Uni essentials: A simple guide for first year students
Written by Eliza Wright
Disclaimer: No products have been sponsored and all opinions are our own
Aaaand just like that, the first week of uni is upon us! Before you start to panic, here are some everyday essentials from transport to stationery that will put your mind at ease. Whether you’re looking forward to O-week parties, coffee breaks between lectures or making new friends in your tutorials, this guide has you covered.
Let’s get you there
You’ve figured out your timetable now it’s time to work out how to get there. Making sure you know exactly how to get to uni will minimise a lot of stress and reduce the likelihood of being late to class.
For most of us, public transport is your best bet but it’s also important to research the parking that is available on campus including the pricing, availability, and location in relation to where your classes are held. Remember, university campuses are massive and your classes may be spread out across different buildings.
If you have a day free, a sure-fire way to ensure you have your journey down pat is to practise. For example, if you plan to drive, check out the route a week prior to uni at the same time you will go. This will help you gauge the time it takes, traffic, parking and any other factors that may impact your decision.
If you plan on catching public transport to uni, it is essential to research if you’re eligible for a Tertiary Myki. In Victoria, most full-time undergraduate students are eligible. This ensures you are travelling with the correct card and scores you a cheaper ride than a full fare pass. Follow the link below to get yours sorted!
Don’t forget your things
Now you know how to get to uni, let’s make sure you have all your things prepared. The books you need will depend on the course you are completing. This will be communicated to you through your course announcement board, in an email or on your study/unit guide. There are, however, some staples you might find useful regardless of your degree.
Planner
You should know by now that a great way to stay organised is to grab yourself a planner. Depending on your learning and organisation style, you may prefer to have a physical planner or use a digital one. The key is to ensure all your important dates, deadlines and commitments are in one place so you won’t forget.
Some digital planners to help you stay on track:
Google or Apple Calendar: A really simple way to view your timetable and organise your study schedule, plus you can view it on any device, share with your friends and all you need is a phone or Gmail address
Notion: a highly customisable and free website allowing you to organise your ideas and responsibilities. Create a personal account or a team with others
Basic Girls Guide App: This paid subscription app isn’t just a planner, it also allows you to set goals and resolutions, invite others to view your schedule, set reminders and more
Some physical planners we love:
Rhodia weekly planner: a fan favourite in the CampusLife office and a super clear way to organise your week, plus it’s on sale!
Papier Joy Planner: The planner straight off your Pinterest board providing you with weekly and monthly overviews to remain on track
Officeworks Diary: don’t underestimate a classic planner from Officeworks, they have heaps of great affordable options
Stationery
Most students prefer to take notes on their laptop, however, it’s still important to bring along a few stationery items for worksheets that your tutor gives out. You should at least have a pencil, 2 pens and 2 highlighters. If you plan to hand write your notes, you’ll need a notebook or binder to organise all your pages as well as a few more pens and highlighters to organise your ideas.
Still not sure whether to handwrite your notes or take them digitally? Here’s a helpful video to help you decide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ict0-SCMpqw
Your ID Card
A super important item at uni is your ID card. This allows you to do things like access the campus and study rooms, use printers, borrow books from the library and is used as an identifier when completing assessments. Your ID card also gets you student discounts at selected retailers so having it with you is definitely a good idea. Your universities website will help you get it sorted, simply google your universities name followed by ID Card. It’s worth noting these can take some time to process so the earlier the better.
Your bag
Your bag is dependent on your preference. I know it’s tempting to swap out a backpack for a smaller shoulder bag, but make sure it still fits all your essentials and is durable enough to make it through any weather (especially here in Melbourne). Also keep in mind that while uni is an opportunity to showcase your fashion sense, you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort. Here are some different styles you might like to check out:
The Good Tote: Tote bags are a fantastic option and are widely available in different colours and designs, however, keep in mind most tote bags don’t have a zip so make sure your things are secure! This brand focuses on using sustainable materials and verified factories.
Crumpler Messenger Bag: These are a great combination of a backpack and a shoulder bag, your items are easily accessible but it also sits nicely on your back which is perfect for catching public transport.
Hershel’s Supply Backpack: If you prefer to keep it simple you can’t go past a backpack like this, reliable, durable and easy to carry.
Now you have all your essentials in order, you can focus on making friends, exploring campus and of course, learning some coursework. Making small preparations like these will help your day run smoothly. This is just a guide and some suggestions to help you get started, but every person is different, has different learning styles and different needs.
The key is to do or have the things that work for you and don't be afraid to change your approach if it's not working out. Remember that uni is a place to learn and it’s okay to make mistakes, so don’t sweat it if you forget your highlighters, you have much bigger fish to fry (like that assignment due next week). Enjoy your semester!
