Here’s the ultimate freshers’ packing list for Durham Uni

So, you’ve just found out you’re going to Durham! You know you’ve got the big stuff covered – laptop, bedding, more stationery than you will ever need, and a vague sense of optimism – but here are a few things people tend to forget or not think they’ll need when staring at this university.

As a city that’s often bitterly cold and full of students, there are certain eventualities you just have to prepare for.

With that in mind, here’s a comprehensive list of the 13 most random (but extremely essential) items you’ll need for starting your first year here.

1. Fresher’s flu defence

This might strike you as something to buy at the time, but the fresher’s flu will, in fact, strike you before you have the chance to stock up on Lemsip, paracetamol, ibuprofen, cough sweets (a need if you don’t want to hack your way through lectures), and herbal tea. Bonus points if you get some first defence spray and use it after nights out and social gatherings. Durham is basically an incubator of disease, so this definitely helped me delay the inevitable.

2. Scissors

Almost everyone forgets to bring scissors to uni. Whether you’ll use them for cutting off clothes tags, cutting open stubborn packaging, arts and crafts, or a 3am, DIY haircut after Klute (I don’t have to approve to see this as an option), they will come in handy at some point. Bonus points if you bring a big kitchen pair and a small pair for cutting paper and fabric.

3. A dressing gown / bath robe

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Trust me. Especially if you have a shared bathroom. Save yourself the struggle of going to the shower in shared bathroom accommodation in a full outfit. Also comes in handy when the people knock on your door to repair something or clean unexpectedly, there’s a fire drill, you want to quickly run to the pantry/kitchen, or if you’re getting ready for a formal.

4. Labels

A cheap roll of white paper labels is bound to come in handy. Kitchen cupboards, fridge drawers, food you want no one else to touch, your appliances, the bottom of the only working lamp in your building? You can label them. Then no one can claim they didn’t know your item wasn’t communal.

5. Silicone earplugs

In my experience, these are the only ones that work. Hopefully you won’t have to use them, but it’s par for the course that you’ll spend at least some of your time at university in college accommodation with paper-thin walls that feel like they’re one tap from caving in every time a band of drunk people storm your floor. And, by day, they can be helpful if you’re really trying to lock in on your reading.

6. A lint roller

For some reason, everything at uni ends up covered in lint from jumpers or the like. Having a lint roller is really helpful – especially if you intend on wearing something black. A need for Durham formals!

7. An umbrella

A Durham essential. This might sound like an obvious thing to bring, but for some reason none of my friends have umbrellas and just choose to get rained on..? I have gone through multiple umbrellas during my time at uni because they just get so much use.

8. A waterproof bag – and laptop case

Again, you’re going to Durham so you need to prepare for almost-permanent torrential rain. While the weather in Durham is not as bad as people sometimes say, it’s absolutely worth investing in both a waterproof tote bag or backpack (whichever you prefer) and a waterproof case for your laptop. Say no to the seemingly ubiquitous naked laptop look; the wet notes, saturated library books, and broken computer just aren’t worth it.

9. A face-paint palette

If one thing is for certain about the Durham uni experience, it’s that you’ll definitely have to dress up as an egg or a pea or something ridiculous like that at some point. It’s just part of being a student. Everybody tells you to bring any costumes you have to uni, but personally I got so much use out of a small, cheap face paint palette. You can basically paint whatever you want, so it’s helpful for pretty much any theme or event. Plus, it takes up much less space than bringing loads of random articles of dress-up clothing that you might wear once.

10. Kitchen clips

I use my kitchen clips every day. They’re great whether you’re self-catered or catered and will probably save you a fair bit of money by stopping your food from going stale. Minus downside: your flatmates will probably steal them. But that’s just further proof that they’re a total essential.

11. Stamps

In first year, I thought it would be a cute idea to send my family Durham postcards. Having some stamps already made that so much easier as I didn’t have to trek to the post office and, instead, could just drop off my cards at the letterbox. Even if you don’t fancy sending people postcards or birthday cards, they’ll probably come in handy if you need to send any kind of documentation.

12. Nando’s peri salt

The truth is, some of those Durham meals might need it. A wise woman once told me to invest in peri salt for the college dinners and it was frankly fabulous advice. Peri salt will elevate pretty much anything from plain oven chips to under-seasoned chicken. In general, getting as many kinds of seasonings is really helpful. Do not trust the random grey dust that comes with your uni kitchen and calls itself “mixed herbs.”

13. An extension cord

Part of the university experience is having your plug sockets be as far away from your desk and bed as possible (even though that makes no sense). Plus there probably won’t be enough for all of your devices. Having an extension cord easily solves these problems, making plugging things in so much simpler. If your plugs aren’t type G (UK plugs), you’ll also need converters.

Whether you’re a fresher getting ready for your first term or a third year looking to help someone else prepare for life in Durham, these small essentials can make a big difference.