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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

What to take when starting university?

92 replies

Fretfulagain · 27/05/2025 09:59

I thought this would have been asked many times before but my search terms must be wonky as I can't find a thread.

DD starts university in September and is a long way from home. She will be in Uni accom for the first year - it's a self catering flat for five, with en suite shower rooms and a shared kitchen.

The Uni has given quite a brief list of essentials but I thought the wisdom of MNetters who have gone before me might help me get it right. What do the official lists miss? What is on there but never used? Do we need more/less of anything which we might not anticipate? Anything in particular that your DC thanked you for - or asked for when they came home after the first term?

Any other tips?

All advice welcome 😀Thank you!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
heavenisaplaceonearth · 27/05/2025 10:06

mattress topper, two sets of bedding
two towels

dishcloth or two
sharp knife and board
two saucepans (so one can be used for a mixing bowl if needed)
frying pan
cutlery and plates and mugs
tin opener
fish slice, tongs
baking tray
airfryer/kettle/toaster
sponge for washing up.

Forgottenmyphone · 27/05/2025 10:07

Colour catchers so she can wash darks and lights in the same wash

Seeline · 27/05/2025 10:11

It's a fine balance of making sure they have what they need, but remembering that there is usually very little space either in their room or the communal kitchen.
They need the basics for cooking (remembering that some Halls have conduction hobs so need the correct pans), baking sheet, wooden spoon, fish slice etc. two plates, bowls etc and cutlery.
Bedding - you will need to check the size required once they have their room allocated. I know lots of people say buy doubles as they will need it for Y2+ accommodation, but my DDs room was so small, a double duvet would have filled the room!
Everyone says mattress toppers are essential - they are not. Neither of mine have needed one in 7 years of uni accommodation. wait and see.
Two sets of sheets etc - laundry and especially drying it takes time so bedding can't necessarily be put straight back on the bed. Also towels.
Check what the specific accommodation allows in terms of small electricals and drying apparatus eg many do not allow heated airers, some don't allow any.
Essentials:
Plenty of clothes hangers
Sliders/crocs for shared kitchen (floors get disgusting!!) and shared bathroom if applicable.
Decent dressing gown/oodie etc and sliders for 2am fire alarm

AdoraBell · 27/05/2025 10:12

In addition to the things already listed I bought my DDs coffee machines.

Also, food- spices and herbs depending on their preference. So one had paprika and Cajun spice mix, the other dried chilli’s and oregano. A small stock of canned goods- tuna, tomatoes, beans, pasta and microwave rice.

Seeline · 27/05/2025 10:14

As stated - check for what each Hall allows in terms of small electricals. Some are very restrictive over things like airfryers, slow cookers, coffee machines etc.

whatsappdoc · 27/05/2025 10:40

Adding to previous lists, the things that were useful to dds were a set of vertical plastic drawers by the bed for toiletries, snacks etc, a low airer and a door stop so you can keep the door open and be part of the conversation without leaving your bed😀.
I remember going round Ikea with dd1 piling up stuff from my list and all she had on her list were shot glasses. So maybe shot glasses?🤣

TianasBayou · 27/05/2025 10:46

Forgottenmyphone · 27/05/2025 10:07

Colour catchers so she can wash darks and lights in the same wash

If colour catchers are banned, put them in a net laundry bag so they don’t get ‘lost’ in the machine.

large laundry bags are handy for not losing socks too.

Mew2 · 27/05/2025 10:47

In terms of a memory topper- I used a whole load of extra blankets- which were stored under my mattress when I didn't have guests. But myself, brother and sister were at uni at the same time- and would visit each other and stay on the floor (of cramped rooms)- and friends would stay too!!

Pans- I would buy ones that could be used on induction, gas and electric hobs to cover all bases (as student houses change)
Personally wouldn't bother with an airfryer- there was never any room in the kitchen- and flatmates would probably use and not clean it....
If she can bake a small selection of baking items- I bartered cakes for lifts, days out etc
The best thing is ensuring there are a few meals she can cook well- again using cooking/baking to barter for washing etc stood me in good sted (maybe it's only me who did that at uni when I had no money!!)

TianasBayou · 27/05/2025 10:53

Pack of scourer sponges with instructions to bin and replace regularly.
Tea towels.
cheap rug to cover the minging carpet/cosy up hard floor.
a crate for keeping kitchen stuff/food in your room (unless you actually have considerate flatmates)

Sliders - essential!

loads of underwear or handwashing liquid to wash same

multipurpose vessel for washing/sick bucket/beer cooler

clary · 27/05/2025 10:54

Everyone always says a door stop but dd and ds found the one we bought was no use and the door still shut.

deffo agree tho re indoor shoes of some kind.

