From transforming your student room into a home to staying hydrated between lectures, these practical university essentials are ready for campus life.
Heading off to university is an exciting new chapter, but getting ready for the new academic year can be a little overwhelming. Alongside packing clothes, bedding and all the obvious university essentials, there are plenty of smaller additions that can make student life that little bit easier.
Whether you’re moving into halls for the first time or returning for another year, having a few reliable essentials in your room, backpack or gym bag can make a surprisingly big difference.
From a retro-inspired radio that can bring some personality to your new accommodation to a reusable bottle designed for busy days on campus, we’ve rounded up four products worth considering for the new term.
Make Your Student Room Feel Like Home with the Roberts Revival iStream 3
Moving into university accommodation often means starting with a fairly blank canvas. While photos, bedding and decorations can help, a great speaker or radio can quickly make a room feel more personal.
The Roberts Revival iStream 3 (£199.99) combines the classic retro styling Roberts is known for with modern streaming features, making it a particularly stylish addition to a student bedroom.
The smart radio supports DAB, DAB+, FM and internet radio, with access to more than 20,000 internet radio stations alongside thousands of podcasts. There’s also Bluetooth connectivity, allowing students to stream directly from a smartphone.
The iStream 3 also features built-in access to services including Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer, meaning it can become a useful companion for everything from getting ready for a night out to providing some background music during a late-night study session.
Its wooden cabinet and vintage-inspired design give it plenty of character too, making it more than just another piece of tech for a university room.
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Stay Refreshed Between Lectures with Rheal Daily Hydration
University schedules can get hectic quickly. Between lectures, seminars, library sessions, gym trips and social plans, remembering to stay hydrated isn’t always easy.
Rheal Daily Hydration Electrolytes in Raspberry (£18.95) are designed as a convenient addition to a student’s daily routine, with individual sachets that can be mixed with water.
The Raspberry formulation contains electrolytes from ingredients including pink Himalayan salt, coconut water and sea minerals, alongside vitamins C, D3 and K2. Rheal recommends mixing one sachet with 500ml of cold water.
The lightweight sachets also make them easy to keep in a university bag, ready for busy days on campus, trips to the gym or those occasions when you realise you’ve spent several hours studying without taking a proper break.
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Keep Your Water Close with the frank green Ceramic Reusable Bottle
A good reusable water bottle is practically a university essential, particularly when you’re constantly moving between accommodation, lectures, the library and societies.
The frank green Ceramic Reusable Bottle from £34.99 combines a stylish design with practical features intended for everyday use. The bottle uses triple-wall vacuum insulation to help retain the temperature of drinks, while its ceramic lining is designed to provide a clean taste.
Available in different sizes and customisable combinations, students can also personalise their bottle with different colours, lids and even monogramming options.
It’s the sort of item that can easily become a permanent fixture in a university bag, whether you’re heading to a 9am lecture or spending the afternoon in the library.
The brand also focuses on reusable products as part of its aim to reduce reliance on single-use plastic, making the bottle a practical option for students looking for something designed to last.
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Don’t Forget Your Gym Bag: Fussy Mini Natural Deodorant
Finally, there’s the smaller stuff that can make a big difference when you’re living away from home.
The Fussy Mini Natural Deodorant (£7) is designed to be compact enough for a handbag, backpack or gym bag, making it particularly handy for students who are constantly on the move.
Despite its smaller size, Fussy says its mini deodorant offers the same benefits as its regular deodorant, including natural ingredients and 24-hour protection. It also uses plastic-free compostable refills alongside a durable outer case designed to last.
At £7, it’s also an affordable way to try the brand without committing to a larger product, while its compact format makes it ideal for keeping in your bag for lectures, nights out, gym sessions or weekends back home.
Small Essentials Can Make a Big Difference
Preparing for university isn’t just about buying the biggest items on your checklist. The smaller additions can often be the things you end up using every single day.
A good radio can make an unfamiliar room feel more like home, while a reusable bottle and convenient hydration sachets can fit easily into a busy campus routine. Meanwhile, something as simple as a compact deodorant can be invaluable when you’re heading straight from lectures to the gym or out with friends.
With the new university year getting underway, these four essentials offer a mixture of style and practicality for students preparing to make the most of campus life.
