So, your journey to the University of Glasgow is about to begin and it feels like there is so much to be done that the simple question of 'what should I bring?' can pile up to a series of concerns. As a student who comes from Latin America, which is far in terms of distance, weather and customs, I hope that sharing my experience will help you mitigate some concerns and ease the process of settling into your accommodation. 

The first thing you should do may seem obvious but is never too much to recall: check with your acommodation provider if staying in student accommodation what is included in your package. Then, I recommend you make a list of what you use in your routine, which can be more challenging than it appears because lots of little things are so embedded in our daily lives that we only notice them when they are not there. Don't leave anything off this list, from pillowcases, sheets and pyjamas you use to sleep, to body products, clothes, medication, electronic and non-electronic devices, towels and so on. These intiial considerations will help you get through the first few weeks without great concerns which, to me, was the most important part as this is the period of adaption to your place, its surroundings, and the city in general. 

In my case, I stay in a university accommodation that provides the flat with most of the basic utensils to settle in, such as a cutlery set, cup, plate, duvet and sheet set, and pillows. I did not worry about bringing those because I travelled alone and by plane, and purposefully arrived with the least luggage I could. Just as a sidenote, lots of people arrived with full trunks and multiple large suitcases - I assume their lists of daily-life utensils was very thorough, encompassing videogames and lamps - which is a feasible yet more expensive approach to settling in. Personally, bringing my medication, sports gadget, appropriate clothes for the rainy and cold weather, hygiene products and towels, summed with the utensils included in the accommodation, was sufficient and essential to arrive and settle in with ease. 

Of course, after a while I had to acquire another self of almost everything, yet, by then I already knew which places had bettter prices and which items I actually needed in my new routine. This leads to me some specific tips:

  • Be extra attentive to bringing controlled medication (those requiring prescription) lasting at least two months, as depending on which medication you take (in my case, for ADHD and anxiety), getting an appointment and further a prescription in the UK can take up to a month; 
  • Glasgow is wetter and windier than it is cold, my best purhcases in Brazeil were by far water-repellent shoes and jackets. Think of this also for gloves, I only realised how they can you feel colder when the ones I bought got soaked ...;
  • Most everyday utensils can be found at affordable prices in stores such as Ikea, Primark, and supermarkets including Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons (these are the most affordable markets in Glasgow)
  • Personally, Primark is my go-to store for accommodation things because there are lots of units around GLasgow with a ride range of pdocuts, which I highlight (proces from second half of 2024): towels and bed sheets from £6, shower mat and face towels from £4, and all-purpose organisers from £3; and finally;
  • Some specific cold-and-rain adapted clothing were in fact cheaper here than in my country, including gloves, socks, and caps, so you can consider bringing a couple of those items and getting more when arriving. 

All in all, if I could leave you with one pressing piece of information is that while the specifics of settling in may vary according to where you are staying (private or university, single or shared, city centre or not), the process will be as smooth as you can adapt to your specific needs. I did not require arriving with everything fully ready for my entire term so bringing less things worked for me and made my travelling journey less stressful, but you may be the opposite and feel comfortable with all settled from the start. In any case, changes are inevitable and unforeseen circumstancesa almost as much, and now you know that if these occur, there is always a store or market to help you through your living experience. 

First published: 16 January 2025

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