What to take to university – and what to leave behind, according to students

Starting university can be exciting, overwhelming and, if you’re not careful, a bit of a packing disaster. Faced with the prospect of moving from home, it’s easy to convince yourself you’ll need every mug, blanket and kitchen gadget you’ve ever touched, just in case. However, speak to students who’ve already lived through the chaos of it and they’ll tell you … most of it sits unused, taking up space and making the end-of-term move a nightmare.

There are some things worth the space in your suitcase, though. From the practical spare phone cables to that one pair of sliders everyone swears by, here are the things students say they couldn’t do without – and the ones they wish they’d left at home.

What to take to uni

Make room: ensure your new student digs are comfy and cosy by only bringing wisely picked essentials Photograph: Dougal Waters/Getty Images

Bedroom

A robe

When the fire alarm goes off early in the morning and you feel too embarrassed to stand outside in your pyjamas, you’ll thank your past self for buying one! Sundus Abdi, journalism MA, Leeds Trinity University

John Lewis fleece robe

M&S Collection polka dot dressing gown

A comfy mattress pad

Invest in a thick mattress topper. You’ll be on a few different mattresses at uni, not all of them great. Zoe Cochrane, geography, University of Glasgow

Ikea mattress pad

John Lewis mattress topper

For more, read our guide to the best mattress toppers, tested

Smart storage

An over-the-door hook was really useful in freeing up space in my tiny wardrobe. Hanging this over your bathroom or bedroom door means you can hang up coats, dressing gowns or bags and make use of the usually small space you get in student halls bedrooms. Charlotte Gornall, fashion communication: journalism, Central Saint Martins

Dunelm over-door hook

Good lighting

A good desk lamp. Halls’ lighting was so dim that I couldn’t work without one. Alex, history and communications, Nottingham Trent University

Habitat metal desk lamp

Elliott desk lamp

More plugs

Plug block and extension cables. The plugs are never where you need them. Ollie Blanson, business and management, University of Bristol

Masterplug three-way plug adaptor

Ikea extension cord

Organisation

Small baskets and containers for organising. Hafsa, Leeds Arts University

Sostrene Grene folding crate

H&M seagrass storage basket

Underbed storage

You move around a lot and these make it easy to organise stuff and keep it out of sight. Will Owen, English literature, University of Cambridge

Dunelm Stripe underbed storage bag

H&M large storage box

A bin

I didn’t bring an under-desk bin when I first got to uni and my room was a mess. Francis, politics and international relations, University of Sheffield

Viking waste bin

La Redoute waste basket

Command strips for hanging pictures

Blu-Tak is good but it can leave marks, which if you’re in a flat you might have to pay the landlord for. I had no issues getting these off when I moved out. Camilla Shaw, classics, University of Nottingham

Command small and medium picture hanging strips

Essential accessories

A good hard drive

You don’t want your work to disappear when you try to submit it. Zainab, Leeds Arts University

Toshiba 1TB hard drive

A decent backpack

You’ll be carrying your laptop, charger, water bottle and maybe even a food shop in the same bag, so it’s worth having one that spreads the weight. Amelia Hart, history, University of Warwick

Eastpak Up Roll backpack

Lululemon Everywhere backpack

A water bottle

My big reusable water bottle came with me everywhere, saved me from buying plastic bottles constantly and was a good reminder to stay hydrated when busy revising. Anna Fields, accounting, University of Reading

Yeti Rambler 532ml bottle

Chilly’s lichen green flip bottle, 500ml

For more, check out our guide to the best water bottles for leaks, looks and sustainability

A super-long charging cable

A long cable is so good for when you’re in your student halls: it will probably stretch the length of the room so you can always have your phone plugged in. Ella, Queen’s University Belfast

Juice Aqua lightning cable

Apple charging cable

A speaker

It was perfect for pre-drinks at the flat, but also for blasting music to drown out noisy neighbours. Leila, sociology, Goldsmiths, University of London

Ultimate Ears Bluetooth waterproof portable speaker

Bose SoundLink Flex portable Bluetooth speaker

A drying rack

Sounds boring, but in halls everyone fights for the tumble dryers and they’re quite pricey. Hannah Wilkes, psychology, University of Exeter

Three-tier indoor clothes airer

Bicycle

A bike was the best investment I made at uni because it saved me so much money on travel in the long run. Ruben, computer science, City, University of London

Triban road bike

Carrera road bike

Check out our guide to the best bike locks for all budgets

Kitchen

Tupperware

I batch cook to save money so I can stay organised and keep the fridge clean. Anonymous, psychology, Cardiff University

Ikea food container, pack of three

John Lewis storage container, pack of 10

A sandwich toaster

I use my toastie maker all the time and it will be going to my younger brother when I graduate. Kirsten, fashion design, University of Northumbria

Breville sandwich maker

Sleep

Earplugs and an eye mask

Chances are you will be kept up by a party at some point, and these mean you’ve got some chance at sleeping. Ruby, English and French, University of Oxford

Loop earplugs

Superdrug silicone earplugs, pack of three

Boots mulberry silk eye mask

Panda London bamboo eye mask

Sliders

They were perfect for communal showers, quick trips to the supermarket or just wandering around halls. Priya Shah, social anthropology, University of Edinburgh

Birkenstock Arizona EVA sandals

Adidas Swim Adilette sliders

A decent coat with a hood

Campus life means walking a lot, and an umbrella is useless in Scottish wind. Tessa, history, University of Glasgow

Uniqlo seamless down long coat

Topman overcoat in grey

And here’s what you don’t need

Candles and incense. They’re banned in most student accommodation because of the fire hazard, so you don’t need to add extra weight to your luggage. Sundus Abdi

I bought lots of notebooks and stationery but didn’t end up using it. I mainly use my laptop for taking notes in lectures and for essays. Zoe Cochrane

An iron! I brought one with me but didn’t use it once, because there was never enough space to iron. Instead, I would invest in a small steamer; quick to use and takes little effort. Charlotte Gornall

Not everyone [going in to halls or a shared house] has to buy their own kettle and toaster. Have a chat about this with your flatmates before you buy anything. Zainab

An entire set of pans. Everyone ends up sharing, and mine just took up space. But when you move into second year, I’d recommend all chipping in for a good-quality set and looking after it. Alex

A printer. I thought I’d be using it weekly but I barely touched it, and the library had everything. I even had some free printing credits from uni each year. Ollie Blanson

Lots of clothes. It ended up being my downfall when I was moving back home. A smaller wardrobe is easier to manage, packing-wise. Hafsa

Decorative cushions. I brought four and they ended up on the floor every day. Priya Shah

A smoothie-maker. I used it twice, then it gathered dust until I took it home. Anna Fields

Loads of sets of bedding. A weekly wash is easier than storing the spares. Ella

Microplane grater. I ended up just using one of the four-sided box graters for everything. Ruben

A huge first aid kit. It’s good to have a small one with some plasters, antiseptic and paracetamol, but the rest is overkill. Anonymous

Random food you don’t normally eat. I rocked up to uni with so many tins of beans, like some apocalyptic prepper, despite the fact that I was living in a normal city with normal supermarkets, and I hate beans. Will Owen

Too many shoes. I brought a shelf’s worth and lived in the same trainers every day. Amelia Hart

Too many accessories. You do not need 15 handbags; you’re just going to use one. Kirsten

A TV in first year. I didn’t use the TV in my room at all until second year, where it became our house one. Tessa

A whiteboard. I thought it would keep me organised but my friends just doodled on it. Leila

Extra furniture. I bought a chair but it just ended up being another wash basket. Francis