It’s not Hogwarts, but it’s definitely home – at least for the next nine months.

It’s that time of the year again! Whether you’re a fresher or a finalist, we’ve made this extensive list of things you should really chuck in the boot.

Pro tip: packing isn’t fun, but it is when you put this playlist on. 

Debut’s Ultimate Uni Student Packing Checklist

Bedroom

Your uni room should be a sanctuary away from all the crazy, wonderful, overwhelming experiences you’ll no doubt have. Here’s our list of things that’ll turn your rented room into your home away from home.

• Jersey sheets and duvet/comforter set. Trust us, they’re way comfier.
• Foam topper. This is to protect your mattress from any, uh, weird stains.
  (No judging!)
• Extra pillowcases
• One extra fluffy pillow
• An air mattress or a sleeping bag for any visiting home friends
• A fluffy throw
• Fairy lights
• Polaroids and photos for your bare, sad-looking bedroom wall
• A rug. It gets cold in the winter, yo.
• A squeegee – this is ridiculously useful for getting rid of condensation, and therefore, any potential damp

• Bulletin board/dry-erase board
• Push pins/magnets
• Whiteboard marker pens
• Desk/floor lamp
• Full-length mirror
• Clothes hangers (and plenty of them)
• Behind-the-door adhesive hooks
• Stackable shoe rack
• A bin
• Storage containers for under your bed
• A medium-sized fan (to air out your room in the winter, and to cool down in the summer)
• A secret mini-safe for your valuables  (we found this cool one on Ebay)

Kitchen

Now, we’ve just gone for the basics. All you Insta-cooks will probably have your own extensive list, but this will definitely get you through a year without having to resort to Pot Noodles.

• Large dishes
• Small dishes
• Cereal/pasta bowls
• Cutlery (forks, spoons, knives, chopsticks, whatever you fancy)
• Cups
• Mugs
• Oven mitts
• Tea towels
• Large oven tray
• Medium oven tray
• Muffin tin
• Kettle

• Toaster
• Dustpan
• Tinfoil
• Clingfilm
• Tupperware (a few different sizes)
• Utensils (spatulas, ladles, tongs, kitchen scissors, kitchen knives, potato masher)
• Hand soap
• Disinfecting wipes
• Medium-size wok
• Medium-size saucepan
• Large saucepan (for soups and stews)
• Medium-size frying pan
• Pancake pan (for Pancake Day, obviously)

Laundry

No, keeping it all in your hamper and then bringing it back for your mum to do at Christmas is not the one.

• Laundry hamper
• Iron or portable steamer
• Ironing board
• Huge, economical box of detergent
• Drying rack (try not to dry your clothes in your room as this will increase damp in the winter)
• Bleach
• Fabric softener
• Emergency sewing kit
• Vanish or a similar stain remover
• Lingerie bag (so your delicates won’t get holey in the wash)

Bathroom

We’ll say this now: if you keep your stuff in the communal bathroom, they will get used.

We’ll also say this now:  if you use other people’s stuff and finish them, karma will get ya if you don’t replace it.

• Two big bath towels
• Fuzzy bathrobe
• Bath rug / shower mat
• Hand towel
• Portable shower caddy for your toiletries
• Air freshener (trust us)
• Bathroom cleaning supplies (drain unblocker, toilet brush, toilet cleaner, shower cleaner, rubber cloths  and sponges)
• Toiletries
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Mouthwash
  • Floss (we know, the benefits of flossing are unproven, but nothing makes you feel more ‘with it’ than when you floss in the morning)
  • Shower gel
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Face wash
  • Face moisturiser
  • Body lotion
  • Sudocrem (for bumps, cuts and any stray spots)
  • Lip balm
  • Hand cream
  • Deodorant
  • Shaving cream
  • Sunblock
  • Makeup wipes or makeup remover
  • Face/hair treatment masks (for those flatmate beauty bonding sessions. Yes boys. You too.)

• Accessories
  • Hair dryer
  • Face mirror
  • Brush/comb
  • Contact lenses, solution and case
  • Cotton buds
  • Cotton balls
  • Hair straighteners/curlers
  • Hair ties (bring lots, they always go missing)
  • Nail clippers / toenail clippers
  • Nail file
  • Tweezers
  • Razor
  • Tampons and pads
  • Toilet paper (just in case)
  • Bobby pins
  • Headband

Clothes

Now, we thought about dividing this by boys & girls, but that would be terribly gender-normative of us. So cross off all the ones that don’t apply to you before you start packing!

