Most halls now include en-suite rooms, but if you're sharing a bathroom, you'll want to bring your own towels. And, you'll be very thankful for shower shoes, trust us...

Towels for hands, face and body

Toothbrush and toothbrush holder

Hand soap

Bathroom cleaning products

Toilet cleaner

Cleaning sponges

Bathrobe

Shower shoes or flip flops

 

Toiletries/Medical Supplies

You never want to be caught short, so it's a good idea to include these items. If you are low on room, you can alternatively purchase these products once you arrive.

Personal prescription medicines

Allergy medicines

Paracetamol, cold & flu medicines, etc

Multi-vitamins

Plasters

Antiseptic cream

Antiseptic wipes

Birth control pills

Condoms

Tampons/sanitary products

Nail scissors

Razors

Comb/brush

Cosmetics

Sun cream

Hair ties

Bobby pins

Toiletries bag

 

Miscellaneous Items

These random items might slip your mind when packing up your stuff, but you never know when you might need and wish they'd gone in the bag.

A torch

Blu tack or pons

Change for washing machines

Febreeze

Playing cards

Alarm clock

Batteries

Umbrella

Books

Spare charging cables

 

Essential Non-Essentials

The following items aren't exactly essentials, but we can almost guarantee that they'll make you feel more at home in your new room.

Photographs of family and friends

Throw blankets/cushions for decoration

Fake plants for decoration

LED or fairy lights for decorations

Wall mirror/full-length mirror

Bulletin board

 

Check before you pack

As we mentioned before, halls of residence will already include essential kitchen appliances and furniture. Many will also have certain restrictions set in place for items such as candles (open flames in student accommodation can be a fire hazard) and posters/wall art (you may be forbidden from hanging these on the walls as they can cause damage). So before you pack, be sure to check first!

Kettle

Toaster

Microwave

Mini-fridge

Toastie maker

Coffee maker

Printer

TV

Poster/wall art

Candles

 

Getting your items to Uni

Once you've finished packing, you then face the challenge of transporting all of that luggage to your new home at university. This can be quite an effort if you're going to uni in a whole new town, city, or even country. Thankfully, that's where My Baggage comes in.

So, to help make life easier, you can use a student shipping service like us! My Baggage specialises in transporting students' belongings to and from university every single term. We ship to over 200 countries worldwide, and we're trusted by 50,000 students across the world. You can read about how we can help here, or get a quote! 

AFFORDABLE STUDENT SHIPPING FROM MY BAGGAGE

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