Student essentials: what you really need for going to university
Moving into student halls is exciting, nerve-wracking, and often overwhelming. While the university will likely provide you with a bed, mattress, desk, a wardrobe, and lighting, it's a good idea to create a list of essentials that will make your time at university more comfortable and productive.
Ergohuman wants to help you kit out your university dorm to benefit you. After all, you're going to be spending a lot of time in your halls of residence. We'll take you through the ultimate essentials for kitting out your student flat, including an ergonomic office chair, cooking utensils, storage solutions, and more.
What is student accommodation?
In the UK, student accommodation typically refers to on-campus residences, sometimes referred to as 'halls' or 'flats'. Student accommodation offers individual bedrooms (fully furnished) and a shared bathroom, kitchen, and living area. University halls usually consist of five to eight bedrooms. In some places, you can request accommodation with your own en-suite rather than a shared bathroom.
In most universities, student accommodation is self-catered, so you aren't provided meals. Good news though — the kitchens are usually fully equipped, so you can make your favourite dishes. Living away from home, university halls are an essential part of student life and can significantly shape your overall experience.
Can I stay off campus?
If you prefer to stay off campus or want to avoid shared halls of residence, you can opt for a private residence. These buildings could be on or off the campus and are typically managed by a third-party company. While they are mostly rented out to students, there may be other people living in the building, though not in your flat.
Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) is another option. These are large apartments built for students. They often have amazing facilities, like gyms, game rooms, common rooms, and study spaces. PBSA be off campus, but they will be close by, so that you can easily get to your classes.
Can I view the accommodation beforehand?
Most campuses offer a tour of the accommodation so you can decide if it's right for you. If you can't make it in person, you can request a virtual tour instead.
Ultimate packing list for uni
Let's explore the essentials for moving to uni, whether you're heading into halls or a nearby flat. This isn't an exhaustive list, so be sure to make your own as well, to avoid missing anything.
Bedroom essentials
Your bedroom will include a bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and possibly even a chair and a mattress. However, you might want to bring your own mattress or mattress topper for additional comfort and cleanliness.
Bringing your own office chair is also beneficial, as the standard ones that are usually included aren't ergonomic, meaning they won't be suitable or too comfortable for long hours of studying.
The Ergohuman Ultra chair is perfect for uni students. It is complete with a headrest and legrest, certified for 8-hour daily use, keeps you cool and comfortable, and is on sale for 25% off.
You must also bring a duvet, duvet cover, and sheets; pillows and pillowcases; decorations; stationery; your own technology (i.e. laptop); bags; clothes; a TV if you need one; a laundry basket; bin; hangers; desk lamp; blankets; a fan for warmer months; and books.
Also, consider buying a mirror once you arrive. Some accommodations will have mirrors, but they might not be full-size.
Bathroom essentials
Bathrooms at student accommodation will be basic, so be sure to bring your own toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. Also bring a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, cleaning supplies, a toilet brush, slippers or flip flops, and towels. You can chip in with your housemates for the cleaning supplies, toilet brush and other items such as a shower curtain, bathroom bin, and bathroom storage solutions.
Keep in mind you'll need to buy toilet roll as you go, as this is not provided. We also recommend chipping in with your housemates to buy a good first aid kit.
Kitchen essentials
The kitchen may include a toaster, kettle, oven, and a fridge/freezer. Find out beforehand what the accommodation includes so you don't buy anything unnecessarily. You can bring a few things to university, but it's more cost-effective to equip the kitchen after you arrive. Then you'll know exactly what you need, and you can share the costs with your housemates.
Your kitchen essentials list includes mugs; glasses; a couple of saucepans, frying pans, and a wok; chopping boards; baking trays; cutlery; cooking knives; plates; bowls; foil; bin bags; cling film; cooking utensils; tea towels; tupperware; colander; dish rack; measuring jugs; corkscrew and tin opener.
Other essentials
The last thing you want to do is travel all the way to uni and realise you're totally unprepared. Here are a few things you will be thankful you packed.
Storage boxes are handy for keeping your stuff organised, especially as you accumulate new study materials. Blackout blinds keep your room dark, which leads to better sleep. Bringing games, like Monopoly or even a deck of cards, is handy for having up your sleeve when you need to break the ice with new people.