• Pyjamas
• Comfy pants
• Nicer, perhaps not so comfy pants
• Bras
• Sport bras
• Blue jeans
• Black jeans
• Day dresses
• Going out dresses
• Button-down shirts
• T-shirts (band shirts, your favourite movie, this is your chance to turn your top into a conversation starter.)
• Going out clothes (only you know what that means for yourself)
• Hoodies
• Rain/wind jacket
• Skirts

• Shorts
• Tights/leggings
• Coats
• Professional clothing (blazers, nice slacks, that one dress that makes you feel like an adult)
• Sports socks
• Cartoon socks
• Slipper socks
• Workout  clothes
• Jumpers
• Tank tops
• Day trainers
• Sports shoes
• High heels (that you can realistically walk in)
• Winter boots
• Wellies
• A bag big enough to fit your laptop (one that you’ll affectionately say ‘contains your entire life’)
• Your going-out purse (that can fit your phone, ID and keys)

Tech

Weird things the author saw during her time at university: a guy who exclusively typed on a typewriter and carted it around during lectures. Keep typing away, typewriter guy.

• Laptop
• Phone
• Tablet (this will be particularly useful
  for lectures, especially if you have a portable small keyboard)
• Camera
• Camera SD card
• Chargers (phone, laptop, camera, etc.)
• USB drives
• An extra phone cable (they always break)
• HDMI cable (so you can put your Netflix on your flatmate’s big TV)

• A Microsoft Office subscription
  (your notes are going to look  so swish.
  But if not, Google Docs is pretty good too.)
• Bluetooth speakers
• Portable phone charger
• Printer
• Scanner
• Printer ink
• Printer paper
• Wireless mouse and keyboard
• Voice recorder for lectures (make sure you ask your lecturer for permission first!)
• Laptop case
• Laptop pro-up stand (to fix your terrible posture)

Stationery

Ah. Nothing like the smell of fresh notebook paper in the morning.

• Ballpoint pens
• Pencils
• Erasers
• Highlighter pens (preferably scented, obvs)
• Desk calendar
• Postcards (to send home)
• Envelopes
• Scientific calculator
• Ruler (you’ll be surprised at how many times you’ll use this)
• Measuring tape
• Folders
• Plastic wallets for your folders

• Index cards
• Notebooks
• Sticky notes
• Permanent markers
• Stapler and staples
• Paperclips
• Clear sticky tape
• Masking tape
• Hole-punch
• Glue
• White-tac (not blue – they’ll stain your walls!)
• Desk fan
• Rubber bands
• Wrapping paper

Emergency

Because you’ll inevitably have a few of those.

• Hayfever tablets
• Inhaler
• Aloe vera lotion
• Antiseptic lotion or wipes
• Bandages
• Contraception
• Cold and flu meds
• Lemsip
• Decongestant
• Eye drops
• First aid kit
• Insect repellent
• Prescription medicine
• Prescription information

• Painkillers
• Thermometer
• Iodine
• Rubbing alcohol
• Throat lozenges
• Throat spray
• Upset tummy medication
• Vaseline
• Ankle guard / knee guard (for any potential sprains)
• Pepper spray
• Mini  alarm / whistle
• Emergency contact list
• Spare phone (like an old Nokia) and charger
• Fire blanket
• Mini fire extinguisher
• Strong flashlight

Party

“Finally, she gets to the important stuff.” Alright guys, I got there in the end. It’s our job to tell you to drink responsibly, so, drink responsibly please!

• Fancy dress
  • 1920s themed
  • Anything-but-clothes
  • Ancient Greek
  • 80s-themed
  • Halloween costume
  • Something beginning with the first letter of your name
  • Face paint
  • Temporary hair colour spray
  • Face glitter (this is mandatory)
  • Recycled cardboard and acrylic paint
• Shot glasses
• Jelly moulds (for vodka jelly)
• Playing cards
• Cards Against Humanity
• Earplugs
• Flask
• Fishbowl (or large, clear bowl)

Extra Bits

Now, for the things you’ll definitely need but don’t quite fit into our neat categories.

• Passport
• Driver’s license
• Car registration and insurance information
• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of National Insurance
• Credit card
• Debit card
• Uni enrolment documents
• Health/dental information
• Copy of house contract/lease
• Product warranties for your techy bits
• Student ID
• Folder for important documents
• Journal

• Picnic blanket
• Beach towel
• Bicycle
• Bicycle helmet
• Bicycle lock
• Musical instruments (yes, be that dude playing Wonderwall on the guitar)
• Sleep mask
• Suitcase
• Mini tool kit
• Mini vacuum cleaner
• Yoga mat

Feature image В© Erol Ahmed via Unsplash

Follow Brenda on Twitter @brendaisarebel
Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter  [/full_width]