Writing a list of what to pack for university is a big deal for many sixth-form students.

However, the excitement that surrounds the next chapter of your life can often mean that you end up overpacking for your first year at university.

While you might already have a list of what you should bring to university, you might not yet have one of what not to take to uni to ensure you don’t pack your entire world into your bags.

There are a variety of things not to take to uni that you might not yet be aware of.

These items include, but are not limited to:

1. Clothes for every season
2. Kitchen appliances and gadgets 
3. Irreplaceable valuables  
4. Candles and wax burners
5. An abundance of food 

1. Clothes for every season.

While you might want to bring all of the clothes you own ‘just in case’, this isn’t recommended.

Remember that unless you’re an international student who can’t easily travel home, you’ll likely be going home soon.

For the majority of students, ‘each academic year will run from 1 September’. As such, for your first semester, you should bring transitional clothing for the autumn season and some warmer items to see you through to the Christmas break.

Before you go home for Christmas, you can pack the clothing items you’ll no longer need and swap them out for clothes appropriate for the winter season to see you through until the next break in spring. 

Doing this will save you a significant amount of space in your student room and will also prevent you from overpacking clothes you won’t reach for during your first term.

2. Kitchen appliances & gadgets.

The next items you should avoid taking to uni are kitchen appliances and gadgets.

The majority of university student accommodations come furnished and will provide the basics, such as a toaster, a kettle, a fridge, and a freezer, so you’ll have everything you need to make and store meals.

When it comes to bulkier appliances and gadgets, such as coffee machines, stand mixers, and pressure cookers, it’s best to leave these at home to conserve space.

Depending on how many people you’re sharing a kitchen with, these items can clutter your kitchen worktops very quickly. 

If in doubt, you can always ring your student accommodation to check which kitchen appliances and gadgets are provided in each student kitchen. 

3. Irreplaceable valuables. 

Another item not to take to uni is irreplaceable valuables.

Some valuables, such as sentimental pieces of jewellery are too precious for university when you consider that you’re on the move on a regular basis.

From lectures to seminars to socials to nights out, being on the move so much can present a lot of opportunities for you to lose your precious items. 

That said, if you plan to take some valuables to university, then it’s advisable to go for a student accommodation that offers content insurance. 

At Host, we believe that your student accommodation should be your home away from home. As such, all of our students are covered by our contents insurance. This will provide you with peace of mind that your valuables are protected whilst living with us.

Get in touch with a member of our team today or visit our website to learn more about the rooms we offer.

4. Candles & wax burners.

This might sound like an obvious one, but you should also avoid taking candles and wax burners to university. 

While every student accommodation has its own list of prohibited items, candles and wax burners pose a fire hazard in your student room, meaning they’re prohibited in most accommodations. 

According to FireAngel, ‘candles cause more than 5 fires a day’, emphasising just how dangerous candles can be to take to university. The same danger applies to wax burners.

While candles and wax burners can make a room feel cosier, it’s best to opt for other options, such as an electrical light, that can provide a similar ambiance without posing the same fire risk.

5. An abundance of food.

Last, but not least, you shouldn’t take an abundance of food to uni. 

While you might want to take a few basics, packing an abundance of food simply isn’t necessary when you’re headed off to university. 

There will be plenty of supermarkets in the city where you’re attending university, so most people will carry out a big student food shop once they’ve moved into their student accommodation. 

This way, you can assess how much space you’ll have for food in your student kitchen.

Determining how much cupboard and shelve space you have before you go shopping is important to ensure you don’t run the risk of overpacking and overspending on food.

Hopefully this article has provided you with a better understanding of what not to take to uni.

Written by Jemima for Host.