You’ve accepted your offer, sorted out your visa and jumped through all the various paperwork hoops. Now nothing stands between you and your university adventure – you’re finally on your way! For a lot of you, this will be your first time living away from home and all the comfort and familiarity that symbolises.
No doubt there are many things running through your mind at this point. You’re wondering what your course will be like, whether you’ll be successful academically, and who your first friend will be. But what you really need to be thinking about is what you’re going to pack. It may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things but trust us, arriving on day one with everything you need will set you up perfectly for a great term.
Don’t leave your packing till the last minute. Avoid disorganised panic by using our helpful checklist as a guide.
The really important stuff
For enrolment, registering with a GP and other official matters, you will need valid identification and supporting documents. Make sure you have:
- Passport (for those travelling from overseas make sure your passport is not due to expire while you are in the UK)
- Driving licence
- Health insurance papers
- Vaccination history
- University offer letter
- Spare passport photos
- Accommodation documentation
- Student loan, finance and banking documents
Always have digital and paper copies of any of these documents – just in case anything gets lost in transit.
Useful stationery
Want to take great notes and ace every class? Good stationery is the sidekick of a good student. Make a great start and stock up on some essentials before your first day.
- USB memory stick
- Pinboard (for housing all your study plans and term calendars in your room)
- A4 folders
- A4 notebooks
- Pens, pencils
- Highlighters
- Day planner
Home sweet home
Sometimes in all the excitement it’s easy to forget that you’re moving to a new place to live – as well as study. While there are limits to the amount of stuff you can bring with you, it’s important to try and make your space as comfortable and homely as possible. This is where you’ll be sleeping, studying, and eating that left-over pizza. Your room needs to feel like you. Here are some things you may want to bring:
- Throws and blankets
- Photos of family and friends, posters and pictures
- Toastie maker
- Fairy lights
- Your favourite DVDs and books
- Towels and a bath mat for the bathroom
Electricals
This is the Cyber Age and electrical appliances really do make life run smoother. So, don’t forget any of yours.
- Laptop and all its cables
- Mobile phone
- Headphones
- Extension cable (for those hard-to-reach plug sockets around your room)
- Device chargers
- Hair dryer, shaver
Remember, you can buy most things you’ll need once you get here, or even have items sent to you, so there’s no need to over pack!
We hope our checklist helps you prepare for your move and we look forward to welcoming you soon!