Starting uni always comes with its own set of challenges and fun adventures. One thing that can make your life easier is having the right essentials in your university bag. Being prepared with all the necessities in your uni bag will help you keep up with your lectures or survive long breaks between classes and can make a world of difference to your ability to juggle everything university throws at you. We’ve curated a simple collection of items to help you stay organised, connected and ready for whatever the semester brings. These tips are perfect for you if you are a university student, about to finish high school graduate or an international student gearing up for uni life and in Australia.
Overview
- Discover the ultimate guide to what you need in your uni bag to stay on top of your game this semester.
- From essential gadgets to snack hacks, find out how to pack smart and stay prepared.
- Learn the perfect balance of work and play with our must-have items for every student.
Stationery heroes
First up, stationery. Think notebooks, pens, highlighters and sticky notes. These are your new best friends (Quick tip: try not to lose or let any of your classmates ‘borrow’ anything). Notebooks are great to have by your side for jotting down helpful lecture notes or doodling when you're having difficulty staying focused. Highlighters will help you make sense of lecture notes when it’s crunch time and sticky notes are lifesavers for quick reminders and as textbook page tabs. Trust us, having a stocked and cute stationery kit will make you feel like you have your life together.
These essential items for your uni bag cover all the bases.
Stay connected
We don’t need to tell you how important it is to stay connected in in this day and age, but while we’re here...
Your laptop, phone or tablet holds a lot of important info that's useful at uni, so pack your chargers (because nobody wants to be the one desperately hunting for a charger during a lecture). Headphones are a must, whether you’re listening to your fave study playlist, catching up on a juicy podcast or just want to block out peripheral noise. For the sake of your future self, consider packing a portable external hard drive or USB in your uni bag for transferring files and backing up important assignments. You’ll thank yourself later, should your laptop decide to take a nap right before a big assignment or deadline.
Consider choosing a uni bag that has special inside pockets to keep your electronics protected.
Hydration and snack time
If you don’t have an emotional support water bottle, now is the time to get one. Staying hydrated keeps you sharp and your energy up and it’s so much cheaper (and better for the environment) than constantly buying bottled water. Throw in some healthy snacks like nuts, granola bars and fruit to keep hunger at bay during long study sessions. You can pick snacks up from the Daily Market on campus and replenish your water at the bubblers around campus.
There are water bottle filling stations on campus to make sure you stay hydrated all day long.
Get some self-care in there
If we have learned anything from the past couple of years, it’s the value of a mini bottle of hand sanitiser and a travel pack of tissues, some face masks, and maybe a tin of Rescue Remedy. They can help you avoid the latest campus cold and protect others too. Lip balm is a small but mighty addition, saving you from the dreaded chapped winter lips. A mini first-aid kit or sewing kit might sound over the top, but a couple of band-aids, painkillers and a needle and thread can go a long way when life throws minor mishaps at you like a fall or a droopy hem.
Consider a little ‘grab and go’ pouch inside your uni bag so all your mini essentials are in one place.
Entertainment is key
All work and no play makes uni life dull. Pack a good book or an e-reader for some light reading between classes. A stress ball or fidget toy (Harry Hartog within the Kambri precinct has lots of cute ones) can also be a surprisingly effective way to de-stress during hectic times. And a deck of cards? Perfect for impromptu games with friends or solo rounds of solitaire to unwind. These little extras can turn your downtime into a mini break, refreshing you for your next academic challenge.
You would be surprised how fast the breaks between classes go when you have fun things to do to pass the time!
So, there you have it — your essential uni bag checklist. Keep it simple, pack smart and you’ll be ready to tackle whatever the semester throws at you. And remember, uni life is a balance of work and play, so enjoy the journey. And don't forget to pick up a copy of the ANU student diary from Harry Hartog. It's a great tool for keeping you on track of semester and exam dates as well as assignments. Happy packing!
Now you know what to pack in your uni bag, it’s time to get your head around all the jargon you might hear during your time at uni.