15 things that helped us survive in university

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Wheaton College
Facebook/wheatoncollege.il

It's that time of the year again. Students all over the UK are once more pouring back into student halls and university corridors. 

Of course, university also means the start of sleepless nights (for all the wrong reasons), tight deadlines, and an avalanche of reading to get done. 

Although university is, by all means, an incredible experience, there are some moments that will be stressful. Luckily, there are some products that can make students lives much easier on a day-to-day basis.    

Those of us who've already graduated have been there, and know exactly what products we brought with us, or, in other cases, wished we had brought, to make our time at university easier.

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I sent out an email to my Business Insider UK colleagues asking for suggestions on any essentials that helped them survive their years at uni. Have a look:

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A portable battery

anker powercore 20100
Amazon

A portable phone charger is invaluable for the times when you’re stuck in a several-hour-long lecture without anywhere to refill your phone. — Charles Clarke

Anker PowerCore 20100, £29.99, available at Amazon UK

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A coffee thermos

Thermos Tumbler
Amazon

Having a thermos saves me money, as I’m not tempted by coffee shops on the way to university and I always have some caffeine in morning lectures. — Kate Moore

Thermos Stainless Steel Tumbler, £19.99, available at Amazon UK

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A lunch box

Leakproof lunch box
Amazon UK

Packing your own lunch box is very eco- and budget-friendly. It's so much easier than carrying around disposable bags or containers, and it saves some money, as you don't have to buy lunch at uni.  — Jasmin Ojalainen

Better Bento LeakProof Lunchbox, £16.50, available at Amazon UK

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Wireless speakers

Shower Speaker
Amazon

This shower speaker was the bomb and a mere £6. Good emergency speaker for pre-drinks, too. — Tom Murray

I'm testing out the UE Boom 2 wireless speaker at the moment, and it's hands down the most durable one I've used so far. If you have cash to splurge and don't want to spend time trying to save your speaker from drunk people, the Boom 2 is a perfect choice. — Andree Gorman

Sunvito Wireless Bluetooth Waterproof Suction Cup Speaker, £5.99, available at Amazon UK

UE Boom 2, £109.99, available at Amazon UK

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An all-in-one photocopier, scanner, and printer

Epson printer
Amazon

It will save you a fortune on printing and photocopying fees, and reduce time spent in queues at the library/time taken to trek into the library.  It's also an expenditure parents can probably be persuaded to fund.... — Sarah Kocianski

Epson Expression Home XP-235 All-in-One Inkjet Printer, £34.99, available at Amazon UK

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A vacuum cleaner

Henry Hoover
Amazon

"Numatic" is the clue here. Easily the most powerful vacuum I've ever encountered. If you want to have parties and still keep the deposit on your student flat at the end of the year, buy this. — Edith Hancock

Numatic Henry Hoover, £85, available at Amazon UK

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A water filter

Aqua Optima Filter Jug
Amazon

This was my life saver. I used to carry bottles all the way from the supermarket and that wasn't nice (apart from the great arm workout). — Claudia Romeo

Aqua Optima Galia Filter Jug, £19.99, available at Amazon UK

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Quality knives

knives
John Lewis

I did quite a lot of cooking, these knives were my best friends — Thomas Colson

Anolon Santoku Knife, £40, available at John Lewis

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A watch

Casio Gold watch
Amazon

I’ve had my Casio watch for years, I bought it from Amazon for around £20. It’s a reliable staple because it goes with any outfit. — Kate Moore

Casio Unisex Quartz Watch, £23.71, available at Amazon UK

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A cozy blanket

fleece
Amazon

A cozy blanket was a must-have for me to spruce up my room, and make it feel slightly more like home. Also, a super-soft blanket somehow makes everything better when you're stressed about exams or coursework. — Andree Gorman

Fleece Blanket, £15, available at John Lewis

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An external hard drive

Expansion Seagate
Amazon

I use my external hard drive to back up my projects and essays, as it has more space than my usual memory stick. I’ve found it particularly useful to take work between the university and home. — Kate Moore

Seagate Expansion 500GB, £39.99, available at Amazon UK

 

A sandwich maker

Sandwich maker
Amazon

I couldn't live without my sandwich maker at uni. It was a pure luxury to have a grilled tuna melt sandwich (which I lived on for 3 years). — Urmee Khan

Salter Toastie Sandwich Maker Deep Fill Home Kitchen, £27.99, available at Amazon UK

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A first-aid kit

First Aid Kit
Amazon

It's good to stay prepared! You'd be surprised how often you need these things, and having them with you will definitely save the day. — Jasmin Ojalainen

 

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