Rooms come fully furnished with a bed, desk, bedside table, coffee table, mini -fridge, lamps, wardrobe and plenty of shelf space. And, just to reassure you, I forgot my phone and my laptop on the first day and I'm still here! And because we are so close to the centre of town, you can find pretty much everything you need if you've forgotten anything.
- Stationary - writing paper, hole puncher, stapler, scissors, sellotape, post-it notes, drawing pins to pin up posters/photos
- Photographs/stuff for your wall/posters
- Tin opener/Bottle opener
- Diary
- Laptop
- Stamps and envelopes
- Alarm clock
- Batteries and phone/iPod/laptop chargers
- Lemsip/Nurofen (antidote to freshers' flu), and any other medication you may need
- Toiletries
- Coat hangers
- Towel
- Washing powder
- Mugs, glasses, plates, cutlery
- Duvet cover: College provides you with one which they will wash for you, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer.
- Ethernet cable to connect to the college network - you can buy one here, but they're cheaper on Amazon/eBay - (it's an RJ45 network cable).
- Chequebook - still used to pay for a lot of events, especially in Easter term.
Don't bother bringing:
- TV: there's a TV room which is much more sociable, means you don't need to pay for a TV licence and there is always iPlayer and 4oD if you'd like to watch TV in solitude.
- Toaster/Kettle: these get removed from you if you are found with them anyway and communal kitchens should have all basic facilities like these.
- Iron: laundry rooms have a communal iron: it will only take up space in your room.
- Saucepans/Cooking Equipment; most first year accommodation doesn't come with ovens.
What can be useful:
- USB stick: to back up work.
- Door wedge: to help get to know people in your first few days.
- Contraceptives - although emergency contraceptives are available for free from welfare, and are otherwise very cheap.
- Cushions/blankets: anything to make your room feel more homely.
- Drying rack for your clothes if you want to save that extra £1.20 from using the dryers.
- Old text books/A-level notes
- Bike: means you get the extra few minutes in bed in the morning - although if you don't have a bike/have a fear of cycling, you shouldn't have more than any than a 15 minute walk for anywhere you'll be going regularly.
- Printer: although library has printers for everyone to use (as well as a scanner).
Clothes:
Don't worry too much about your clothes; everyone wears different stuff, from tracksuits or skinny jeans, to straw hats and lederhosen. So whatever your style, you'll fit right in! However, there are some events for which you will need to conform to a dress code:
- Matriculation: this is the amazing meal you will get in your first week with everyone else, fellows, and probably your DoS. For boys, you will need to wear a suit, and girls, basically anything that's nice, i.e. dresses or a blouse and skirt (so no denim). You will also be wearing your gown, which you will purchase on your first day.
- Formal hall: exactly the same as above, but girls can wear what they will be going out in that night (as long as it's not too inappropriate!)
- Black Tie functions: rare, but awesome! These include subject and societies' annual dinner, Boat Club Dinner at the end of each term, and May Balls at the end of the year. Tuxedo and bow-tie for guys, and again, anything nice for girls.
Important Stuff:
- ID: Passport/Driving Licence
- UCAS Documents
- Student Finance Documents
- Passport photos may come in useful
- Any other important paperwork, e.g. national insurance details, bank details, chequebooks, insurance documents.
- Some cash - useful especially on the first day, to save you running around to cashpoints.