Congratulations! By now, you’ve likely received your offer letter from Durham University and are starting on your travel prep to Durham. As a current Master’s student at the University, I know exactly how thrilling (and a little overwhelming) this time can be. That’s why I’m here to guide you through one of the first and most important steps: packing!
Below are my top 5 packing tips, compiled from personal experience. While I’ve aimed to make this list as comprehensive as possible, it’s not exhaustive, so feel free to supplement it with additional research.
Packing Tips
Electronics
Here are some key things to keep in mind while packing electronics:
- Make sure all your electronic devices have three-pin plugs and are CE marked.
- While there are plenty of charging points available around the university campus, having a power bank can come in handy during emergencies.
- I would advise against buying block adapters since they’re not permitted on campus, as they can be a fire hazard.
- Certain electronic devices, such as electric heaters are not permitted within college accommodation. Make sure to check with your college before making purchases for any such items.
Clothes
This one can be quite subjective, but I’ve decided to share some of my personal clothing preferences which you can consider:
- Jacket – An Investment: If you’re planning on buying a new jacket, I’d recommend treating it more like an investment because that’s what I did, and it’s been a lifesaver for me especially on snowy/rainy days.
- Fleece-lined leggings – On extra cold days, I tend to layer my fleece leggings underneath my jeans, and it works great in keeping me warm.
- Boots – If possible, I would advise you to carry a pair of boots that will withstand the rain and the snow. When buying a pair for myself, I made sure to get ones that wouldn’t slip easily.
- Flat formal shoes – If you prefer wearing heels on formal occasions, my suggestion would be to carry at least one pair of flat shoes that also go well with formal wear as they’re more walkable, and this is especially helpful when walking on cobblestones.
Kitchen utensils
If you plan to cook for yourself, I would suggest bringing some very minimal kitchenware that you can rely on for the first two days before you’ve got your shopping settled. Other than that, it’s better to buy the rest after coming to the UK, as there isn’t much of a price difference, and it will save you more of your luggage allowance.
Bedding
Before coming to Durham, I had decided to bring a pillow, a bed sheet and a blanket in my luggage. This was mainly so I could sleep comfortably during my first night, in case I was too tired to go shopping for these items on the first day.
Miscellaneous
Below, I will mention a few more things that I decided to bring with me that I found super helpful:
Instant noodles – since I had opted for a self-catered college, I wanted to have an emergency stock of easy-to-make food till I got my groceries in order.
Room decor – I carried a few things I used to decorate my room with back home. It helped greatly in making my dorm room feel more familiar and comforting.
Zip-lock bags – these helped me keep my luggage quite organised and made unpacking super easy as well.
And that’s all the packing wisdom I have for you! You can use this guide as a starting point, but don’t stress too much—anything you miss can usually be sorted once you arrive. Most importantly, enjoy the process and get ready for an incredible adventure ahead. Good luck, and happy packing!
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