When I first came up I brought everything but the kitchen sink! Hopefully this list will help you work out what (and what not) to bring with you:

First things first, the College already provides (in addition to a bed, desk, sink and so forth!):

  • A duvet and 2 pillows (some people do bring their own from home but this is a matter of personal choice)

General essentials:

  • The letters and forms sent to you by the College, some passport sized photographs, your NHS/medical details
  • A cheque book will come in very useful
  • Clothes, underwear and shoes (sounds obvious, but as a girl who really likes clothes, it’s very easy to bring way more than you’ll actually wear)
  • Warm items (Cambridge can get very cold!) – coat, gloves, scarf, hat…
  • Pyjamas and slippers (a dressing gown can also come in useful for dashing to and from the shower.
  • Some sports or gym clothes and trainers
  • A white shirt and black skirt/trousers for Matriculation and some old school-type clothes for the ‘Back2Skool’ Freshers’ Ent (definitely not the same items as you intend to wear for Matriculation!)
  • A plate, bowl, glass, mug and some basic cutlery to get you started
  • A towel or two, a duvet cover and pillow cases, bed sheet, hangers, extension lead, toothbrush, alarm
  • A form of identification (such as a driving licence or passport) can come in handy
  • Internationals should remember their paperwork and UK plug adaptors

But it might be easier to wait until you get here before you buy the following…(people often end up sharing these sorts of things with neighbours)

  • Toaster, kettle, microwave
  • Mixed selection of cutlery, crockery and kitchen utensils. A typical list might include: Plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, sharp knife, cutlery, tin & bottle openers, saucepan, frying pan, grater, colander
  • An iron and ironing board (these can also be borrowed from the College, although many of you probably won’t bother anyway!), clothes drying rack

When you get up here you could pop to the Tesco out of town (the Sainbury’s in town gets really busy!) and pick up:

  • Some cereal/milk, pasta, bread, tea and squash (the staples!)
  • Stationary: paper, pens, a lock for your cupboard over the holidays and so on (Ryman’s do 10% off once you’ve got your student card!)
  • Washing up liquid, tea towel(s), clothes washing tablets
  • Bath items: shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, flannel, paracetamol, etc

 

Things you might want to wait and see over:

  • A printer. Several people I know brought one with them and never took it out of the packaging!
  • Books and DVDs. I brought loads with me and I’m pretty sure I didn’t read/watch any of them
  • Rugs/cushions/lamps and other ‘stuff’. It’s so much easier to buy these sorts of things once you get here and can see your room
  • Posters and decorative items (there’s a Poster Sale in the first week)
  • Black-tie evening wear – you’re very unlikely to want anything very formal during Freshers’ Week and by the time you do actually come to need something (end of term dinners, May Balls), you’ll probably decide you want to wear something else!
  • Computer/laptop. Most people do bring their own, but it’s not vital – College computer rooms are well-stocked and accessible 24/7
  • Bike – a lot of people bring one, but there are plenty of bike shops & second hand sales in Cambridge (especially during Freshers’ Week!)
  • Gowns. You won’t need one until Matriculation, so you’ve got a few days to pop into town and pick up the right one (each college has a different style)

 

A word on storage:

International students get priority for keeping their things in College over the summer holiday and there is very limited storage for anyone else, so remember what comes to Cambridge must leave again!