What to pack for university

You’ve accepted the offer, you’ve got the accommodation confirmed, and you’re now counting down the days until you can come to campus, move into your new room, and start making friends.

But what should you bring? There’s only so much space in the car and your Mum probably won’t let you take the sofa with you. Here’s a few handy lists to help you work out what you should think about packing (we haven’t mentioned clothes because it should be obvious. Please do bring your clothes with you.)

Bedroom

We provide bedrooms with standard furniture; a bed with mattress, desk and chair, shelves, wardrobe, a bedside lamp, and a bin. There is also a hoover stored in the kitchen area.

Your room will be a blank canvas that you can personalise with items from home. To make sure you have a comfortable first night (and many more after!) you will need to bring the following:

• Pillows
• Duvet (check your accommodation type to see if you need a single or double)
• Mattress protector
• Bedsheets
• Comfort items - Blanket, cushions, teddy bear, photos from home
• Coat hangers for your wardrobe
• Storage boxes of varying sizes (there is some room under the beds)
• Stationery - Pens, pencils, paper/notebooks, scissors
• Chargers - Phone, laptop, ebook reader, toothbrush, any other small electric device
• Plug adapters (for students joining us from overseas)
• Laundry hamper and detergent (and a large bag to carry your washing to laundry facilities)
• Electronics - Laptop, phone, small TV, games console.

Smoking and vaping are not allowed inside any building on campus, including in accommodation. This includes bedrooms and communal areas such as the kitchens and hallways.

Kitchen

Kitchens in our accommodation are set up with a fridge-freezer, a cooker, a microwave, and a kettle and toaster (and a sink), as well as a social area with tables and chairs. You will need to provide your own tools including:

• Equipment - Saucepans and frying pans, (if you’re staying in The Copse then you will need induction pans, regular ones will not work on the cookers), baking tray, oven gloves.
• Utensils - Whatever you’d normally use at home such as spatula, wooden spoons, tin opener, potato peeler, cheese grater, serving spoon, chopping board and a knife, slotted spoon, tongs, measuring jug, measuring spoons, whisk, scales.
• Crockery - Plates, bowls, mugs and glasses, knives, forks and teaspoons/tablespoons, reusable water bottle.
• Cupboard items - Foil, Tupperware or similar storage, clingfilm, a permanent marker if you want to keep your name on things.
• Food essentials - Condiments such as ketchup, cooking oil, spreads such as jam or marmite, teabags or coffee, tinned foods, herbs and spices, biscuits, favourite chocolate.
• Washing up items - Washing up liquid, sponges, dishcloths, teatowels.

Keep in mind though that much of this can be dependent on what kind of cook you are. If you are a “chuck some fish fingers in the oven” cook then you’re less likely to need a cheese grater. But if you prefer to unwind by making a fresh Bolognese and a batch of cookies then measuring spoons and several saucepans will be essential.

If you’re not certain what you use regularly, try to make a note as you use things at home in the weeks before moving day.

Forgotten something?

If you arrive, start to unpack, and realise you’ve forgotten something essential (such as your duvet), then don’t panic.

Whichever campus you’re on, there will be shops nearby. At Colchester Campus the Students’ Union has several shops on the Squares and there is a large Tesco and a Home Bargains off-campus but within walking distance. At Southend there’s a Sainsbury’s just over the road from University Square, and the town centre is in easy walking distance.

You can also get parcels delivered to your campus accommodation. You will receive an email when something is waiting in the post room for you to collect (you will need to pick them up yourself). There are also some Amazon delivery boxes available just off Square 3 on Colchester campus.

Coming from overseas

If you are one of our new international students then of course you do not want to transport your duvet and all your saucepans on the plane. However, depending on what time you arrive on campus you may not be able to get to the supermarket to buy your essentials before shops close.

To help with this the university has set up the Essex Essentials shop. You can use the shop to purchase items including bedding and laundry baskets before you arrive. If you make your purchase before the deadline then our campus services teams will ensure your items are waiting for you at your accommodation when you arrive.

What not to bring

And of course, there’s a few things you should definitely leave at home:

• E-bikes and e-scooters – E-scooters are banned on campus, e-bikes must not be stored in accommodation.
• Candles or other items with a naked flame.
• Portable cooking equipment – Cooking must only be carried out in the kitchen areas. Do not cook in your bedroom.
• Large furniture items – It’s lovely that your Dad has offered to bring a drill and reassemble your desk from home, but please just stick to the smaller items listed above.