Lauren Lucien - University Life: Making it Work for You

Thanks to Liam and Larry for the love and space to write.

Thanks to Karee, Lucy, Harry, Daisy, Becca and Maryam for sharing your Inside Stories with us and also all the friends, family and the many, many students who helped me to complete this book with your tips and advice couldnt have done it without you all!

Special thanks to Michelle Hayward and Chris Hepworth at Blackpool and the Fylde College, and Siobhan Campbell, Kathryn Maris and Belinda Webb at Kingston University for all their consistent encouragement and belief in me.

Mum for always taking me to the library when I was little and teaching me how to read.

Martha and Max for being the best young writers I know.

Extra special thanks to Suzannah Burywood for taking a chance on me and always being so helpful, forward thinking and encouraging.

So, youve been accepted, you have your enrolment dates and youre all packed up and ready to go. All except for those first-night noodles and your duvet cover, oh and your DVD box set of 24 and well, you get the point!

This chapter is devoted to helping you get everything together, get settled in and get ready to start the craziness that is Freshers Week.

Savvy is probably a word youve heard Captain Jack Sparrow mention a few times, but in this chapter it means being wise with your finances.

Setting yourself up for university can be expensive, so to save on spending, ask your family if they have spare towels, pots and pans and other things like that for you to take with you. Also, there isnt a certain brand that you have to use at university, and its a lot less scary when you have stuff in your new room that youre familiar with.

You can probably nab most of your packing list from your own home, but check out pound shops for any extras. Bigger shops like IKEA are great for cheap furnishings and accessories, but its best to keep the budget low when you start out. Youll need extra money in the first few months for having fun and socialising. When you get your student loan or wages you can upgrade the things you need if you want. Of course, if you do have spare money for furnishing your new space then go for it just remember that student rooms get a lot more wear and tear than your average bedroom at home, so buy things that you dont mind getting knocked or used a lot.

But, before you end up with a car piled high with a mountain of pans, duvets, clothes and the odd teddy hanging on for dear life, have a look at the university packing list Ive made below.

The ultimate packing list

Official stuff best kept in a concertina document folder

Driving licence, both parts

Passport

8 passport-sized photos these always come in handy

Visa paperwork for international students

Birth certificate

Exam certificates

Topped-up phone card or Skype password

All your bank stuff like chequebooks, paying-in books, past statements

Oyster card if your university is in London you can a get a student Oyster that gives you Dan, 21, Lancaster discounted fares

Inside tip

Leave a copy of your new address at home. If anything needs to be redirected or sent to you its quick and easy.

Dan, 21, Lancaster

National Insurance card

Payslips and/or P45 and P60 these will come in handy if you want to work alongside your studies

NHS card or certificate to sign up to doctor and dentist

All your student finance paperwork

Insurance documents for car, possessions etc.

Any kind of tenancy agreement

Television licence

University stuff you can buy a lot of this on campus

Lined paper

Sticky dots, drawing pins or Blu-Tack remember that Blu-Tack can leave stains on the wall and drawing pins make holes, so check with your university or landlord before you cover the walls with photos of nights out!

Pencil case

Pencils, sharpener, ruler and rubber

Highlighters

Permanent marker, for writing your name on all your stuff

Scissors, hole punch, stapler

Calculator for all that budgeting

A4 ring binders

Notebooks

Books from your reading list

Personal books and magazines

e-reader or tablet device if you have one, plus charger

Dictionary and thesaurus

Academic wall planner

Postcards, writing paper and envelopes postcards are a cheap, fun way to keep in touch

Laptop, charger and case/sleeve

External hard drive and USBs for keeping work backed up and secure

Ethernet cable

Bathroom and bedroom stuff check what your hall or accommodation already supplies

Towels (hand and bath)