Your Uni Packing Checklist 2024
The moment has come for the start of your university journey! That might mean it’s time to move... 👜
You may be joining us in Bristol for the very first time, you might be moving from uni halls to private accommodation, or you could be moving into a different house. Wherever you’re going, one thing is for certain – you’ve got to pack!
Packing can seem like an impossible task. After all, you're moving all of your things from one place to another including everything you need to study, cook, and live.
To save you some of the work, we've created this checklist for you to follow when you're getting ready for university! All you need to do is browse through this list – it should sum up everything you need to start your first term at Bristol successfully!
💥TOP TIP: STUDENT DISCOUNTS!💥
You might be buying some of the items on this page if you don't already have them, so make sure to see if you can get a student discount with your TOTUM card! What's a TOTUM card? Well, it's a free student discount membership that gets you access to loads of discounts and offers. From discounts on clothing and living essentials to laptops and phones – you can find out all about it here.
Your New Room
When you first take a look at your new room, it may seem a little bare. But don’t worry, decorating your room is all part of the fun! ✨ You’ll be able to make it your own and feel more at home in no time. The first step is to make sure you have some of these items:
- Bedding – from a duvet to duvet covers, and pillows to sheets, you’ll need to remember some bedding! Our advice would be to bring two sets of bedding (sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases) so that you can wash one and use one🛌
- Mattress Topper – an underestimated item that can help add that finishing touch to your new bed!
- Decorations – whether it be posters, pictures, fairy lights, art, cushions, or cuddly toys – bring whatever you like to decorate your new space! Home comforts will help personalize your room and make the move even more comfortable. Have you checked out our Welcome events programme to see what craft-making sessions we have on offer?
- Hangers – you won't want a bundle of clothes to ruin the hard work you've put into decorating your new room! Remember to bring some hangers so you can tidy them away.👕
- Doorstop – something that you may not expect to find on this list, but is a great recommendation when it comes to meeting your new flatmates! Use a doorstop to leave your bedroom door open on the first day, that way you'll meet your neighbours.
- First aid kit – it's better to be safe than sorry!🩺
- Laundry basket – when you're living in halls you won't necessarily have a washing machine right next to your toom, so a laundry basket will make the journey from the washing machines back to your room way easier.
Kitchen Bits
Think about investing in the following kitchen bits so that you can keep cooking stress-free, whilst not having to limit yourself in the kitchen:
- Crockery – two plates, two bowls, and a mug or two.
- Cutlery – bring around two sets of knives, forks, and spoons. You’ll find some will go walkabout as the year goes on, and you may need backup…🍽
- Utensils – cheese grater, a sharp knife, spatula, colander, chopping board, bottle opener, and tin opener.
- Tupperware – handy for storing leftovers from bulk cooking which will save you a lot of money!🍝
- General Equipment – Frying pan, saucepan, and baking tray. You’ll find you’ll rarely need more kitchen equipment than these.
- A tea towel or two!
- Glasses – a few glasses should be more than enough. It’s nice to have a wine glass or two, but they don’t tend to survive – so make sure to bring a tumbler or two!
- Some washing up stuff – a sponge and washing up liquid 🧼
So, where can you buy these bedroom and kitchen essentials?
There are many shops spread around Bristol where you will be able to locate must-have kitchen and bedroom items. Here are some of our recommendations:
- Tesco Extra (Eastgate Road, Eastville, BS5 6XU)
- IKEA Bristol (Eastgate Road, Eastville, BS5 6 XX)
- Asda Living (Eastgate Retail Park, BS5 6XX)
- Poundland (The Horsefair, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3JU)
- B&M Home Store (Channons Hill Retail Park, Bristol BS16 2EA)
- Sainsbury’s (Clifton Down Shopping Centre, Whiteladies Road, BS8 2NN)
- You can shop for all your essentials at Dunelm, and get discounts on your TOTUM card! (Bath Road, Tramway Retail Park, Bristol BS4 3DS)
In the last academic year, we held our Donate Your Plate campaign – which involved students donating plates and other kitchen essentials that they no longer needed. During Welcome, we’ll be holding Take A Plate event, so you can pop by and take something some of these kitchen items home – for ✨ free✨
Study Essentials
Of course, one of the most important sections of your uni checklist✍You can keep on track of your studies from the get-go, and make your new workload as easy as possible with some of the following essentials:
- A diary – don't let time slip away from you in your busy and exciting first term! Bringing and keeping a diary is a good way of keeping track of everything and understanding what’s going on and when. You can even just make notes to yourself of which events you’d like to go to when your lectures are and so much more.
- Stationary – pens, paper, pencils, and some highlighters. These will keep you going for your first few weeks. As the term goes on, you’ll be able to work out what study methods work for you, you might even want to ditch the hand-written method for all online if that suits you 📄
- Books and/or folders – these will be handy to keep your notes from each module safe.
- Backpack – the walk to campus is a good thing to consider when you're packing. A backpack will make your travels far easier, especially when you’re trying to juggle your books and laptop!
- Laptop – this will be your workstation and your portable TV. Remember to buy a TV license in order to watch your favourite shows!📺
- A long ethernet cable – a lifesaver when you're writing your essay the night before it's due and the internet stops working...
Clothes
You might find this the hardest part... What will you wear at uni? Our tip is to remember that when you're waking up for a 9 am lecture, you'll be wanting something comfy! So, as well as your favourite items to wear that you're planning to go out in, you might want to remember some of these:
- Trainers – practical for all occasions.
- A raincoat or umbrella – this is Britain, it will rain.
- Pyjamas, slippers, and a onesie – you’ll want to be comfy when you’re snuggled up on a night-in.
- Sportswear – your first term is a time for trying new things, bring your sports gear and try some of the great sports clubs available at Bristol.
So, where can you buy these clothing essentials?
If you're looking for clothes, Bristol has got them! From vintage and charity shops to high-street chains - there is so much variety in this city. Here are some of our recommendations:
- Remember to take a look at what TOTUM has on offer, you'll be surprised at where you can use this card.
- Cabot Circus – an excellent shopping destination in the centre of Bristol, with over 120 high-street and designer brands! (Glass House, Bristol BS1 3BX)
- Check out Park Street, Whiteladies Road, and Gloucester Road for a huge array of charity and vintage shops.
Welcome Tickets
OK, we're cheating a little – you don't need to pack these – you can get them online! But they're an essential part of making your first week at uni the best it can be! View the full Welcome 2024 Programme to choose your events. You can also use our helpful How to Buy Tickets guide 🎫.
