Back To Uni Essentials: Must Have Items For New University Students in Australia (Free Checklist Included)

Planning to start Uni this year?

Excited? Nervous? or Just in between?

No worries!

Hopefully, this article will help in reducing stress for one of the thing on your list: Back to Uni Essentials

So, let’s get started with our items

1. Laptop or Tablet

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A must have items on the list. Choosing a laptop or an Tablet can be hard work. But let’s make it simple.

If you need to do ton of stuff for your university assignment and have to use some software’s that need power, then go for a laptop. If you need to just take notes, do some web browsing and usual office programs, then (a good) tablet might be sufficient.

Many students usually consider getting a Apple MacBook’s or Apple iPads as their main device to take to unit. And luckily, at the start of the uni each year (usually end of January), Apple brings “Back to Uni” deals for students. So it is worthwhile waiting for this deal to come before buying any Apple device.

From 18 January 2023 to 13 March 2023, buying an iPad or Macbook will get you Free airpods and 20% off apple care. The starting prices are from A$1,349 (with education pricing) for Macbook Airs.

If this sounds too much and you still want Mac, no issues.

Getting a refurbished Mac might be your next best option. You can check it directly with Apple or Amazon or website like Reeblo which sells refurbished technology.

If you are not a Mac person or need Windows computer, then you can look into checking with Microsoft Windows Surface computers or tablets. You can check retailers like JB Hi-Fi, Good Guys, Harvey Norman or official Microsoft for some deals on the Microsoft computers.

Want to save some more $$$ on Microsoft computers or tablets? Check their eBay store and look up for a discount code. Usually, you can save more via their eBay store.

There are many other deals from other providers like Dell, Lenovo, Asus, etc. So depending on your budget and needs, there are multiple options.

2. Backpack

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Next essential uni item will be the Backpack.

You can go for some cheap ones from K-Mart or Target.

But if you want a really good bag that does not break the bank and is very comfortable to use, then this Dell bag might be the one you need.

It is sturdy, looks decent and can carry your laptop up to 15”, umbrella, water bottle and other stuff.

If are looking for something fancy, then you can check bagsmart or other popular bag websites.

3. Headphones/Earphones

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Looking for some cool looks for the uni year? or just like listening to music on the go?

You got it! We are talking about the headphones or if you want you can choose to have earpods.

There are ton of options when choosing headphone/earpods.

Every is different and so their needs for the head gear.

If you want to have that cool uni look, then you might want to go for over the earheadphones or if you want to have it discreetly, then earpods might be the way to go for you.

Luckily, with Apple’s current promotions, you can get an Airpods for free when you buy an iPad or Macbook. Sweet!

But if you are after something else, then you can check Samsung’s earphones Buds Live. They are not overly priced and most of them you can find a decent deal for it. Just google that my friend!

When it comes to Over the ear headphones, if you don’t want to break the bank, then check this Plantronics headphones. They aren’t overly priced and have decent reviews and they are bluetooth (another win).

But if you are that stubborn kid, you want to break the bank, then you should check the top of the range products like Bose, Sony and Sennheiser.

4. Hard Drive/USB

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USBs and Hard Drives are life savers in uni.

Sharing good lecture notes (no no not assignments) with your friends is easy through the hard drives or USB’s especially if you don’t have an access to internet.

Also, as the cost of cloud storage rises, having a backup in the harddrive or usb is a must.

You can pick one from you local stationery shop or electronic stores.

A good 32 GB USB can starts from $10 onwards on special. But as storage needs increase, you can getter a USB with larger storage.

If you need even more storage then a 1TB Hard Drive starts from $59 in Officeworks.

5. Journal/Planner

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Staying organised is a key to success in life (and more importantly in uni)!

Start the uni year on a right foot by having a Journal or Planner.

It can help you plan out your whole term or even the year.

You can track your progress, take note of the timetables, assignment due dates and everything in between life and study.

6. Stationery

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Cool Notebook! Checked

Nice Sparkling Pens! Checked

Water bottle! Checked

Nearly forgot about the Textbooks 😂!

Don’t underestimate the power of having stationery in your bag.

Our tip is “Always carry spares and make new friends”. Someone would have forgotten their pen at home for sure. (We are looking at you, John).

10 Free Grammar Apps For Students

7. Printer

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Yes, we don’t print as much as we used to. (Which we agree that is really good for the environment).

But still at times, you might want to print your lecture notes to understand things better or you are just kind of person who likes to highlight every single important line, then printer can be a handy thing.

A good printer can save you trips to the local Officeworks and time too.

8. Water bottle

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Luckily in Australia tap water is safe to drink.

So bringing your own water bottle to uni is a must. And it costs lots of money if you are going to buy water bottles outside every single day.

9. Snacks

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Look we understand that studying can be hard work. It’s ok!

And bringing a snack in the backpack is must specially if you have a long day at uni.

You can always look at the last chocolate left in the cupboard and bring it along.

But we highly recommend looking for healthier alternatives:

• Nuts
• Granola Bars
• Yoghurt
• Dried fruits
• Crackers
• Fruits

10. Apps

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Apps are like lifeline these days in the student life. (No we are not talking about ChatGPT).

There are ton of apps you need to download before heading to uni this year.

Our pick includes:

• Notion: For note taking and collaboration
• Microsoft Office: For everyday assignment use
• Canva: For cool graphics and presentation templates
• Grammarly: For checking your grammar
• Google Drive: For storage and online collaboration
• University Apps: For study resources and maps
• Banking Apps: For your everyday banking needs
• Public Transport Apps: For check timetables

But you might need to download other apps as well. In case your uni doesn’t provide with free Microsoft office, then we suggest checking these free 10 Microsoft Office alternatives.

Bonus Uni Essentials

11. Meal Kits

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Too busy to head to supermarkets during semester (or just hate supermarket trips anyways) and don’t want to order unhealthy food everyday either, then Meal kits bit be the answer for you.

Meal kit companies offer a no brainer solution for students and busy professionals as they send you your grocery and meal planning instructions along with them.

Long story short, you order these meal kits (based on your preferences), they deliver pre-portioned ingredients and step by step recipe instructions to cook, then you cook and eat. Easy!

These days meal kit companies can cater to dietary requirements like Vegan, Vegetarian etc. as well.

So if this sounds something that you need then you are in luck as we have scored an amazing offer from HelloFresh and EveryPlate for you.

Get $210 off on your first 5 boxes via HelloFresh here.

Get up to $180 off your first six boxes via EveryPlate here.

12. Academic Support

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No we are not talking about those shady companies offering help to write your essays!

This is genuine academic support in academic and business writing.

Our partners at Abydos Academy offer courses that provide a comprehensive learning experience to help improve your writing skills for your academic essays, assignments etc.

They also help you to understand the concepts of plagiarism and referencing.

Luckily, their Back to Uni deal is offering 80% off on all courses. With individual courses starting from $15.99 only. Check their special offer here.

By having all these essential items, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the challenges of university life. Good luck!

Comprehensive Back to Uni Checklist

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Here is a comprehensive checklist for students starting university in Australia. Download this back to uni checklist in PDF format below.

Download the Back to Uni Checklist Below

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