Going to university is an exciting time, but it can also be expensive. We hope our Ultimate Packing Guide will help you decide what you need to buy.
We've split our packing lists into different sections below. Print out our handy PDF or alternatively, copy the content into a notes app and share it with your family for an easy way to keep track of what you've bought and what you still need to buy.
Ultimate Packing Guide
Don't forget
- ID
- Passport photos
- Stationery
In the kitchen
There are plenty of food outlets on campus and in Uxbridge, but you can make your money go a little further by cooking most of your meals. Here’s a list of our essential items to help you eat well and keep your kitchen clean:
- A frying pan
- Saucepans
- A cooking pot (with lid)
- An oven safe dish, e.g. Pyrex
- Baking trays
- Measuring spoons
- A cheese slicer to make the “perfect cheese on toast”
- A rubber spatula
- A can opener (or just look out for cans with pull tabs!)
- A colander
- A potato peeler
- A garlic press
- Scissors (good for cutting up pizza)
- Sharp knives
- Crockery (dinner plates, side plates and bowls)
- Oven gloves
- Utensils
- Chopping board
- Salt and pepper
- Cutlery (knives, forks, dessert spoons, teaspoons and a serving spoon)
- A grater
- Mugs (bring a couple so you can offer a new friend a drink!)
- Glasses (pint and/or small)
- Washing up liquid
- Cleaning materials
- Tea towels (wash them first so they dry better)
- Bag clips
- Sandwich bags
- Foil
- Cling film
- Oil or spray oil
- Food storage containers
- Silicone lids
- A marker for writing on common items, such as milk
If you’re a keen baker, you may wish to add a few extras, such as kitchen scales, muffin tins and a cake tin. The smell of baking is a great way to lure your new flatmates out of their rooms.
In the bedroom
If you’re staying in halls, you may have bedding included. We provide good quality items for students in Brunel halls. However, many new students opt to bring their own, especially pillows. If you decide to bring your own duvet, we recommend bringing a double one, so you feel cosier.
Clothing
When you pack your favourite clothes, don’t forget the following!
- Nightwear (especially if you’re prone to sleepwalking!)
- Dressing gown (very useful if there’s a late-night fire alarm)
- Athletics kit (we have great facilities on site)
- Swimming kit
- Plenty of socks and underwear, so you don’t have to visit the laundrette so often
- A coat / waterproof for when it gets chilly
- Coat hangers
- A laundry hamper
- Fancy dress for Student Union events
- A big, strong bag to get your washing to / from the laundrette
Home comforts
We love seeing how students personalise their rooms in halls. Here are some ideas from our current students to help inspire you:
- Picture frames
- Photos of friends / family
- Cushions
- A bright rug
- Battery powered fairy lights
- Posters
- Command strips for picture frames / posters (no nails in walls!)
- Desk lamp
- Desk mirror
- Storage baskets
- Alarm clock
- Water bottle
- Plants (real or fake)
- Speakers
- Favourite books
- Card games / board games
- Ear plugs
- Blankets
Other suggestions from students include a guitar, favourite homemade foods for the freezer and pickles!
Bathroom
If you have a shared bathroom, you’ll need:
- Towel(s) (again, wash them a few times first)
- Slippers, sliders or Crocs
- Toothbrush holder for your room
- Toiletries
If you have your own bathroom, you may also need:
Easily forgotten items
It’s easy to forget everyday items when packing. Here are some of the items students often forget:
- Extension lead with USB sockets (this must meet UK standards)
- Drawing pins (if you have a noticeboard in your room)
- Medicines and plasters
- Favourite sauces and condiments (apparently hot sauce hides a multitude of cooking sins)
- Chargers for phones, laptops, watches and toothbrushes
- Laptop
- Passwords for streaming sites (if you’re bringing a new device)
- SIM card removal tool
- Carrier bags and bin bags
- Hairdryer, straighteners and curlers
- Shaver / adapter or razors
- Headphones or earbuds
- Bungee cords (useful if you’re bringing a trolley which requires vertical stacking)
- A personal alarm (our campus is staffed by Security 24/7 but it's a good idea to get used to carrying an alarm if you’re out late at night, especially further afield)
- A TV licence, if you’re bringing a TV
- Extra insurance if you're bringing expensive items (find out how to upgrade your basic insurance cover)
If you do happen to forget anything, don't worry. There are plenty of shops just a short walk away in Uxbridge town centre such as Primark, Argos and Boots. We've also got Amazon drop boxes on campus - remember students get Amazon Prime for half price.
Things to leave at home!
And lastly, here’s a short list of the items you don't need!
- Clothes airers (we don’t want your room to develop a damp problem)
- Extension leads and other electrical items that don’t meet British Standards
- Blu-Tack
- An air fryer. You can bring one, but it will need to live in the kitchen if you’re in halls. If all your flatmates bring one, you'll soon run out of space. You may find it better to wait and ask if your flatmates want to club together and share one.
- Washing detergent / conditioner: this is automatically added during the cycle when you use the on-campus laundry facilities.
If you want to minimise the amount of time spent shopping, or if you’re flying in to study with us, we have partnered with UniKitOut to offer a 10% discount (using code BRUNEL10) on many essential items. These will be delivered to campus for you to collect.
Making moving in day easier
You can make moving in day easier by packing as much as you can into large cardboard boxes or lidded plastic tubs. You could also bring a collapsible trolley with you to reduce the number of journeys you have to make. Alternatively, you could bring some items pre-packed in plastic storage drawers, but make sure they’re sturdy enough to cope with being moved.
If you plan to travel during the year, we recommend packing some of your clothes into a suitcase or holdall, so you have the right gear to jump on a plane or train when the time comes! A holdall is also useful when you need to make a trip to the laundry. If you’re going to take your washing home during the term, you might want to bring a big suitcase!
If you want to bring your favourite chilled foods with you, you should pop some ice blocks in the freezer a few days before you leave home. You can also use a homemade frozen meal as an ice block - this means you’ll also have something for dinner on your first night!
Coming to Brunel in September?
We're really excited to welcome you to the community! We want to make your first steps here as easy as possible. Take a look at our Welcome pages to find out what's happening on campus, as well as practical information to guide you on what you need to know or do before you get here.
Let's get you uni ready