So you’ve got the grades and now you’re off to Queen’s! The next step is to start: PACKING.

But what should you bring? If you’re moving from abroad, or even from just down the road it’s useful to know what you need to pack and what you don’t.

My advice here is to pack only the essentials. I’m going to break down this article into three sections:

• What You Should Bring
• What’s Included at Queen’s Accommodation
• Where To Buy Everything Else

Hopefully, it will give you a good idea of what to expect from moving into Queen’s Accommodation or will at least provide a good place to start your packing list.

 

What You Should Bring

Here are a few items I recommend bringing:

• Clothes: Pack them according to seasons. The weather starts to get colder as the year progresses!
• Shoes: I recommend bringing good walking shoes, a pair of boots and a formal shoe.
• Jacket: Do bring a good jacket! I like having a good waterproof jacket because that means I’m well prepared for all weathers.
• Electronics: Make sure they have a warranty and are in good enough condition to last you through the academic term.
• Backup Drives: I like to keep one with me to ensure all my important information is constantly backed up securely.
• Toiletries: Remember, only the essentials for the first few days after you arrive! You can get the rest of them here in Belfast at an affordable price.
• Stationery: A Notebook, a Pen and some folders. You should only pack what you’ll likely be using for the rest of the academic term. Alternatively, you can easily pick all of this up once you get here.
• Any other important miscellaneous that you may want to bring with you (textbooks for the upcoming academic term, important notes that you feel may help in the upcoming term, etc)
• Clothes hangers

With that, you’re pretty much set to move into Queen’s Accommodation. Don’t worry if you forget something as shops offer student discount most of the time and when it’s the right season you can get really good deals!

 

What’s included at Queen’s Accommodation

In the case of my room, which was an ensuite, here’s what was included:

• A Study Lamp
• Storage Space Beneath Your Bed
• A Wardrobe
• A Bathroom
• A Table
• A Cork Board
• A Standard Single Bed with Mattress
• Desk and Chair
• Waste Paper Bin

All rooms in Queen’s Accommodation contain the items on this list, with the exception of a bathroom if you’ve opted for a standard room. However, if you want to know the specifics for your room you can check out the information provided on the Queen’s Accommodation page.

Where to Buy Everything Else

You might have noticed that I didn’t suggest bringing kitchen accessories or bedding in my suggestions above. That’s because there are great kitchen and bedding packs available for pre-order prior to the arrival at your accommodation.

Alternatively there are a few places I would recommend if you decide to get these on your own:

• Savers is a great place for you to get your toiletries
• Argos is a good place for you to get pillows, duvet cover sets and a duvet for a great price.
• TK Maxx is where I brought most of my kitchen appliances stuff.
• Or you can look out for stuff that were donated by previous tenants at your accommodation from previous terms – and they really have almost anything you can find. From rice cookers, to extra duvet (with sheets attached), extra food, and kitchen appliances – it’s a gold stash waiting to be salvaged.

Conclusion

Moving into Queen’s is really simple. I found the process was stress-free, especially since I opted for the Kitchen and Bedding packs. Just remember to take time and pack properly. It’s easy once you break it down into parts and determine what you really need.

Stay tuned for the final article on my mini-series where I’ll tell what it’s really like to live with flat mates.

Hew Hoong Liang

LLB Law I 3rd Year