Packing for university – Tips you might not have heard before

When it comes to packing to return to or move to your new university accommodation, there is a lot of advice out there. But even with those lists, trying to pack up everything you’ll need for the next year can be overwhelming! In this article, we break down some tips you may not have come across before, to make your packing a lot easier and a lot less stressful!

Documents and ID:

One big thing that is often missing from lists of what to remember for university is the documents and pieces of ID you may need to bring with you. This can include any letters or documents from the uni; medical letters or prescriptions; ID such as a passport or driving license, and accommodation documents. Many student rentals (particularly off campus homes) want to see ID like passports or proof of study from the uni to show you have the right to rent, and if you start working while you study they will need your National Insurance number, so having these documents close to hand will save you a lot of hassle when it comes to settling into the city. Keeping a document folder or box somewhere safe with these pieces all together can make things a lot easier for you.

Work Through Each Room Separately:

Most of us will have three rooms to think about while packing – your bedroom, the kitchen, and the bathroom. Breaking down the packing into each room, can make thinking of what you will need feel a lot less daunting, and makes it harder for you to forget anything important.

Looking at pictures of your room, reading through an inventory of what is already in your digs or talking to your flatmates about what they are bringing can also help you with this. Having a list of what you don’t need can make it easier to figure out what you will need, and looking at your space will help you think more effectively about what will work for you, in your room.

Study and Storage:

Bringing some storage boxes or storage sets that fit well into your space, or packing with the available space and storage spaces built into your room in mind, will help to keep your room tidy without you needing to think too much about it while you’re trying to settle back in or focus on study. Particularly given that our learning is going to be more heavily online this year, making sure you have enough room to work effectively is even more important.

What you will want to bring for studying will depend on how you learn best and your course materials, but since much of our study will be outside of traditional classes this year, what you will want to pack may change. When packing for uni this year, take into account a lot of your classes will be online but also don’t forget things like masks for when you are on campus, in classes, in the library or in shops. Remember: try and pack what you would want, in order to create a good study space for yourself.

We hope these tips help you out with your uni packing this year. Remember that, overall, making your space as comfortable as possible and feel like your own is super important, so pack with yourself in mind. Also, try to think realistically about what you will actually use and need, do you really plan on using all those fancy kitchen supplies? How many clothes can you actually fit in your wardrobe? Overloading yourself can get just as annoying as packing too little.

Please note: This content was created prior to Coronavirus, and some things might be different due to current laws and restrictions. Please refer to Government advice and the University of Lincoln for the latest information.