You might also consider bringing speakers for playing music; a recipe book for easy meals; photographs to hang on your wall; a doorstop; a shoe rack; a drying rack for clothes; an umbrella; exercise equipment; a bean bag; an extension lead.
You don't need to pack all this stuff before going. You can buy a lot of it when you're already at uni to save you hauling a ton of things or making multiple trips.
What's a good chair for studying?
We mentioned the importance of bringing your own desk chair to uni. You might be provided with a cheap desk chair, especially if you're staying in halls, but after a few weeks of studying from a poorly built chair, couch, or your bed, you may start to experience back pain. The Ergohuman range of chairs is specifically designed for students who spend hours studying.
Our Back to School sale offers 25% off Ultra gaming chairs and 20% off Elite office chairs. Our gaming chairs and office chairs are both excellent choices for students, with the Ultra gaming chairs being a bit more affordable. The main differences between the ranges are that the gaming chairs come with an included headrest and legrest, are available in different colour combinations, and feature nylon rather than aluminium. The Ultra chairs also include a dial to adjust the settings rather than a lever.
Besides that, both chairs offer over a dozen customisable features so you can position the chair to suit your body, height, weight, and preferences. Make the chair yours.
University programmes last at least three years, so you want to be sure that you're comfortable while you're studying. Ergohuman chairs offer Grade-A comfort for more than 10 years.
Explore the Ultra gaming chair range here and the Elite office chair range here.
Ergohuman chair features for studying
What makes the Ergohuman chairs so good for studying? Let's explore the features of our ergonomic seating that will take your comfort to new heights.
Easy and smooth to adjust
Whether you're quickly adjusting settings without disrupting your study session or switching from study mode to gaming mode, our advanced control dial and lever are simple to operate. It manages the backrest recline, seat slide, forward seat tilt, and seat height adjustment all in one, so you can effortlessly adjust your chair without any fiddling.
Adjustable seat slide
Most office chairs come with adjustable seat height, but the seat slide is just as important. You can adjust the seat depth on Ergohuman gaming chairs by 50 mm to align the small of your back perfectly with the lumbar support. The adjustable seat slide ensures comfort for your thighs and takes the pressure off the back of your knees to ensure healthy blood flow.
Adjustable backrest height
Adjust the height of the backrest so it aligns with your lumbar area. This ensures excellent support for your entire back and spine. Study for longer without pain, strain, and discomfort.
Backrest recline
To make our chairs as comfortable as possible, they all feature a generous recline of up to 48 degrees from an upright position. You can keep the chair in free-float mode, allowing you to rock back and forth. Alternatively, you can lock it in one of four positions, depending on your task and preferences.
Lumbar support system
One of the most important features of the Ergohuman gaming and office chairs is the advanced lumbar support system, providing unbeatable lower back support. The built-in flex responds to your movements to fight back pain and discomfort before it even starts. You can adjust the strength of the lumbar pressure using the dials to make it more or less intense depending on your preferences.
5D adjustable armrests
This is definitely going to make your flatmates jealous. The Ergohuman chairs feature multi-adjustable armrests to ensure the best wrist, arm, and shoulder support. Adjust the height, width, depth, angle, and tilt to suit your task. Whether you're reading a book, typing out an essay, or taking a gaming break, you'll experience unparalleled support with the 5D adjustable armrests.
Headrest and legrest
The Ultra chairs include a headrest and legrest, providing additional comfort while you're at your desk, especially when reclining. The headrest is height-adjustable and pivoting, providing incredible head, neck, and shoulder support. The legrest folds away under the chair when not in use. When in use, it ensures healthy posture while you're reclining.
Head to uni in comfort and style
Going to uni is a huge milestone in one’s life. Not only are you going to make a start in your career, but you'll be meeting new friends and stepping into a world of independence for the first time. When moving into university halls or on-campus accommodation, it's important to check what is provided for you, then pack accordingly.
While many things are already there, like a mattress and office chair, you should take your own to ensure proper comfort and healthy support. Ergohuman gaming chairs are 25% off, so that you can get the best start possible at a competitive price.