Uni accommodation- what to buy/take?

[Boxingshibes]

Dd is off in September to uni.
We're not well off so trying to work out what she needs for her accommodation.
What we can take and what to buy there.
We'll be travelling by train from south coast of England to Scotland so limited by what we can carry.
Im thinking-to buy when there
Duvet, sheets and pillows
Kitchen stuff- crockery, cutlery, airfryer and mini kettle.
Rugs, toiletries, laundry and cleaning stuff.
Anything else?

Our dd had bedding included in her room, just needed sheet, duvet cover and pillow cases. I would order stuff to be delivered there rather than lug that up on public transport. She also discovered that her kitchen didn’t have an oven so don’t dismiss the air fryer, she might need it. We also bought her a laptop as everyone seemed to have one and she found it much easier.

We bought her a few kitchen utensils as she likes to have her own. Set of crockery and cutlery but not too much as storage space is really limited. She keeps snacks in her room. Bathroom mat, shower tidy, loo brush and also a shower curtain as there wasn’t one supplied.

We send her money for food shopping etc as she hasn’t managed to find a job yet despite applying everywhere. Also the campus laundry is quite expensive. She’s also joined a sports club which had a joining fee of about £60 but it’s been invaluable as it’s given her another outlet for meeting people.

Our DC in a large student hall of residence wasn't allowed any small electricals except for a hairdryer and electric toothbrush. So probably best to wait for final rules + regulations from your DC's confirmed accommodation before buying anything. Our DC did end up buying a tiny kettle (hidden in a cupboard when not in use) in order to make tea because the communal kettle provided in the kitchen was grim.

When I was a student, the electrical sockets provided in the rooms were the small round pin 3 amp type. You were allowed two matching plugs that had to be fitted by a uni electrician.

As well as all the necessary stuff, for comfort i bought granddaughter a thick mattress topper, you'd expect better beds in expensive halls, easy to have Amazon delivery. She has appreciated it every day!

Buy as little as possible (DS at uni in lots of different accommodation). Also do not even think about it (unless you need to save some money towards the expense until August). There is so much pressure on students and this 'you will pass your exams, because you are going to uni and we've even bought a pile of stuff for you to take..just adds more.

She's got an unconditional offer. Currently doing a BTEC so has no more exams. Even if she doesn't attend for the rest of the year she been awarded DDD which equals AAA. She also did a previous AS and did a 1 year level 3 course. So has more points than she needs, the uni offered her to start in y2 as its a 4 year Scottish degree but she wants to do all 4 years.

Anyway, we've seen the accommodation. Double bed, desk, wardrobe and unsuited. She is disabled and has mobility issues so can only use microwave/ airfryer/ rice cooker. She doesn't have the wrist mobility or ability to know when burnt to work a oven or pans.
Im thinking an airfryer and rice cooker to keep in room but use in kitchen.

I was a mature student until fairly recently, studying part-time and did more than my share of Freshers weeks. Every year seemed to be the same, everyone began the year with shiny new laptops but lots either broke them or tired of carting them around and those free to loan library laptops soon become popular

Yes, I suspect it depends on the degree subject. Relying on communal computers would make life very difficult on some courses.

Which uni and which halls? (Appreciate you may not want to say).
My dd got an air fryer as a gift and she and her flatmates are getting a lot of use out of it. She'll then have it for a flat next year

I’ve got one in halls atm and they all
clubbed together to buy a shared air fryer, rather than have 6! One thing to check is whether everything needs to be moved out at the end of each term. Luckily we haven’t had to, but when my husband was in halls, they’d be let during the holidays, so everything had to be removed at Xmas and Easter.

@Becs258 I have actually thought about that. If need be we'll get a storage locker.

With her disabilities, will she be able to carry items like an airfryer to and from her room?

Places like Dunelm will have offers on around when the students start. Could you order online then when the thibgs are usually cheaper and collect, if it’s close enough?

Some Unis, like Sheffield, have a good secondhand selection that you can buy. They encourage the foreign students to donate before they got back home.