What to take to university – a checklist of uni must-haves

For most upcoming university students, deciding what essentials to bring to their student accommodation in Liverpool can be stressful – after all, moving away from home for the first time is a huge deal!

But not to fear – our team have produced an easy-to-follow checklist full of uni must-haves, which you can read below!

1. Bedroom essentials

We recommend that individuals bring the following to ensure their student rooms are ready to be lived in:

• Duvet, pillows, and bed sheets – you’ll need these if you’re going to sleep comfortably!
• Storage boxes or vacuum bags – organising your belongings will make your life easier and help you manage space in your student room!
• A lamp and desk fan – although most private student accommodations in Liverpool provide desk lamps, you may prefer to bring your own bedside lamp that emits a warmer, yellow glow.
• Drawing pins or mini magnets – to pin up important notices, photos, or vouchers on your cork or magnetic notice board.
• Laundry bag – a washing bag with handles is great for storing dirty clothes and carrying your laundry to and from the on-site laundry room.
• Coat hangers – hang your clean washing away neatly with coat hangers – we recommend sturdy plastic or wooden ones, as they’re less likely to snap and pluck your clothing.
• Electricals – A TV, game console, and a speaker (check with your accommodation provider whether your room is already equipped with a TV – if it’s anything like our student properties, it will be!).
• Headphones or earphones – perfect for the uni commute, workouts, or late-night Spotify sessions.
• Hair dryer and stylers – to ensure you look your best for freshers!
• Extension leads – essential for the modern student.
• Phone chargers – as if you’d forget!
• Batteries – you never know when these could come in handy!
• Wall decor, photographs, and keepsakes – spruce up your room and make it your own with ornaments, framed photos, and posters, which can be pinned onto your pinboard.

2. En-suite/bathroom checklist

Bring these bathroom essentials for a smooth move-in:

• Bath towels – make sure you bring a few of these so you can alternate, and don’t forget hand towels and a flannel, too.
• Hairbrush and comb – that hair won’t style itself!
• Tweezers, razors, and nail clippers – for easy personal grooming.
• A mini first-aid kit – it’s always a good idea to keep plasters, bandages, and antiseptic wipes in your bathroom, just in case.
• Medication – this goes without saying!

The following hygiene products are also needed, but you can easily grab each from your local shop if you happen to forget:

• Soap
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel
• Toilet rolls
• Baby wipes
• Skincare

3. Kitchen must-haves

Unless you’ve booked a studio apartment, you should probably speak with your new flatmates before investing in a full kitchen fit-out.

We recommend bringing the bare essentials to start with, and then pooling together with friends to save kitchen storage space. Here’s a list of everything you’ll need (the necessities for your first night/morning have an * next to them):

• Pans and baking trays – between you and your flatmates, you should have a few saucepans and frying pans, as well as some baking trays.
• Cooking utensils – A tin opener, potato peeler, spatula, wooden spoons, pizza cutter, and a potato masher should be enough for the average student.
• Chopping board – to keep your kitchen worktops scratch-free.
• Plates, bowls, and cutlery* – even if you plan on living off takeaways and ready meals all year, you’ll still need these essentials.
• Glasses and mugs* – you can never have too many mugs, right?
• A measuring jug – from baking and cooking to watering your window ledge succulents, a measuring jug is a useful kitchen cupboard must.
• Tea towels – for quickly wiping up spillages.
• Oven gloves* – protect yourself from burns the safe way and not just with a tea towel!
• Bin bags* – bin bags will be needed every day in your student accommodation.
• Washing up liquid and sponges* – endear yourself to your flatmates by maintaining a clean and hygienic kitchen.
• Tupperware – always keep some Tupperware handy to save any leftovers for tomorrow’s dinner – trust us, it’ll save you plenty of money and time!
• Tin foil and cling film – these kitchen staples are excellent for various purposes, from preserving food to protecting your baking trays from grease.

4. Study necessities

Whether you’re studying at The University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, or Liverpool Hope University, you’ll need study essentials to help you excel at student life, such as:

• Stationary:

• Pens, pencils, and highlighters
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Rubber
• Stapler and staples
• Paper clips
• Post-it notes
• Any course-specific stationery

• Diaries – the old-school way of keeping track of key deadlines and special events.
• Notebooks and exercise pads – for all your revision and note-taking needs!
• Files – keep your papers in order and stop them from being misplaced.
• A laptop and charger – laptops or Macs have become a uni staple.
• USB memory stick – you’ll need this, given the numerous digital files you’ll have to store and back up.
• Curriculum textbooks – you’ll most likely be given a reading list when you start your course!

5. Important documents you should bring

With the excitement of moving in and kitting out your new digs, it can be easy to forget the small yet crucial things. So, remember to bring:

• ID – passport and/or a driving licence.
• Debit/credit cards – you can’t always rely on paying with your phone!
• Paper documents – including student finance documents and accommodation files.
• Medical details, prescriptions, and exemption cards – your new local GP or pharmacist may require these.

6. Miscellaneous items

The following list consists of various items that will benefit you at uni that don’t quite fit into the above categories:

• Backpacks and sports bags – you’ll need to remember a bag for your uni books and another one if you plan on joining a sports society or using the gym regularly.
• Hot water bottle – to help you stay cosy and snuggly during those cold winter nights, or ease a stomach ache.
• Umbrella – the north-west is synonymous with rain, so be sure to keep an umbrella handy!
• Card deck – the drinking game possibilities are endless with a simple pack of cards!
• Cash – you never know when you might need it!

Are there any items I shouldn’t bring?

There are a few items that you shouldn’t bring to your Liverpool student accommodation for practical and safety reasons, such as:

• Candles
• Oil burners
• Tea lights
• Oil heaters
• Fairy lights
• Deep fat fryers
• Chip pans
• Laser pens
• Large items of furniture or equipment – these will already be provided at your student accommodation in Liverpool!

Our checklist features everything that will ensure students live comfortably in their Liverpool student housing. However, you may want to bring some personal keepsakes as well that are unique and special to you, such as a childhood teddy to make your room feel homely!

Speak to the specialists in student accommodation Liverpool

Would you like some advice when selecting the right private student accommodation in Liverpool for your needs? Maybe you’ve already booked a room with us and could benefit from more information regarding your move-in.

We have several student properties in Liverpool, including student apartments and student houses located across Liverpool city centre and the vibrant student area of Kensington.

To book some of the best student accommodation around, or to speak with an expert, call us on 0151 318 4743 or send us a message at enquiries@carolettings.com.