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Check out this comprehensive checklist of what to take to uni—including paperwork, electronics, stationery, clothes, and household supplies.
7 min read
Preparing to go to university is stressful enough without having to deliberate about what to take with you. And with only a limited amount of space, you likely can’t bring everything you own. Besides, half the fun of going to college is getting a fresh start!
That said, there are some essentials that should be on every student’s list. From the lecture theater to your dorm room, the admin office and beyond—as a new student, you’ll need easy access to things like important paperwork, electronics, clothing, kitchen utensils, bedroom items, and study essentials.
Thankfully, help is here. We’ve put together a definitive checklist on what to take to university—the must-haves, the nice-to-haves, and a few must-avoids. Read on, get your bags ready, and start packing. Our moving calculator can also help you to better calculate your moving costs.
When trying to pack for the next chapter in your life, the list of potential items may seem overwhelming at first. To simplify things, each section in this “What to take to uni” checklist is divided into the essentials—the “must-haves”—and the non-essentials —“the nice-to-haves”. This way, you’ll know what to put in your suitcase first, and what you can add on top if you still have room to spare.
Paperwork comes in at the top of the list. While you can likely buy many of the everyday items in this guide upon arrival, your local store isn’t going to have an aisle for new passports or lecture timetables. Tip: Keep your bank cards and driver’s license on your person and everything else in a folder out of sight in your room.
You might think the one item you need above all is your laptop. However, studies show that taking your laptop or tablet to class can actually prevent you from learning. When taking notes on a laptop, your brain doesn’t have enough time to process the information as you type, and you may end up falling behind. Instead, we recommend taking a good old pen and pad of paper and leaving everything else in your room for after class. Oh, and don’t forget to put your phone on silent!
Knowing what to take to uni lectures has two benefits—it leaves you prepared for any in-class eventuality in your first few weeks at college, and means you can focus fully on what your professors are saying. It doesn’t matter whether you’re attending the lecture in person or dialing in online—having what you need to hand can do wonders for your concentration.
Note: These are the basics. If you’re studying mathematics, graphic design, etc., the list of must-haves will be more expansive.
Here, moderation is the key. Sure, it might be nice to have a full set of kitchenware, but don’t forget that this makes you solely responsible for it—and items like saucepans and Tupperware have a habit of going missing at college. A better idea is to share the cost with a few other students once you arrive. This keeps the costs down and means people are more likely to look after things if they’ve paid for them. And if you do want to take all your own kitchen utensils, be sure to mark them so you can prove they belong to you.
When it comes to clothes, everybody has their own preferences, so this section offers some general recommendations. When thinking about what to take to uni, just be sure to pack for all seasons and to wear what makes you feel comfortable.
Every coin has its flip side, and this guide wouldn’t be complete without listing a few must-avoids when deciding on what to take to uni. There are exceptions to the rule, of course, so use your best judgement (who knows—perhaps you do need to lug a microwave all the way to college).
When you bank with N26, one thing you won’t have to bring with you is any banking paperwork. That’s because N26 offers a paperless banking experience that is streamlined, smart, and digital. Take control of your funds with our budgeting feature, receive payment push notifications, split bills hassle-free, and more. We can even help out with insurance for electronics. See what N26 can do for you to make your time at university as rewarding as possible.
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