Back to School / Family Life / Shopping / 13 August 2026

The Ultimate University Packing Essentials List

This is probably the last time you'll have to help them prepare for a brand new chapter. Here's everything they'll need to get off to a good start at college or university. We're not crying, you're crying...

By Eleonore Crompton

Junior Magazine Back to School The Ultimate University Packing Essentials List

Junior Magazine Back to School The Ultimate University Packing Essentials List

12 Piece Dinner Set, £38, NEXT

Junior Magazine Back to School The Ultimate University Packing Essentials List

Shorty Locker, £139, Mustard

Junior Magazine Back to School The Ultimate University Packing Essentials List

Desk Organisr Set, £55, Stackers

Junior Magazine Back to School The Ultimate University Packing Essentials List

DOWNLOAD Junior University Packing Essentials

Junior Magazine Crosley Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Vinyl Record Player, £179.69, directnine

Crosley Cruiser Plus Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Vinyl Record Player, £179.69, directnine

Junior Magazine Woven Wastepaper Basket, £44.99, La Redoute

Woven Wastepaper Basket, £44.99, La Redoute

Junior Magazine John Lewis x Sanderson Duvet Cover Set from £125, John Lewis

John Lewis x Sanderson Duvet Cover Set from £125, John Lewis

Junior Magazine Hand Soap & Hand Cream Gift Set, £14.99, H&M

Hand Soap & Hand Cream Gift Set, £14.99, H&M

Junior Magazine Apple MacBook Neo, 13”, Citrus, £699, John Lewis

Apple MacBook Neo, 13”, Citrus, £699, John Lewis

Junior Magazine Simple Hamper, £100, Ottolenghi

Simple Hamper, £100, Ottolenghi

Junior Magazine John Lewis x Deliciously Ella, Salt and Pepper Mills, £45, John Lewis

John Lewis x Deliciously Ella, Salt and Pepper Mills, £45, John Lewis

Junior Magazine Office Chair, £94, Habitat

Office Chair, £94, Habitat

Junior Magazine Helios Gold Flatwoven Rug, £429, Matthew Williamson Collection at Ruggable

Helios Gold Flatwoven Rug, £429, Matthew Williamson Collection at Ruggable

Junior Magazine Cotton Terry Bathrobe, £39.99, H&M

Cotton Terry Bathrobe, £39.99, H&M

Junior Magazine Ultrasoft Dual Layer Mattress Topper, from £100, The White Company

Ultrasoft Dual Layer Mattress Topper, from £100, The White Company

Junior Magazine Notebook Set, £16 for 3, Meri Meri

Notebook Set, £16 for 3, Meri Meri

Junior Magazine Tony Desk Lamp, £30, John Lewis

Tony Desk Lamp, £30, John Lewis

Junior Magazine SURI Pro 2.0 Electric Toothbrush, £105, SURI

SURI Pro 2.0 Electric Toothbrush, £105, SURI

Junior Magazine Pedal Bin, £12, NEXT

Pedal Bin, £12, NEXT

Junior Magazine Underbed Storage Bag, £24, Dunelm

Underbed Storage Bag, £24, Dunelm

Junior Magazine Oddments Pot, £30, The Conran Shop

Oddments Pot, £30, The Conran Shop

Junior Magazine Terry Cotton Face Cloths, £17 for 2, tbco

Terry Cotton Face Cloths, £17 for 2, tbco

Junior Magazine Easy Tasty Cheap The Ultimate Student Cookbook by Thalia Rhodes, £16.99, Waterstones

Easy Tasty Cheap The Ultimate Student Cookbook by Thalia Rhodes, £16.99, Waterstones

Junior Magazine Cotton Tea Towel, £10.99, Zara Home

Cotton Tea Towel, £10.99, Zara Home

Junior Magazine Pure Cotton Striped Apron, £8, M&S

Pure Cotton Striped Apron, £8, M&S

Junior Magazine Traveller First Aid Kit, £37.99, Life Systems

Traveller First Aid Kit, £37.99, Life Systems

Junior Magazine Wonder Oven Air Fryer/Toaster Oven, £195, Our Place

Wonder Oven Air Fryer/Toaster Oven, £195, Our Place

Junior Magazine Mirror with Trinket Tray Base, £15, George at Asda

Mirror with Trinket Tray Base, £15, George at Asda

Junior Magazine Insulated 2L Stainless Steel Canteen Bottle, £45.95, Red Equipment

