What to take to university – and what to leave behind, according to students

Starting university? From extension cables and desk lamps to earplugs and storage boxes, these are the essentials students say they couldn’t live without

Starting university can be exciting, overwhelming and, if you’re not careful, a bit of a packing disaster. Faced with the prospect of moving from home, it’s easy to convince yourself you’ll need every mug, blanket and kitchen gadget you’ve ever touched, just in case. However, speak to students who’ve already lived through the chaos of it and they’ll tell you … most of it sits unused, taking up space and making the end-of-term move a nightmare.

There are some things worth the space in your suitcase, though. From the practical spare phone cables to that one pair of sliders everyone swears by, here are the things students say they couldn’t do without – and the ones they wish they’d left at home.