My dd messaged urgently for an iron and ironing board after about a fortnight - I presumed there would be at least a board in the laundry room but no. Also she took cleaning stuff. She truly is my daughter haha.

Badbadbunny · 27/05/2025 10:54

Depending on the University, most are pretty close/accessible to decent shops, such as larger supermarkets, an Argos (within Sainsbury), The Range/Dunelm, and they can also get online orders delivered (supermarkets, Argos, Amazon etc) etc., so don't panic and buy every conceivable item they may ever need in terms of kitchen stuff, storage, etc. All they need to start is the basics - they're not going to be cooking spectacularly complicated meals in the first week or two, and if all they can take with them is one set of bedding, that'll last for the start and they can buy a second set once they're there.

More important are the personal items, clothes, momentos of home/family, laptop/phone chargers!

Also maybe heavier stuff they won't be able to carry back from Argos themselves, i.e. clothes airer, plastic storage shelving system, duvet, etc.

I think it's well accepted that most students take far too much (well the ones who are taken there by parents with big cars anyway!). Lots of stuff is simply never used and comes home again often still boxed, like sandwich toasters, omelette makers etc which your student son/daughter deemed "essential"!

Even in flats with kitchens, students still go out for meals, buy lunches on campus, some even nip down to the university "cafe" for breakfast en-route to lectures. Depends on the campus set up - some have several "on campus" options for cafes, shops, takeaways and city based campuses often have such places pretty close to cater for the students.

All I'm saying is don't think you have to send them off with every conceivable item they (and you) think they'll need. They can buy stuff once there, they can borrow stuff from flatmates. Pointless all flatmates taking their own baking trays for the oven - it probably already has one, and if not, they can work between themselves to decide who buys what to share, i.e. x buys a baking tray, y buys a tin opener, z buys a roll of kitchen foil, a buys a bottle of washing up liquid etc etc.

TianasBayou · 27/05/2025 10:58

Weekend bag/backpack
railcard
insulated coffee mug
bottle of vodka

PorgyandBess · 27/05/2025 10:58

A top quality mattress topper is essential.

My kids would say only 1 of each crockery item and cutlery - and try to get something that looks different.

Mine are keen cooks, so a decent knife and pots and pans etc.

Badbadbunny · 27/05/2025 11:02

@clary

Everyone always says a door stop but dd and ds found the one we bought was no use and the door still shut.

The old door stop suggestion is outdated. The last thing they should be doing in multi-occupation flats is leave a fire door wedged open! It's dangerous! The doors in student flats are big and heavy for a reason - they're fire doors!

It may have been "a thing" in the past for students to feel closer and connected and get to know eachother quicker, but realistically, these days, the first thing they do when they meet on moving in day is set up a flat chat room (whatsapp or similar). They don't go around the corridor banging on doors to see who's going out for a drink, they post a message on the flat chat room. Likewise if someone's run out of something or someone's realised that the kitchen is missing something (i.e. bin liners etc), they'll put a note on the flat chat room to see if someone is going out shopping (or already out at the shop) to ask them to buy it. Ironically, it brings the flat mates "closer" together as they can "gel" over the chat room which is better for the quieter/shy ones who may struggle face to face with new people at first. It also provides more "openness" as all the flat mates can see the conversations, whereas "face to face" will often mean little cliques of people discussing things, or some discussions that 1 or 2 flat mates have missed because they didn't happen to be in the kitchen at the time, etc!

SapporoBaby · 27/05/2025 11:02

Things the lists miss -

Canesten
A medical kit for freshers flu
A rice cooker for sneakily making food in their room
Slippers
Basic herbs and spices

God I wish I could go back to those Halcyon days

Badbadbunny · 27/05/2025 11:05

@PorgyandBess

A top quality mattress topper is essential

I agree. DS stayed in three different modern (almost new) purpose built student flats and none of the three mattresses was in great condition. All were stained, lumpy, ridged, etc and two of them were really thin. I don't know what the students do on them (well I do, and it's best not to think too much about it!).

You'd be very, very, lucky to be allocated a room with a new/deep modern mattress that doesn't need a topper.

thymebasil · 27/05/2025 11:09

Don’t get everything in ikea is my top tip! Otherwise the flat might have 5 identical of everything.

Go to TK Maxx and get kitchen stuff in unusual colours. Argos and Asda also good.

Don’t spend much as things will get lost and broken.

clary · 27/05/2025 11:21

@Badbadbunny well quite. Fire door has a purpose!

I forgot to say, dd not a great cook so minimal pans etc, but ds is keener and has had good use out of a fake LeCreuset (Sainsbury’s but still £35) I got him four years ago. So do consider as others say the likely cooking activity of your dc.

