Moving into your student accommodation is an exciting stage of the academic journey you are about to embark on. It can also be overwhelming and daunting if you’re not sure of what to pack or what you will need to bring with you. This article has a full checklist of essentials and tips to help you pack, get ready for move-in day and make the most out of your university accommodation experience.
If you’re anything like me when I was first moving into my accommodation, you probably have a vision board of how you’d like to personalise your room, from the organisation of your desk to the collage of pictures with friends and family on your wall. As exciting all of these are, there are several other essentials that are just as important if not more, when thinking about moving into your accommodation.
I’ve broken these essentials down into categories that can be easy to make into a checklist.
Documents
As important as it is to bring these essentials, a lot of students tend to forget or overlook this when making their packing list, but you reading this blog ensures you won’t be one of them! I would recommend bringing the physical/digital copies of each document.
- Valid Passport/ UK Student Visa
- Biometric Residence Permit
- Provisional/Driving license
- University acceptance letter (which can be useful for opening a bank account, applying for student discount ect)
- Student Finance Documents
- Medical Certificate/NHS Number (to register with a local GP)
- Accommodation contract details and address (for students planning to live at Intenational Students House, you can find our address on this website)
- Bank details & cards
- Scholarship Letters
Electronics Essentials
As a university student, it’s impossible to live without these things, these are the basics you’ll need to get through lectures and assignments, especially when facing exam season, these will be your best friend!
- Laptop and charger
- Mobile phone and charger
- Universal power adapter (especially useful for International Studies)
- Portable Charger (very recommended for travelling around London and university commutes)
- Headphones/earbuds (essential for late night revision sessions)
- Power extension cables
- Batteries
- Portable speakers (optional)
- TV (optional but useful for revision sessions)
- Game Console (optional but great for winding down and relaxing away from studies)
- Hair Dryer/Straightener (be sure to take extra care when using these in your accommodations!)
Kitchen Essentials
For residents living at International Students House, breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided on site, in addition you can also buy the Ultimate Kitchen Pack as an add-on provided by ISH (for more information, check our accommodation page)
Kettles, microwaves, and fridges,are provided in your accommodation kitchen.
- Basic cutlery set
- Bowls & Plates (x 2 of each)
- Reusable food containers
- Reusable water bottle
- Bottle/Tin opener
- Saucepan
- Frying pan
- Chopping Board
- Tea Towels
- Tinfoil & Clingfilm
- Kitchen Tools
- Kitchen Knife
- Grater
- Peeler
- Baking Tray
Bedroom essentials
Your bedroom is where you’ll be spending a lot of time (hopefully not too much!). whether for sleeping, studying or hanging out with friends, a bedroom with all the right essentials is so necessary for the best accommodation experience. Residents living at ISH are provided with a duvet and pillows in their rooms.
- Bedsheets (x2)
- Duvet Covers (x2)
- Pillowcases (x2)
- Duvet
- Pillows
- Mattress Topper
- Blanket
- Cushions
- Laundry basket
- Under Bed Storage (if not provided by your accommodation)
Clothing essentials
London weather is known for being very unpredictable so I would recommend with the clothing you pack, choosing comfort and practicality over anything else, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
- Comfy everyday outfits
- Seasonal clothes
- Nightwear
- Gym wear
- Casual footwear
- Winter coat/hats/gloves/scarf
- Raincoat/Umbrella
- Formal/Going out clothes
- Formal footwear
- Hangers
Personal Medication/Toiletries
These essentials are also a must-have for making the most of your accommodation experience and are useful for looking after yourself as a university student. You do not want to leave any of these items behind!
- Prescription medications
- Flu/Allergy medicine
- Multi-vitamins
- Plasters
- Antiseptic wipe/cream
- Sanitary products
- Cosmetics
- Perfume/Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Hair ties
- Comb/Brush
- Bobby Pins
- Nail cutter
- Toiletries Bag (carry-ons for trips)
Bathroom essentials
Just as I’ve mentioned with the other categories, bathroom items are extremely essential for day-to-day living at your accommodation, these are essentials you won’t want to forget!
- Towels
- Toothbrush/Toothbrush holder
- Soap
- Shower Sponge
- Shower Flip Flops
- Razors
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body Lotion
- Bathrobe
- Tissues
- Facial cleansers
- Mouthwash
Study essentials
What is a university student without these essentials?? These items are going to be a stable piece for all things university and studying. I recommend staying stocked on all the listed stationary items to help you start the year the way you intend to finish.
- Journal/Planner
- Notebook
- Pens/Pencils
- Rubbers/Sharpener
- Sticky notes
- Highlighters
- Folders
- Textbooks (although you can find a lot of your textbooks online)
*The best places I would recommend for finding most of these items would be; B&M, IKEA, Primark, TK Maxx, Grocery stores, Amazon, and Poundland to name a few.
Top Tips to Remember
Now we’ve got through all the physical essentials, there are a few more things to keep in mind when moving into your accommodation. Although it is exciting and a very new experience living away from home with new people, there is a lot of stress and anxiety that is likely to arise being in this environment that could potentially jeopardise your experience. So, to close, I’ll pass on 5 pieces of advice I wish I was given when moving in, to ensure your accommodation experience is the best it can possibly be.
Read ahead on your specific accommodation
Please be sure to research on the whereabouts of where you’ll be staying and how far it is from campus. Look up the nearest groceries and the best mode of transport to all these locations so you are familiar with the new space you’ll be living in, come the new academic year. It’s always okay to ask questions if you’re ever unsure, that’s what Resident Advisors and the accommodation teams are for, they’ll be a trusted source for all your questions and concerns.
Find out who you’ll be living with
It’s obviously very daunting sharing a new space with strangers but joining student community group chats before arriving really takes the worry of not knowing your flatmates off your mind. These communities offer a chance to find and connect with your flatmates, so you can be reassured knowing familiar faces on move-in day. In addition, learning how to adapt to sharing spaces with others is also very useful. Setting up cleaning rotas as well as rules and boundaries that can all be agreed on further helps to make your experience smoother. And who knows, you can end of being great friends with your flatmates and share amazing memories together, this was my experience, and I hope the same for you!
Build a personal routine and structure
As you will be living alone, it’s easy to fall out of routine and forget that you are responsible for yourself and making sure you are well looked after. Try to maintain a good sleep schedule and prepare for a new day the night before so when you wake up, you already have a structure to follow for the day. No one is expected to stick to a strict routine everyday but starting the year with one really does set you on the right path.
Be aware of & prioritise your mental health
Like maintaining a routine at university, it’s also easy to forget to check your mental health and how you’re doing in your mind, especially with how fast paced and stressful university can get. It’s incredibly vital to maintain good mental health and this can look like implementing simple rituals you can follow such as morning check-ins with yourself as you’re getting ready for university, daily affirmations in the mirror, talking with friends and family daily, keeping a journal to record your emotions and interactions at the end of the day. Keeping in check with yourself helps you not to spiral or become overwhelmed and isolated as a student. Your mind matters first.
Balance your social and academic life the right way
Being a student is not all about attending lectures, late-night library sessions and achieving good grades, as a large majority of your university experience will be made up of exploring new social dynamics, so maintaining a healthy balance is important. I would recommend being in contact with your academic advisor daily for help on assignments, in addition, learning how to rest but also know what social events are the most suitable for you to attend in different academic seasons. Friendships take time to develop, and everyone approaches social situations differently. Just be yourself and the right people will come to you.
These are all the accommodation essentials and advice you’ll need for preparing to move into university, remember that your accommodation experience is what you make it and there are always resources and people at hand to help you whenever you need.
Happy move-in day!