how much do they need to spend on books, etc, before starting uni in Sept?

[ssd]

ds will be living at home and fees are free here

but as none of us went to uni we haven't a clue how much he'll need to spend on books etc

also as its a humanities degree, will he need a laptop?

any advice would be great, thanks

Books from the library. You don't tend to need to own the books unless doing languages and need grammar workbooks and stuff. Otherwise you just need books when writing essays really and most universities now have books that can be accessed online through using university log in. He will find he needs journal articles etc for assignments too and that is all available online.

Yes he will need access to a reliable computer but universities have comprehensive it facilities and banks of computers for student use so it will be up to him if he wants to sit and do his work on university computers or at home. I wouldn't say a laptop is essential at all. Anyway if he does want his own then if living at home and no fees to pay then surely he can use his student loan to buy one when it comes in. Ditto printer but again he can just print at uni.

If he is living on or near campus, he will most likely be able to use the ICT facilities in the library. A laptop could be useful though to double up as a TV etc, but not essential.

A lot of universities are leaning towards E-book sites to which he will have a free membership and will also have lots of hard copies of key texts in the libraries. Unless it's a book he is likely to use for every assignment, then don't buy any books. Theyre very expensive.

In short, don't buy anything until he goes apart from ringbinders and other stationery.