Once the stress of your A-level results is over, it's time to start looking forward to the next stage of your life.
You've found your accommodation and excitement is building, but you may have a lot of unanswered questions, such as “What do I need?” It may be your first time living away from home, where you have to decide everything from your daily meals to your bed sheets.
To make the process less stressful, we've compiled a definitive checklist of all the essentials you'll need when leaving home and heading to college. This includes often forgotten but important items like extension cords and glasses.
Whether you're heading out to the hall or heading into your own home, these products cover all areas, from kitchen utensils to electronics, covering some of the household essentials that give your room personality. Always helpful.
Why not time your online order for it to arrive at your new address and save yourself the hassle of carrying all your luggage across the country?
Laptop: Microsoft Surface Go 3
This lightweight computer can easily be thrown in your bag as you head from the hall to a lecture or seminar. It has a 10.5-inch PixelSense display and up to 11 hours of battery life. There are two cameras on the front and back for video calling and taking photos, 128GB of storage and Windows 11 built-in.
Headphones: Bose SoundLink Wireless Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones
Whether you want to drown out noisy neighbors, listen to music, or immerse yourself in the latest Netflix binge, these sound-canceling headphones from Bose are among the best. It delivers impressively crisp and powerful sound quality no matter the volume, and has wireless connectivity up to 30 feet. It has a battery life of 15 hours and can also answer calls. Best of all, it's extremely comfortable to wear all day.
Ultimate Ears Wonderbooms 2 Wireless Portable Speaker
Small but mighty, get the power of AUX (or the power you're missing thanks to wireless connectivity) with impressive room-filling sound from this portable speaker. Only an orange size, this product has a lightweight feel but is equipped with two speakers that provide a surround experience. Best of all, it's waterproof and dustproof (aka pre-drink proof).
EPSON EcoTank ET-2810 All-in-one wireless inkjet printer
Why is it so difficult to find a working printer? Well, now we've done the hard work for you. You can print from your phone or computer over his WiFi, and it comes with three years' worth of ink for him to use through his college years.
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George Foreman Medium Gray Steel Grill 25031
There's a reason George Foreman's Grill has long been a favorite among college students around the world. A multitasking device that can cook almost anything. Think breakfast, lunch, and dinner all in one perfectly balanced toaster. This is an absolute lifesaver when you need to eat or dash. In the time it takes to make something warm and cheesy, you can shower, shave, and get dressed.
Everyone should own these, whether they're a student or not.
6 socket extension lead white
It's never possible to have enough plug sockets for all your devices, so this extension lead will definitely come in handy.
But safety first – don't overload the leads by tying power extensions together or adding double extension sockets.
Amazon
Bring a personal touch to your university classroom with these fairy lights and make the place feel more homely. You can also add pegs and use it as a photo frame.
MOPSIG cutlery 16 piece set
The IKEA budget set consists of a knife, fork, and four spoons and will last you throughout your college career. If you can't go to IKEA, you can also buy a set on Amazon.
collapsible food storage containers
These convenient containers are perfect for saving money on meal prep and bringing food to college. When you're done eating, you can fold it up to save space in your bag or cupboard. Now you no longer have an excuse to eat out all the time.
flexible plastic cutting board set
These cutting boards are very thin at 1.3mm deep, but extremely durable and protect the surface from cutting marks. It is also very easy to store and has anti-slip sides to prevent cutting accidents.
Argos Home 18 piece porcelain dinner set
There's nothing wrong with eating straight from the pot (when do you eat it if you're not going to college?), but this simple 18-piece set from Argos makes it that much easier. – Not to mention more civilized.
The entire flat has all the necessary tableware – 6 plates, 6 bowls and 6 side plates. The highly versatile white color makes it easy to replace if it breaks. Furthermore, it is dishwasher and microwave safe. Don't you need 18? Buy his stylish gray 12-piece set from Argos for £20.
John Lewis & Partners set of 4 mugs
A sure-fire college essential, John Lewis's minimalist and durable design will take your morning tea or coffee to the next level.
john lewis
Whether you're making creative cocktails or stave off dehydration the next morning, this set of four glasses is essential. It's actually made of plastic, but it looks just like glass, so you don't have to worry about it breaking.
john lewis
Set of 5 colored knives
Enjoy more than just cereal, toast and pasta with this knife set that includes bread, carving and paring knives. Have fun to the fullest with this set of 5 colorfully designed knives.
