Cartmel College - Lancaster University - Official Website

You will find loads of stuff on the internet telling you what items to bring. There are sites devoted to moving to university… even the Lancaster University website has some info on it. The next few tips are purely from my own experience. They may not be the same for everyone, but they should certainly help you decide what you need to take!

Some pointers

Unless you’ve purchased a bedding pack online, make sure you bring bedding! None will be provided!

There’s no need to bring the whole kitchen with you! All kitchens in Cartmel are equipped with at least one toaster, a kettle, an iron, and there’s a vacuum cleaner and mop in a cupboard in the corridor.

Having said that, you’ll still need to provide your own pans, utensils and cutlery, plates, bowls, glasses and mugs. In reality, you will be able to share some items with your flatmates when you get here. If you find you are missing anything then Wilkinsons (in the town centre) is a great place to purchase anything you’ve overlooked.

If you are really into cooking (or intend to learn when you get here!) then by all means bring ‘specialist’ stuff e.g. a garlic press. Basically, if you think you’ll use them and they aren’t ‘normal’ then bring them with you.

Bring a door wedge. Leaving your door open makes it much easier to get to know your flatmates. They can (and probably will) be some of your closest friends and so it is important not to hide in your room!

A pack of cards and other such stuff is quite handy, as is savlon and some plasters. You will need batteries at some random point too. White tack and tape is useful too (you’ll need them at the oddest moments).

Let us not forget scissors too, as these tend to go walkabout. The easiest things to overlook are the things that we would take for granted at home. For example - I ended up borrowing a sewing kit just before Christmas ball from my flatmate, whose mum had packed it ‘just in case’.

Those ‘just in case’ things that your mum or dad stick in your bag and you think you’ll never use; you probably will. So don’t complain!

Bring some things to clean with. It may be hard to accept at first, but at some point you will have to do some cleaning! Prepare yourself with some bleach, bathroom cleaner, anti-bacterial kitchen cleaner, disposable cloths, dusters and polish and you should be fine. Again, you will be able to borrow off flatmates for some of these.

Don’t forget towels, including a small shower mat to put by the sink. You’ll also need some toilet rolls - although there will be one in the en-suite when you arrive.

I brought a small storage unit for my en-suite, as the shelf below the mirror soon fills up - for girls I imagine even more-so! You can get some compact units from Argos - there is a store in the town centre, in the covered market.

Everything but the kitchen sink

Don’t forget photo’s, posters etc. Although you aren’t meant to attach anything to the painted walls (you will get fined if there are marks…) there is a huge noticeboard (remember to bring pins!) and a door that you can stick things on.

The more you fill it with stuff you love, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Make sure you unpack quickly (get the family to help!) then the transition from home will be much more natural.

Make sure you pack ‘ice breaker’ chocolate or wine normally works well.

Accept whatever food you are given from the family!

Time wise, the first week is absolutely mad and you probably won’t have much time to cook extravagantly - so it is important you already have a supply of food available. This may seem bizarre now, but you will soon understand.

Food shopping can easily get done later in the week once you’re more settled with your surroundings and have some free time available.

If you decide to bring a TV, remember that you will need a TV License. However, you won’t be able to buy one until you know your room number… which you won’t know until you arrive! Luckily, the university have a solution - you can buy your license on the day from the George Fox Building.  Regardless of what you may hear, TV License enforcement officials are allowed onto campus at any time.

If you can receive TV using your PC or laptop, you still need a license. The exception is if you only use online services such as BBC iPlayer, 4oD etc. where the content is not live.

For more information about TV Licensing, click here.

Clothing

Pack warm clothes and an umbrella. It rains an awful lot in Lancaster, as well as getting very cold.

Bring coat/clothes hangers! Your wardrobe will not contain any!

You’ll probably also want to bring at least one formal outfit. Although you won’t need it very often, you’ll be sorry if you’re the only one without, when it comes to that special occasion! Remember if you bring some smart shoes, you might want to pack some shoe polish.

And also remember, the more clothes you bring, the longer you can last without having to do laundry! However, when the time comes you will need some washing tablets. You could use powder of course, but tablets are much easier, especially as the laundrette will probably be a short walk away from your block.

Expect to dress up a lot for themed socials (especially during your first year) - so try to bring along some good props and costumes with you. There are several fancy dress shops in Lancaster, however, so it’s not a major issue if you don’t have much along these lines at the moment.

Other essentials

Bring your passport, driving license, National Insurance number card (or at least write the number down) and loads of passport sized photo’s.

You will them need them quite often, especially if you want to apply for jobs, join societies or register for anything you will need ID.

It is also worth noting that some of the bars in town do not accept student cards for ID.

Make sure you bring your bank information and cards, and cheque book if you have one.

So that is it! Hopefully you have a better idea of what you need to bring to Cartmel College with this packing guide.

But - for any more advice, get in touch!