Badbadbunny · 27/05/2025 11:23

May be better taking a lot less and taking your son/daughter shopping when you get there - especially if your car is small or you're taking other family members. Scope out in advance what big shops they have close to the Uni. Dump your first car load that you've taken from home, then go and do a "big" shop for a second car load and buy the groceries etc at the same time.

Or just give your son/daughter a gift card for Argos or Amazon or whatever and let them choose when they're settled in, and get it all delivered.

FloweryCactus · 27/05/2025 11:24

To be honest, as little as possible. Rooms tend to be small and lacking in storage and I would recommend taking only the basics and waiting til you arrive to see what else you feel you want. There are shops - and charity shops - in every uni town in the UK and nowhere that Amazon doesn't deliver to.

Fretfulagain · 27/05/2025 11:32

Wow - thank you! So many messages and some great tips (hadn't thought about sliders but yes, nasty floors 😐) and the multi use beer cooler/sick bucket!
I can see it's a balance and had thought prob avoid Ikea or it will all get muddled. Maybe way to go is minimum and then an Argos/similar shop to top up once she's done a week or two. Let's face it, the first week isn't going to see much cooking - or cleaning.
Great tips here. Thanks so much!

OP posts:
Seeline · 27/05/2025 11:41

Scope out in advance what big shops they have close to the Uni. Dump your first car load that you've taken from home, then go and do a "big" shop for a second car load and buy the groceries etc at the same time.

This can work if your student is moving in at the start of the move-in phase. If they aren't moving in until day 3 or 4, shops look like they have been hit by a plague of locusts! Don't rely on being able to buy anything at that stage.

If you are doing the supermarket shop make sure the student has worked out a meal plan of sorts and/or at least has a shopping list.....

Catopia · 27/05/2025 11:54

Something to put over bed - like a quilt, so when being used to sit on during the day by friends etc they aren't sitting directly on their sheets in their outdoor clothes.

Extra mugs for when friends stop by for a cuppa.

Own washing up sponge, liquid, tea towels etc to keep in room as the ones in the kitchen are always gross.

A pyrex dish with a lid. Good for microwaving and also can make lots of meals just with a kettle in room by pouring boiling water over, putting on lid and leaving (quick cook pasta, noodles, couscous). I got through my first year when we were 12 to a kitchen that way!

When I was at uni I found having my own printer helpful - I expect they don't print much for their tutors etc any more but I found being able to print off draft essays to proofread and scribble ideas on helpful when i got a bit stuck, and also lecture handouts.

Badbadbunny · 27/05/2025 12:03

@Catopia

When I was at uni I found having my own printer helpful - I expect they don't print much for their tutors etc any more but I found being able to print off draft essays to proofread and scribble ideas on helpful when i got a bit stuck, and also lecture handouts.

Yes, forgot that. At my son's Uni, they didn't give out any printed material at all. Lecture notes, worksheets, question papers etc were all online. During the first term, OH really struggled as he started virtually copying the lecture notes on to paper as he felt he could learn better by having paper in front of him to make notes on etc. For the second term, he printed everything off, but it cost a small fortune even though it was only a few pence per sheet, as some of the lecture notes were in colour, so that doubled the "per sheet" cost!

He got a small printer and it worked out cheaper even with the cost of ink cartridges than paying for Uni printers. He'd print all the lecture notes beforehand and then made his own notes on them during lectures along with paper sticky flags, which later became his revision for the end of module exams! Saved him lots of time not having to do wholesale re-writing of the notes from the internet.

Different people learn in different ways - he learned (and revised) best with physical papers rather than online text books etc.

rulerofthepencils · 27/05/2025 12:07

Firstly, it has to fit in whatever car you have.

Secondly, walk into a room in the house and make a list of things in that room that they use now in the bathroom to include nail clippers, tweezers, down to toilet roll and towels. In the bedrooms, pillow, duvet, bedding, hairbrush, deodorant etc.

For the kitchen they usually have one base unit and one wall cabinet. That is to store everything they have, equipment and food. Mine use the base cabinet for equipment and the wall cabinet for herbs/spices (in container so easy to remove) basics like bread, pasta. They took 1 frying pan and 1 saucepan with a lid that has draining holes so you can strain off your pasta easily. Every time your child uses something in the kitchen, baking tray etc add it to the list. Also open all the cupboards and look to see what they would use. We used Ikea shelf inserts (Variera) to make the most of the space.

Don't forget laundry detergent but some unis have internally decanted detergent so none needed. Tape measure will determine if you can fit something in their room too. I always do a video when the room is empty of all the measurements. This is also when you check for damage or marks in the room before giddily unpacking.

We research the rooms Tiktok/Youtube so you get an idea of the space. We move them in and a week later come back to remove or add anything to the room. We have had 2 children at uni.