Amazon
Westcott Easy Grip Soft Grip Scissors – Set of 3
Stock up on useful scissors for both work and the kitchen.
Argos Home SureGrip Kitchenware 9 Piece Set
This complete cooking set gives you the flexibility to change your cooking skills. This 9-piece collection consists of ladles, serving spoons, mashers, and even a pizza cutter and many other essential tools. All have durable grip handles.
To make sure you eat 5 tablets a day even after leaving home.
Get all your cooking essentials with this pot set that also includes kitchen tools. The 15-piece set includes all bases for saucepans, frying pans, and skillets with shatterproof lids and dishwasher-safe designs.
Amazon
KitchenCraft Stainless Steel Multipurpose Box Grater
Cheese lovers will understand how important this purchase is, but even for novice chefs it will be even more interesting to make plain pasta with butter.
John Lewis & Partners The Basics Double Oven Glove
Durable and easy to clean, these double oven gloves minimize kitchen-related emergencies. If you're looking for a bolder, more innovative design, check out our list of our favorite oven gloves here.
Argos Home Mixterry Tea Towel 8 Pack
These tea towels are not only useful for drying clothes, but also look stylish in a student's kitchen. Sold in packs of 8 and machine washable.
BAREN stainless steel toilet brush
You'd be surprised how many bathrooms are missing this important element. Also shop on Amazon.
Dettol Wipes Antibacterial Bulk Surface Cleaning, Multipack of 6 x 126 Pieces
With disinfection more important than ever, this bulk purchase is sure to help you get a quick fix. Kills 99.9% of bacteria.
Cotton rich duvet cover and pillowcase set
Keep things simple with this timeless and elegant comforter and pillow set in rainbow colors. Made from a 180 thread count cotton blend fabric and available in all sizes from single to super king. For ultimate comfort, also check out Dunelm's teddy fleece bedding sets (from £22).
These soft, fluffy towels will protect you throughout your college experience. Highly absorbent at 450 gsm and available in a variety of colors. Choose from hand towels, bath towels, or larger towels.
When cold weather arrives, this ultra-comfy fleece blanket will keep you warm. Available in 3 sizes and various colors.
Just add this shaggy rug to add a personal touch to your room and give it a more comfortable feel. La Redoute has a wide range, but we love this soft 6 cm pile range in four of his shades.
Argos Home 10.5 Tog Comforter and Pillow Set – Double
This comforter set includes the comforter itself and 2 pillows, allowing you to kill two birds with one stone. Although a single bed is available, we recommend using a double duvet even on a smaller bed for added comfort.
Argos Home Pop-up Laundry Bin – Dove Gray
Pack of 25 black flocked hangers
These hangers have a low profile and space saving design so you can store all your coats, jackets and trousers in a small wardrobe in your university hall.
SOCKERBIT storage box with lid
In a compact student dormitory, you may not have as many storage options. Place these handy boxes under your bed to maximize space and are especially suitable for storing bed sheets, jumpers and bulky essentials.
STABILO BOSS pastel highlighter 8 pack (assorted)
The choice of highlighter shades has come a long way, and the range of pastels has increased, turning your notebook into a color-coded, organized dream.
Moleskine 18 Month Diary Week View with Note Pocket 2022/23
Stay on top of all your challenges and social engagements with this handy diary from July 2022 to December 2023.
moleskine
Q-Connect A4 Ring Binder Pack of 10
Store all your documents and handouts safely in this ring binder instead of crumpling them at the bottom of your bag.
Oxford Campus Refill Pad 140 Pages A4
College isn't all fun and games. In some cases, you may need to do some hands-on work. In that case, you will need a paper pack that can be stored in the folder mentioned above.
Zebra Z Grip Ballpoint Pen 10 Pack Assortment
The art of putting pen to paper is not lost and may actually help improve learning for some people. Buy quality pens in a variety of colors to help with revision.
Upgrade your school backpack with the stylish and durable Rains option, available in 10 bold colors. It's also spacious enough to store your laptop and study essentials.