Insulated 2L Stainless Steel Canteen Bottle, £45.95, Red Equipment

Junior Magazine Tea Towel Set, £12.99, Zara Home

Tea Towel Set, £12.99, Zara Home

Junior Magazine 6 Drawer Wooden Modular Desktop Storage Unit, £34.95, Muji

6 Drawer Wooden Modular Desktop Storage Unit, £34.95, Muji

Junior Magazine Make it Happen Academic Year Diary, £20, Papier

Make it Happen Academic Year Diary, £20, Papier

Junior Magazine Waterproof Kitbag 90L, £124.95, Red Equipment

Waterproof Kitbag 90L, £124.95, Red Equipment

Junior Magazine A4 Weekly Planner Pad, £12.50, Good Tuesday

A4 Weekly Planner Pad, £12.50, Good Tuesday

Junior Magazine Meri Meri x Liberty Notebooks, £20 for 3, Meri Meri

Meri Meri x Liberty Notebooks, £20 for 3, Meri Meri

Junior Magazine Ultimate Clarifying Skincare Set, £55, Indu

Ultimate Clarifying Skincare Set, £55, Indu

Junior Magazine Bodum x MOMA Ettore Electric plastic water kettle, £60, Selfridges

Bodum x MOMA Ettore Electric plastic water kettle, £60, Selfridges

Junior Magazine 100% Recycled Toilet Roll Subscription, £39.95, Kit & Kin

100% Recycled Toilet Roll Subscription, £39.95, Kit & Kin

Junior Magazine Kitchen Craft Idilica Silicone Tool Set, £23.80, Amazon

Kitchen Craft Idilica Silicone Tool Set, £23.80, Amazon

Junior Magazine Vintage Inspired Cutlery Set, from £18, Holly & Co.

Vintage Inspired Cutlery Set, from £18, Holly & Co.

Junior Magazine Enamel Fruit Bowl, from £42, Falcon

Enamel Fruit Bowl, from £42, Falcon

Junior Magazine Dream Cloths, £8 for 3 , Who Gives a Crap

Dream Cloths, £8 for 3 , Who Gives a Crap

Junior Magazine HAY Stackable Crate, £6, Fred Aldous Ltd

HAY Stackable Crate, £6, Fred Aldous Ltd

Junior Magazine Frill Striped Laundry Basket, £7, Primark

Frill Striped Laundry Basket, £7, Primark

Junior Magazine Cotton Terry Towels, from £6.99, H&M

Cotton Terry Towels, from £6.99, H&M

Junior Magazine Adelaide Kitsch Cat Table Lamp, £89, Urban Outfitters

Adelaide Kitsch Cat Table Lamp, £89, Urban Outfitters

Junior Magazine Matilda Bookcase, £100, Habitat

Matilda Bookcase, £100, Habitat

Junior Magazine Cookware Set, £375, Our Place

Cookware Set, £375, Our Place

Junior Magazine Fairylights on Gold Wire (battery powered), £6.99, Closet & Botts

Fairylights on Gold Wire (battery powered), £6.99, Closet & Botts

Junior Magazine Tufted Bath Mat, £24.99, H&M

Tufted Bath Mat, £24.99, H&M

Junior Magazine Handmade Mug Set, £69.99. Westwing

Handmade Mug Set, £69.99. Westwing

Junior Magazine The Storyboard Magnetic Pinboard, £89, Mustard

The Storyboard Magnetic Pinboard, £89, Mustard

Junior Magazine &Klevering Picture Frame, £18.99, Westwing

&Klevering Picture Frame, £18.99, Westwing

Junior Magazine Pokal Glass, £1.25 each, IKEA

Pokal Glass, £1.25 each, IKEA