Absolutely everything you need to bring as a fresher starting at Cambridge University

While helping with admissions, I’ve found freshers are concerned about many odd things. From the temperature of rooms being ripe for spider breeding to the specific type of radiators in college, I’ve received a bunch of bizarre questions. But what to include while packing is a pretty normal one to be worried about.

If you’re concerned about what to bring to Cam, I’d like you to know that I knew an international student whose luggage was lost in the airport on the first day of Easter term. For three days. And he was fine – made for great conversation when a socially deprived fellow stopped him for small talk.

People leant him things he needed, and in some cases he bought things which were required to survive (new wardrobe) – Cambridge isn’t the middle of the wilderness and you’ll probably have time to walk to Tesco (and if you don’t please stop overworking yourself in first year).

1. Formal clothing

You’ll need more formal clothing than most other university students. At Cam we love any posh event which is an excuse to pretend to be aristocracy and drink free Champagne. And you probably should dress up – some people don’t, but many students love the tradition.

You don’t need to break the bank for this – I usually wear the same dress to formals and I got it half price in a sale. My white-tie May Ball dress was free as part of a deal and I have friends who have found them in charity shops or on Vinted.

I’d recommend buying a suit or long dress, both of which can be used at a variety of formal or semi-formal events.

If you intend on joining your college boat club, you’ll even need black tie – the infamous termly dinners have a dress code and are attended by alumni and senior rowers. If you’re wearing a suit you’ll need a bowtie, and if you’re wearing a dress you’ll need it to be below the knee.

2. Sports kit

Cambridge is a great place to take up sports – casually or competitively – and something might take your fancy at the Freshers’ Fair. Most are free but you’ll have to buy kit – it’s useful to bring a sports shirt and shorts/leggings to cover all eventualities.

3. Bags and boxes

Cambridge students move out at the end of every term, which keeps rent low as you only pay for term-time but is also a tad bit inconvenient.

All your decorations take up space, as well as clothes and whatever you deem necessities (I know a lawyer with a gaming setup and a bio natsci (biology student – you’ll get used to the slang) with an air fryer).

Bring boxes. Your bags and boxes will disappear across term. Then, come the end of your room licence, you have to decide between your stolen college crockery and all the food you hoarded and didn’t actually eat. And you’ll choose the crockery – bring bags, stop food waste.

4. Lined paper

This one is shocking, but also rare. Nobody thinks of it, and the chances are that when you’re working on an essay at the weekend the shops will be shut and you will be paperless. Some supervisors prefer written work, so beware if you have written exams. Or are supervised by an old person.

5. Physical money

Unless you’re an Emmanuel student, you do actually have to do your own laundry. Many colleges still use coin-operated machines which only accept cash. At my college the washing machines only accept 20p or £1!

I’d trade my soul for a 20p coin in an emergency, to be honest.

6. No-iron clothes

In the same vein, many colleges have little or no access to an iron. You most likely will not have time or space to set up an ironing board in your room, so I’d recommend going non-iron or bringing a drying rack to dry your clothes flat.

7. Ear plugs

Cambridge is still a university, and university students are loud. Especially in Freshers’ accommodation.

Ear plugs are valuable for sleeping, blocking out building work and concentrating when people are celebrating getting out of an exam while you’re in the library studying (I’m not upset shut up).

8. Bike

For some colleges this is a bonus – for many it’s a necessity. If you’ve scored an offer to Girton, Homerton, Fitzwilliam, Churchill, Murray Edwards or any college listed as a “hill college” you’ll need a bike to travel into Cambridge efficiently.

Have hobbies? Bike to them. 5am swimming? Get a couple extra minutes in bed with a bike. Back-to-back supervisions across the city? Bike. Rowing? Bike. Lecture block ten minutes away? Bike for those 9ams.

9. ID

Bring ID! Paperwork, post-term trips and applications may require ID – it’s not worth leaving it at home.

If you’re interested in going out you’ll also need ID, unless A-Level stress has aged you 20 years. You’ll be ID’d in all clubs and pubs, and even for movies (I only wanted to see Saltburn… It’s a 15… I was 19).

10. Small/light decorations

You’ll want to make your room feel like home. Especially if you’re an international student or far from home. I’d recommend fairy lights and photos, as they’re easy to transport.

Don’t bring posters. Colleges hate students putting thing on the walls and damaging the paint (people do it anyway but I don’t want a mean email from housekeeping).

Having something easy to pack and put up/take down is useful, especially as many freshers tend to over-pack. Speaking from experience. Have you ever tried to carry everything important ever written in the Renaissance up three flights of flagstone spiral stairs in five inch platform boots? Just a hypothetical for you to think about.

Related articles recommended by this writer:

• This is how Cambridge University’s Formal Halls are done
• This is which Cambridge college the cast of Bridgerton would go to
• New vs. old colleges; who has more fun?