Going To University: The Leaving Guide

We make cards, pin badges and prints in the UK. We don't sell laptops, textbooks or bedding sets, so this is a straight guide with the card at the end.

Two things make the first week easier: packing the right things, and a drop-off that doesn't end badly.

Here's the practical list and the emotional one.

Finish it with a card

Hide a card in the box for them to find that first night.

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Pack from home

  • Bedding, towels, a duvet and a decent pillow. The first night matters more than anything else on the list.
  • Documents: passport, ID, student finance letter, NHS number, bank details, insurance.
  • Medication, a basic first aid kit and any repeat prescription details for registering with a new GP.
  • Photos, a print for the wall and something from home that isn't practical at all.

Buy there, not here

  • Pots, pans, plates and mugs - halls often have some, and carrying them is pointless.
  • Cleaning stuff, bin bags, washing powder. Heavy and available everywhere.
  • A desk lamp, a drying rack and anything else you can order to the halls address.
  • Food shopping for week one, done on arrival day rather than packed in the car.

Things people forget

  • An extension lead and a four-way plug - halls have two sockets and eight devices.
  • A door wedge for freshers' week, a tin opener, and scissors.
  • A small toolkit, plasters and painkillers.
  • A card from home to find later in the box, which is the one that gets kept.

The drop-off

  • Make the bed, then go. Long goodbyes make the first hour harder for them.
  • Say the warm thing in the car park, not in the corridor with their new flatmates listening.
  • Agree a call day rather than expecting daily contact - Sunday works for most families.
  • Post something small in week three, when the novelty has worn off and homesickness peaks.

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How to write it so it lands

  • Bedding first, pans later.
  • Extension lead. Always.
  • Post something in week three.

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

What should you take to university halls?

Bedding, towels, documents, medication, an extension lead, a door wedge and something personal. Buy pans, cleaning products and bulky items once you're there.

What do you say when you drop your child at university?

Say it in the car park, keep it short and warm, make the bed, then leave. Long goodbyes make the first hour harder.

When do students get homesick?

Usually around week three, once freshers' week ends. A card or a parcel then lands better than one on day one.

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