Undergraduate 2024

It's time for The List

I have broadcast this list every year and in each iteration there are new and interesting things, so while this post might be very familiar, it’s worth looking it over for new additions.

As always, this isn’t a list of actual essentials, but of useful and quirky items, which will solve problems you don’t even know you’re going to have. This list is not constructed just out of my fevered imagination but added to by readers over the years. I am indebted to real life undergraduate Cassius Westlake for some field reporting this year. Links are to Amazon and John Lewis for ease of illustration.

Big plastic glasses

Honestly the best things I brought to university with me. Actual glass would have smashed when I tried to wash it up in the hall communal bathroom basins, (retch).

Massive hideous laundry bags

Boarding school survivors will already be evangelical about these otherwise monstrous items. These particular ones are 25cm x 60cm which is a good manageable size for clothes and other clutter. You don’t want them to be too big because they will be too heavy when full and then handles will rip off. When not in use, these can be folded down and stored away in a tiny space and also be used for doing, like, actual laundry. Maybe.

A lap tray

If I had been at university when laptops were widespread I would have done most of my work in bed, on one of these, and might have done a bit better and thus been a bit happier. With a laptop and WiFi, my degree would have been several thousands times more straightforward. I may have even scraped a 2:1. Although, having a 2:2 is quite funny. I mean, it’s funny now. At the time it felt like the end of the world.

A clock

I’m told that University students need a time device separate from their phone that is battery-operated; this looks pleasingly practical, non-ticking and inexpensive. It’s the sort of item that just doesn’t die or ever get lost, that you will still have when you are 50. I am also the enthusiastic owner of a Casio wristwatch in a jaunty yellow, I absolutely love it.

Laundry pods

Large bottles of of detergent are no use, as many laundry establishments or services demand a pod.

Coffee maker

For the young coffee addict in your life: proper coffee without needing a cafetière. We have TWO of these Aeropresses for the older coffee addict in my life.

Quick-dry towels

Microfibre towels pack down to nothing and do the job well. For long hair, quick-dry hair turbans are terrific - I use one whenever I wash my hair and I’m not even a student (unless you count studying the Zara website). If you have a particular dorkster as a kid, you can have a joke as you hand it over about Ford Prefect and the importance of always having a towel. 

Toastbags

A delicious cheese and ham toastie in even the mankiest of communal toasters.

Power bank

Not all created equal: some break. But my most recent one, this one, has been very good so far. 

Stikins 

Because one boom box/set of AirPods/set of pool slides looks very much like another, these sheets of indelible little stickers are very handy. I am slightly ashamed to say that I have managed to bring up two children who are famous in all the institutions they attend for leaving all their stuff lying about - so nothing leaves our house without a sticker on it so that it can be returned to the right classroom. I’m assuming this is bad parenting on my part - but maybe all children are like that. If the student in your life objects to labelling things with their actual name, like a toddler, you can have them printed up to say “MINE” or “WORLD KING” instead.

No space? No problem

I have recently come across a company recently called My Baggage, which will ship your bags anywhere at reasonable rates, meaning a lighter car-load, or that you can accompany your child on the train, or for any other many reasons why you might not want to drive a jam-packed vehicle to Durham.

Door wedge

For wedging your dorm room door open to facilitate socialising. 

Boom box

I have had other brands of portable Bluetooth speakers in my time and the Bluetooth always stops working after a while – but I had my UE boom for 5 years. It worked perfectly right up until it was stolen out of my car. This one I have linked to is their newest model and is waterproof so your Fresher can listen to Today in the shower at 7am. Ha ha, only joking, they will have it confiscated in the first week for playing The Final Countdown at top volume every 3am for a week. Again, this one I have linked to is black but if you can find one in a bright colour, do, otherwise it is very lose-able.

Over-radiator towel rack

Just a general life essential for everyone. I’ve got one in my kitchen right now. This one looks like a clever and snazzy design. Your child may not do any laundry but at the very least they might wash their pants from time to time - with this they dry overnight. My friend Clarissa Ward who is chief international correspondent for CNN, and is always diving into ditches to evade bombs in e.g. Ukraine or Gaza, takes with her into the field only two pairs of pants. One on, one being washed in a sink/drying. University is a war zone - of sorts. 

… while I’m on the subject: Febreeze

Frankly, we all wash our clothes too much. Underwear, sure, but everything else if not actively stained, doesn’t need much washing. Hang up the item, spritz with this bad boy and leave to air. If it’s good enough for Stella McCartney…

Tupperware

For making healthful and economic packed lunches to eat in breaks during 8-hour library study sessions. No, they will of course survive on Huel and use these boxes to keep drugs in. My top tip from chef friends is DO NOT get nesting boxes – get three or four of these exactly the same size, then when ultimately one of the lids gets lost you will have replacements. Top tip! Put a Stikins on the base and the lid so there is no doubt about whose drugs they are.

Headphones

I love my AirPods, they are really brilliant, but even I - very controlling and uptight - have had some heart stopping moments when I thought I might have lost one. If your kid is really organised and on it, consider blessing them with a pair of these. Beats also have a new iteration, which are less expensive at £80. The downside is that they don’t charge in the case, they have to be charged before use each time. If it can’t keep track of its house keys, get them a giant pair of over-head cans instead. What with an up-tick in Zoom lectures, they will need some.

Pool slides

Because communal dorm bathrooms are the most rank, shudder-some places in the world. If Adidas made HazMat suits I would recommend one of those. If for some reason your Gen Z wunderbabe doesn’t already have a pair of pool slides, they need some. My most recent slides are Archies and they are actual heaven.

Plug extender with USB ports 

Because electricity is everything.

Tray or chopping mat 

So that petite Zuleika can put her lunch or dinner essentials down on a reliably clean surface without having to clean an entire disgusting student kitchen. Simple trays are also, I am told, very useful. 

Hot water bottle

Superfluous and faintly comical until you need one. And then you really need one. There will be one evening when your child will be cold, sad and homesick and while you can’t be there, this hottie bottie can. 

String lights

To cheer up even the most depressing box room. I remember I brought a set with me to university and people used to walk into my room and go, “Wow, your room is nice” and I was like… seriously people… it’s just the fairy lights. I recommend these.

Care packs

I am thoroughly addicted to Instagram Reel ASMR videos featuring women with manicures putting things into bags and re-stocking their larders and fridges. (If you know, you know.) I came across one video of a dainty hand packing a toiletry bag with strips of ibuprofen, hair ties, stamps, gum, Tampax, Berocca, hand cream, Amazon gift cards, Carmex and so forth, which seemed like a lovely idea but quite likely, perhaps, to be tossed into the recesses of a bag and forgotten about? I suppose it depends on the child. 

Gift cards

These are A Thing: you can get all-purpose gift cards that will do your kids for purchases from all over the place. The One4All gift card, which you can buy online or at the Post Office covers everything from Boots to Five Guys.

Student Discounts

Force Help your undergraduate create accounts with student offer websites UNiDAYS and Student Beans so they can sail into the term already set up to save big bucks.

Slim velvet hangers

Again, these will be wasted on some students, but others will really dig: velvet hangers are the best when it comes to hanging up clothes: large wooden hangers take up tonnes of space, they’re clattery and heavy and things slide off the sides, whereas velvet hangers have a tiny profile and nothing slips away from those bad boys.

What else? WHAT ELSE?

The List is an ever-evolving community project - please do use the handy comments box below to aid fellow travellers. First time commenters are most welcome!

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