Moving day plan and your first-night box

Moving day is long, tiring and usually more chaotic than expected. A simple plan, labelled boxes and one box of first-night essentials turn it from stressful to manageable.

One to two weeks before

• Confirm your arrival date and check-in time with the accommodation office or landlord, and ask where to collect keys and what ID to bring.
• Pack documents in one marked folder, as Prospects advises: accommodation contract, acceptance letter, passport or ID, copies of prescriptions, proof of address and any funding documents. Save digital copies on your phone too.
• Set up your university email and student portal before you arrive (Prospects).
• If you are flying, check your airline's baggage allowance and consider sending some items ahead or buying them on arrival.

Packing smart

• Roll clothes and use vacuum bags to save space, as Unite Students suggests.
• Pack in manageable bags and boxes and label every one clearly, as Prospects advises, for example with the room it belongs in and your name.
• Keep valuables, medicines, chargers and documents in your hand luggage or a bag that stays with you.
• Do not overpack: Prospects suggests buying things like cleaning supplies, groceries and seasonal items once you arrive, and Unite notes you can even buy bedding when you get there.

Your first-night box

• Unite Students recommends packing a 'first night' bag with overnight essentials. Pack it last and open it first.
• Sleep: a pillow, a fitted sheet, a duvet cover and something to sleep in, so you can make your bed straight away.
• Wash: a towel, toiletries, toilet roll and any medicines you take.
• Eat: a mug, a plate, cutlery, a bottle of water and a few snacks or an easy meal, as shops may be closed or far away when you arrive.
• Practical: phone charger, a multi-way extension lead that meets local safety standards, a small torch, basic cleaning wipes and bin bags.
• Comfort: a prayer mat if you use one, a photo from home or something familiar to help the first night feel less strange.

On the day: a simple order

• Arrive, collect keys and sign in. Take photos of the meter readings and room before unpacking anything (see the move-in lesson).
• Clean surfaces you will use first, then make your bed: a ready bed makes everything feel better at the end of a long day.
• Unpack the first-night box, then the kitchen essentials, then clothes. Leave decoration for another day.
• Find the fire exits, the nearest supermarket, pharmacy and the accommodation office or night contact.
• Introduce yourself to flatmates, even briefly; leaving your door open while unpacking is an easy way to start conversations.
• Tell your family you have arrived safely, and agree when you will next call (see the Leaving Home module).

Safety on moving day

• Lift with your legs and ask for help with heavy boxes; use lifts and trolleys where available.
• Do not overload sockets with every charger and lamp at once: London Fire Brigade advises one plug per socket where possible, especially for high-powered appliances, and not overloading extension leads.
• Keep your room locked when you leave it, even for a few minutes, as Prospects advises, because moving days are busy with strangers in corridors.