Hi there! My name is Jio, an IBM student here in Heriot-Watt

I am transferring from the Malaysian campus this semester and I’m sharing the most essential items (in my opinion) that I will need for my new life at university.

Computers are arguably the most essential item that students need at university as we are often tasked to write essays and complete coursework throughout the year. Not only that, but computers are also essential for leisure whether it’s for playing games or watching your favourite shows. While the convenience of having a personal laptop or desktop in your dorm is helpful for working at your own pace, students are also free to use computers at Heriot-Watt’s Computer Lab when you need that professional working environment or when you don’t have one at the moment.

With computers, come accessories! The accessories I’ve shown here are my chargers, cables, wireless earbuds, and a storage device. These are essential for charging up your devices, listening to audio without disturbing anyone around you (great at libraries), and storing your photos and videos of your memories here in Edinburgh. Be sure to pack these along with your computer!

The next item is my smart phone. These are truly essential and should be with you everyday as you can use them to communicate to your friends, check your calendar for upcoming lectures and tutorials, or use it as your mobile wallet and GPS when you’re out and about. It’s also a good idea to carry a power bank in the event that your phone runs out of battery.

When going to class, taking notes is the tried-and-true method for learning and putting down key points of your lesson. There are many mediums for this, such as the traditional pen-and-paper or the digital method of typing or writing. While I prefer using digital means when taking notes, I’ll always carry around a pen and pencil for the times I need to work with paper. Be sure to use what you prefer when going to lectures and tutorials!

After classes, it’s a good idea to unwind. This is where a game console may be an essential item for university since it is a great way to release some stress. It can also be very helpful in making friends as it is a very fun activity to break the ice with your roommates or flatmates. Just don’t play Mario Party because that game breaks friendships 😆.

Lastly, a bonus item from me would be photos or memorabilia of your friends and families from home since traveling and studying far away can get lonely sometimes. Keeping a picture by your desk or shelf may ease that loneliness. 

For more student packing essentials, visit our 'what's in my bag?' page.