Blog: The ultimate packing checklist for university students 

Written by Ellen Campbell

Feeling overwhelmed about the number of things you need to pack for University? You’ve come to the right place!  

I’m Ellen, one of your Student Content Shapers, and I’ve just finished my first undergraduate year studying a BA in English Literature with Digital Media Communications here at UoB.

Back in September, I was stressed and confused about what to bring with me to my student accommodation in Chamberlain. However, after countless hours in Ikea and plenty of texts to my mum about the things I’d forgotten, I feel qualified to provide all the newcomers with a few tips and tricks to make your transition to University as smooth as possible.  

Firstly, I’d advise all students to check out the inventory of their student accommodation. This provides you with everything that’s included in your flat and allows you to see what you’ll need to bring with you. For instance, you’ll need to bring cutlery, crockery, and saucepans but a bin, hoover and mop may be provided.  

To begin with, here are some items I’d recommend for the kitchen:  

• Cutlery – make sure this is colourful or patterned, as everyone will have plain silver and you’ll end up with half the amount you started with...  

• Plates and bowls – I’d recommend two of each and again I wouldn’t suggest getting plain white  

• Mugs – at least two  

• Reusable/travel mug – this’ll save you a ton of money on drinks at the University café outlets  

• Lunchbox – it’s super cost effective to pack your own lunch rather than buying lunch on campus  

• Reusable plastic cups – plastic is preferable over glass (take it from the experience of a clumsy person who smashed hers!) 

• A sharp knife  

• Scissors  

• Utensils e.g. wooden spoon, whisk and spatula  

• Grater  

• Tin opener 

• Bottle opener 

• Frying pan  

• Saucepan  

• Colander – I’d recommend a colander over a sieve as they’re a lot easier to clean! 

• Baking tray – one with holes in the bottom is great, as your food will be cooked evenly 

• Ice cube tray – a malleable one where the ice pops out easily is ideal 

• Chopping board – Ikea do a great set of three mini chopping boards, all in different colours for different food groups  

• Measuring jug  

• ‘DishMatic’ sponge and washing up liquid – when buying washing up liquid, it’s a great idea to rotate between your flatmates  

• Tupperware and freezer bags – having these items encourages you to meal prep, and ensures you always have something in the freezer for those nights you want something simple  

• Tinfoil and baking paper  

• Tea towels – I’d suggest having a five or six as they can get ruined easily  

• Kettle and toaster – these are not provided, however I’d strongly advise you to wait and purchase them with your flatmates, as you can split the cost. 

Items to pack for your bedroom: 

• Clothing and shoes – when it comes to these items, I wouldn’t bring everything from home as realistically you won’t wear it all; just bring things you know you’ll get a lot of use out of  

• Duvet – single or double dependant on your bed size, this can be checked in the inventory mentioned above  

• Duvet covers – I’d suggest having two  

• Pillows  

• Mattress topper – these make a world of difference; trust me you won’t regret it!   

• Blanket  

• Hot water bottle – this’ll come in super handy in the colder months  

• Dressing gown – I genuinely couldn’t live at university without mine 

• Laundry basket – don’t forget detergent too 

• Clothing airer – it can be cheaper to dry your own clothes rather than use the tumble dryers, however it’s a personal preference  

• Clothing storage – Ikea have some great dividers and organisers for your wardrobe and drawers  

• Shoe rack  

• Hangers – you can never have enough of these in my opinion, it’s far more space efficient to hang things rather than fold them  

• Decorations – I’d highly recommend having lots of home memorabilia, posters and plants to make your room cosier and more personal  

• Mirror  

• Desk lamp  

• Desk storage – e.g. magazine files or folders  

• Under the bed storage – homeware stores have some great space saving options  

• Extension lead.  

Items needed for the bathroom:  

• Toothbrush and toothpaste – as well as a holder for these!  

• Hand soap 

• Body care items – e.g. shampoo, conditioner, and body wash  

• Shower caddy – a hamper or plastic caddy that can fit all your products is essential if you’re in shared bathroom accommodation  

• Bathmat  

• Towels – at least two towels are ideal, especially if you have friends visit 

• Face cloths 

• Cotton pads and cotton buds – you can now get reusable or eco-friendly versions 

• Small bin  

• Toilet roll – bring as much of this as possible, as its cheaper to bulk buy than having to purchase every couple of months  

• Cleaning products – e.g. toilet freshener, squeegee, and anti-bacterial wipes  

• Health products – e.g. paracetamol and plasters.   

Finally, I have a few of my own personal recommendations that I believe are essential when packing for university:  

• Kitchen/ bathroom shoes – the floors of the flat can often get messy, and you don’t want to be walking around without something on your feet, so having something you can easily slip on is definitely needed  

• Speaker – this is great for when you have people over, or just fancy some background noise when cooking in the flat  

• Game of some sort – playing cards or Uno are perfect, and such a great icebreaker for the first couple of nights  

• Command hooks – this was something I forgot to bring with me, and I really regret it. I ended up throwing my coats and bags at the bottom of my wardrobe, or on the back of my chair, and it cluttered my space so much. Just make sure they’re easily removable, and that they won’t leave a mark! 

When it comes to packing, I’d recommend dividing things into boxes or bags depending on the room its going in, for example, a box with all your kitchen stuff. This makes it easier to unpack as everything is in one place.  

Finally, I’d suggest packing up the car the night before. The day you move to university is often emotional enough and having to worry if you’ve forgotten something is an unnecessary stress. By doing this, you can focus on saying your goodbyes and making the most of the journey ahead. 

Good luck with packing! If you've found this helpful or if you have any other recommendations, why not share it with us through the UniBirmingham socials? You can also find out more information and advice on the Welcome website.