Results tables: University purchases and information sources

Almost all (97%) had made some purchases before staring university. Stationery (69%), kitchen equipment and tableware (65%), and clothes (58%) were most frequently mentioned. More than half (54%) purchased a new laptop.

First year undergraduate respondents were less likely than both continuing and final year undergraduate students to have bought stationery before starting university (60% cf. 82% and 77%).

Final year respondents were more likely than first years to have purchased textbooks (48% cf. 30%)

The majority of those living away for university had purchased kitchen equipment and tableware (92%), and two‐thirds (66%) had purchased room decorations. Among those staying at home for university, proportions buying these items were significantly lower (5% and 7% respectively).

Conversely, respondents staying at home for university were more likely than students living away for university to have purchased textbooks (54% cf. 30%).

Respondents remaining at home and commuting into university were also more likely to say they hadn’t purchased any of these items before starting university (8% cf. 1%).

Q: Which of the following, if any, did you buy for starting university? Please select all that apply (Multiple Response) (Base: 387)

The majority (90%) had sought advice about what to take to university; on average each looked for information from three different sources. Two‐thirds of respondents had used The Student Room (66%) for advice on what to take. Information from their university (58%), and YouTube (52%) were also frequently mentioned.

Continuing undergraduate students were more likely than final year undergraduate students to turn to YouTube for advice on what to take to university (61% cf. 41%).

Similarly, continuing undergraduate students were more likely than first year undergraduate students to use ‘Which?’ for advice when deciding what to take to university (13% cf. 5%).

Respondents that were living away for university were more likely than those staying at home and commuting into university to use the following sources to access information about what to take to university:

• Information from my university (65% cf. 44%)

• YouTube (56% cf. 43%)

• Save the student (26% cf. 13%)

Conversely, respondents staying at home and commuting into university were more likely to consult Unidays (43% cf. 30%) or none of the listed information sources (15% cf. 7%).

Q: Which of the following, if any, did you look to for advice about what to take to university? Please select all that apply (Multiple Response) (Base: 385)

Respondent

395 complete and partial responses were received, all were UK students aged 16 or over and currently studying at university. Any significant differences by stay at home versus move away as well as for current year of study are identified throughout this document.

Gender

Male (including transgender men)20%

Female (including transgender women)76%

Non

Prefer not to say2%

No50% Prefer not to say3%