Your Go-To Student Move In Checklist

Here's everything you need when moving into your next student home 👇

Where has the year gone?! With a new term on the horizon, it won’t be long before you’re packing up and moving into your new student home.

Whether you’re going from student halls to private accommodation, or this is your first year at uni, we've got you covered. We’ve put together a complete move in checklist to help you get settled into your new pad.

👨‍🍳 The Kitchen 

If there’s one tip we can give that covers the entire student move in checklist, it’s this: be minimalist. This tip is especially true of kitchen utensils. You don’t need a thousand forks, or 5 different types of bowls. Although the “lazy student” is a stereotype and certainly won’t apply to everyone, we know from experience that the more crockery you bring, the higher the pile of dirty dishes. So, let’s stick to the essentials.

✅ Plates and bowls

Again, don’t go overboard here. A few big plates, small plates and a couple of bowls for soup and cereal will suffice.

✅ Pans

Invest in a pot big enough for pasta a good non-stick pan. Plus, washing a non-stick pan is virtually effortless if you rinse it after use.

✅ Cutlery 

The basics will do, but remember to bring a good kitchen knife to make food prep easier.

✅ A toaster (and toastie maker)

When you can’t be bothered to cook and the shop seems like miles away, a toastie maker will be your best friend.

✅ Kettles & microwaves (if needed)

Double check whether your new student home comes with electrical appliances like kettles and microwaves before you go shopping. You might be able to save some cash here!

✅ A few mugs

Your favourite mug plus one or two back up mugs (in case of accidents) will be enough.

✅ Tumblers 

A standard four-pack is fine. If you’re a wine drinker, get some sturdy wine glasses that won’t shatter on impact.

✅ Tea Towels

You never know how much you need a tea towel until you don’t have one! A pack of two will do (for now).

✅ A baking tray and an oven dish

A good oven dish makes winter warmer recipes like pasta bakes possible. The baking tray is essential for everything from frozen chicken to pizza.

Finally, items like clingfilm, tin foil and bin bags are always practical. We recommend buying these in bulk so you won’t have to worry about replenishing your supplies regularly.

🛏 The Bedroom

Moving in to a new home is an opportunity to turn a blank-canvas bedroom into your own personal sanctuary. This is where you’ll relax, unwind, sleep and probably study, so don’t hesitate to add things to the list to make your bedroom as comfortable as possible. When it comes to decoration, the world is your oyster. However, from a practical standpoint, these are essential:

✅ Duvet & pillows

It’s no secret that quality of sleep plays a massive role in your mental health, so don’t hesitate to get some new pillows ahead of the move. When it comes to duvets, we recommend something that isn’t too thick or too lightweight, so that you’ll be warm in winter and cool in the hotter months. 

✅ Bedsheets

Bring two sets so you don’t have to plan in advance when you put one set through the wash. 

✅ Plants 

Unless you’re a self-proclaimed horticulturalist and are prepared to devote time every day towards keeping your plants alive… maybe just go with artificial plants. They still add some greenery to the room and only need to be dusted to look their best all year round. 

✅ Desk fan 

Heatwaves have become a thing in the UK. So, when the sun creeps in, you’ll be grateful to have a desk fan that keeps your bedroom cool and stops you from overheating when you’re studying. 

✅ Alarm clock

Most of us will have smartphones that have alarms on them, but on the off chance you forget to charge your phone, an old trusty alarm clock can save you from missing those early morning lectures.

✅ A laundry basket 

Practical for keeping your dirty laundry in one place and preventing a “flaundry” situation. (Flaundry: noun - when you leave your laundry on the floor so long that dirty clothes find their way back into rotation without going through the wash).

✅ Air freshener or diffuser

This small touch helps to keep your bedroom smelling fresh, no matter the state it’s in. It’s also much safer than using candles, but if you want the “hygge” feel, add some LED tea lights. 

✅ Clothes hangers 

These are essential if you don’t want to end up with the dreaded clothes pile that sits on your desk chair. You can find cheap packs of clothes hangers in pound shops and supermarkets. 

✅ Personal touches 

Posters, calendars and photo collages will all help to make you feel at home in your new bedroom. Freshers fairs usually have posters on sale – just don’t forget to buy some blue tack in advance! 

🛁 The Bathroom 

Ah, the bathroom. From long relaxing baths when exams are over to power showers before class in the morning, the bathroom is a sacred space that should be kept sparkling. Or at the very least, clean and usable. Here are the key bathroom items you’ll need to sustain a good self-care routine:

✅ Towels 

A couple of bath towels, a hand towel and a few face cloths are all you need. If you’re buying new towels, remember to give them a wash before you use them, or you’ll find yourself coated in towel fibres after your first shower. 

✅ Toothpaste & floss 

Toothpaste is an obvious essential and yet easily forgotten when packing for uni. If you can, buy a pack of four so you’ll never have to go without. 

✅ Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel

You might have your own particularly preferences, or you might have communal products for you and your housemates. Either way, it’s good to stock up on these before you go.

✅ Bathmat

Because no one wants wet feet marks throughout the house (but, remember to double check your housemates aren't bringing one too).

✅ Cleaning wipes

Cleaning the bathroom can feel like a massive chore, so it’s helpful to just have a pack of cleaning wipes to hand so you can wipe down sinks and surfaces and keep the place feeling a little fresher.

✅ Toilet roll & toilet brush 

Okay, so you don’t need to go crazy on the loo roll, but several packs will stop you from running out in the first few weeks of term. On the toilet brush front, we recommend a silicone brush as it’s easier to clean.

✅ A first aid kit

Hope for the best, plan for the worst. It’s essential to have medical supplies in the house in case of bumps, bruises, cuts and scratches. 

📝 Studying Essentials 

Our university checklist wouldn’t be complete without the materials you’ll need to make coursework easier. A laptop goes without saying, but you might also find the following to be useful in your studying arsenal:

✅ Notebooks 

Notebooks are a mainstay in the student toolkit as they can be used to organise your notes and pen your ideas. It’s good to get a few of these for different elements of your course.

✅ Folders

Everyone’s different when it comes to organising their coursework, but folders are always a good choice for keeping subjects separated and making your life easier when exam season comes around. Plus, it means less papers piling up on your desk and getting lost. 

✅ Pens and pencils 

An obvious necessity that you can either buy in advance or pick up at your local campus stationary shop. 

✅ A calculator

Even if your course isn’t scientific, a calculator can always come in handy when it comes to keeping on top of your finances. You can buy these really cheap online.

✅ Highlighters 

Some students swear by highlighters. If that sounds like you, don’t forget to stock up on a few different colours to aid with revision. We can almost guarantee one of your housemates will ask to borrow your highlighters – that is, unless you’re planning on being the borrower!

✅ Sticky notes 

Sticky notes can be super useful for exam revision, not to mention little reminders for things like buying more milk or remembering to go to your club’s AGM.

⭐️ Honourable Mentions

If you’ve made it through this checklist, you’re almost ready to get moving into your new student pad. Before you do, here are some extras that you may or may not have already added to your list: 

• Laundry detergent
• Oven gloves
• Fairy liquid
• Cleaning spray 
• Sponges
• Hairdryer
• Batteries
• Bottle openers
• Charge pack for your phone

Congratulations – you’re ready to move home! If you do forget any of the above, most of these items can be found at your local supermarket. 

…But trust us on the toastie maker.