When faced with an overflowing suitcase and bags full of pots and pans, it’s difficult to think you’ll have forgotten something. But, speaking from experience, you’ll more than likely have left your laptop charger at home and only packed three pairs of pants for the term. So take some time to look over our checklist to make sure you have everything you could possibly need to make settling into university life that little bit easier. Call us thorough, but you wouldn’t want to forget your toothpaste and neon tutu at a time like this, would you?
Documents
- Passport or driving licence
- Additional passport photos
- National Insurance Number
- NHS number
- Bank account details including a cheque book (if you have one) and paying-in book
- Student discount card (visit the website for your very own Lancaster Purple Card)
- University registration and other university documents
- University finance paperwork
- Copies of insurance documents
- TV license – if you plan on getting into This Morning. To get one, visit TV Licensing website
- Student Railcard/bus pass
Academic
- Academic diary
- Any relevant old text books and notes
- Calculator
Stationery
- Lined paper
- Printing paper
- Pens, pencils, rubber, ruler, pencil sharpener and highlighter
- Scissors
- Sellotape
- Blu-tack or white-tack
- Stapler
- Hole puncher
- Post-it notes and flag markers
- Pins for sticking things into cork boards
- A4 ring binders and lever-arch folder
Electricals
- Desktop/laptop computer and power adapter
- Printer, or alternatively the Library provides great printing facilities for a small fee
- Alarm clock
- Memory stick
- Mobile phone and charger
- Extension lead
- Three-pin plug adapter (if you are an international student)
- Batteries
- Camera
- Games consoles
- Portable music player (MP3 player or iPod) and connectable speakers
- Hair dryer
- Hair straighteners/curling irons
For your room
- Duvet and pillows
- Duvet cover, pillow cases, sheets and blankets
- Cushions (to add a bit of style)
- Desk lamp
- Poster and wall decorations (keep in mind that there’s a large poster sale in Freshers’ Week to help you decorate in style)
- Photos of friends and family for your pin board
- Coat hangers
- Laundry basket
- Door stop
- Plants and flowers (I’d probably opt for artificial, us students can barely look after ourselves, let alone keep a lily alive)
For your kitchen
- Plates × 2
- Bowls × 2
- Glasses × 4
- Mugs × 2
- Forks, knifes, spoons × 4
- Chopsticks
- Beer, wine and shot glasses
- Frying pan
- 1 small saucepan and 1 large saucepan with lids
- Small casserole dish
- Flat baking tray
- Chopping board
- Chopping knifes
- Bread knife
- Cork screw and bottle opener
- Tin opener
- Wooden spoon
- Microwaveable bowl
- Measuring jug
- Cheese Grater
- Spatula
- Sieve
- Tea towels
- Oven gloves
- Tin foil
- Cling film
- Sandwich bags
- Easy-to-follow recipe book (we can eat more than toast)
- Washing-up stuff e.g. washing-up liquid, dish cloths, scrubbing brush and washing-up gloves
NB: all accommodation at Lancaster University provides a toaster and a kettle.
For your bathroom
- Bath and hand towels (possibly a flannel)
- Bath mat
- Toilet roll
- Hand wash
Healthcare
- Basic first aid kit — plasters, paracetamol, antiseptic wipes
- Condoms/contraceptive pills
- Pro Plus
- Flu remedies
- Anti allergy pills
- Resolve or other hangover cures
Housekeeping
- Clothes horse (save money on a dryer by drying your clothes in your room)
- Washing powder/liquid/tablets
- Duster
- Air freshener
- Toilet cleaning products (only if you have an en-suite, as the cleaning of these rooms is left up to you)
Leisure
- Board games
- Pack of cards
- Ball — rugby, football, frisbee etc
- CDs, DVDs and books
Miscellaneous
- Extra storage boxes
- Large suitcase (to put things in when going home for the weekend)
- A spare lightbulb
- Torch
- Loose change (for washing and vending machines)
- Earplugs
- Small sewing kit and safety pins
- Matches or lighter
- Jewellery
- Umbrella
- Watch
- Bicycle (an inexpensive way of getting around, but make sure you bring a lock)
For the supermarket sweep; a list of things that you’ll definitely need and will more than likely forget.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Floss
- Mouthwash
- Shower gel
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Dry shampoo (for those morning you snooze your alarm one too many times and are running late)
- Nail clippers and file
- Deodorant
- Perfume
- Body spray
- Hair gel/wax
- Hair spray
- Hairbrush
- Comb
- Razor
- Shaving cream/gel
- Lip balm
- Moisturiser
- Hair brush/comb
- Hair accessories (bobbles, clips, hair bands, etc)
- Make-up and make-up remover
- Nail varnish and nail varnish remover
- Cotton buds and wool
Basic kitchen cupboard essentials
- Tea
- Coffee
- Sugar
- Milk
- Eggs
- Butter/margarine
- Cooking oil
- Seasonings, such as salt and pepper
- Pasta and rice
- Bread
- Tins
- Packet food
- A selection of meat
- Alcohol
If you find your purse strings shaking at the thought of all this expense why not create a university wish list at UniWishList.com, it’s an ideal way for your family and friends to wave you on your way by helping to contribute that much needed vegetable peeler. Also, don’t worry if you misplace your wooden spoons when packing as the shops on campus and in town are a perfect place to restock your cupboards.
So as painful as packing may sound, make the most of getting ready for university life. You’re heading for independence now and can finally make that room as messy as you’d like!
