The 5 essential gadgets you need for your room at university

What technology do you need for your room at university? We’ve discussed the personal technology that will enhance your college experience and the best apps for students, but what about the devices and appliances that will make your room comfortable and cozy?

We’ve put together a list of the essentials you should take to college, along with the best budget-friendly models you can buy.

Before you buy

Before purchasing anything, check with your university to see what items they allow. They will send you guidance or refer you to online information. Make sure that everything you take with you is in good condition and, if you are in the UK, that it has a CE mark.

1. A coffee pod machine

If you can afford something better than a pot of instant, invest in a budget-friendly capsule coffee maker and reap the benefits of better quality wake-up juice. Many can also make tea, as you will see in our recommendations below.

At most universities, kettles are prohibited in the rooms. However, you will probably get a coffee maker with small capsules.

There are many options, but remember that the model you buy limits you to compatible pods. We have three recommendations, depending on the type of hot drinks you enjoy most.

If you like sweet, milky coffee and hot chocolate, we recommend the De’Longhi Nescafe Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS machine, which costs £34.99 from Amazon. It is very compact, mess-free, easy to use and makes coffee in seconds. It doesn’t automatically dispense the right amount of water for each drink, like the Tassimo Finesse does (see below), but it does mean you have a little more control over how you prefer to drink your drinks.

You can read more about it in our review, but the short version is that you can make a variety of coffee drinks with it (cappuccinos, lattes, espressos and more) and you don’t have to add separate milk, because the blend The drinks come with milk capsules, making them ideal for keeping in your room. You can also buy Dolce Gusto tea pods.

Another very versatile pad machine is the Bosch Tassimo Finesse, which currently costs £44.99 from Amazon.

Like the Dolce Gusto machines, it can make a variety of teas, coffee and hot chocolate, including milk pods. Available in different colors, the Finesse is an easy-to-use automatic machine with an internal barcode reader, so it automatically dispenses the right amount of water for whatever drink you are making.

Alex Greenwood / Foundry

Alex Greenwood / Foundry

Alex Greenwood / Foundry

If you are a true black espresso drinker, we recommend a Lavazza machine. There’s nothing more suitable for a student room than the Lavazza A Modo Mio Tiny, £59, from Amazon. Unlike the coffee machines mentioned above, it only makes black coffee, but it is one of the best pod espressos you can get.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

2. A mini fridge

Depending on where you stay, you may be allowed to bring a mini refrigerator to store and use in your room. If permitted, the maximum dimensions allowed are approximately 515mm high and 500mm wide.

If you just want a small fridge, to keep a few drinks and a sandwich cool, we recommend the Russell Hobbs 4-litre portable mini cooler, which costs £32.99 from Amazon.

Its dimensions are only 18 (D) x 24 (W) x 25.2 (H) cm, so you can literally park it on your desk. There is enough space for six 330 ml cans.

Russel Hobbs

Russel Hobbs

Russel Hobbs

It is also a good option if you want to keep medications in your room. However, if your university does not allow you to bring your own refrigerator and you need one, they should provide one if you contact them in advance.

3. A desk fan

A desk fan is very useful to have, not only to keep you cool and ventilate your room, but also to stay awake and feel refreshed when studying for long periods of time.

We recommend the Meaco 6-inch desk fan, available for £34.99. It is wireless and charges via a standard USB port.

It has a footprint of only 14 cm, so it won’t take up half of your desk space. It is efficient and unobtrusive and also has a night light. The fan has four speeds and runs for up to 14 hours on a single battery charge.

An even smaller option is John Lewis’ portable handheld fan, which we tested and love. It only costs £12 by John Lewischarges via USB, but has a battery life of up to 9 hours and folds into a desk fan. You can read our review to learn more.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Emma Rowley / Foundry

4. A clothes steamer

Are you going to iron your clothes at university? I can pretty much guarantee you won’t. For one thing, you can’t bring an iron, and secondly, life is short. But chances are, some of the clothes you bring will be unbearably lined and wrinkled by the time you unpack them.

The solution: a portable clothes steamer. They are light and portable and very easy to use.

But they are not only useful for removing wrinkles from clothes. You can also use one to freshen clothes you’ve already worn, as the steam kills odors and bacteria.

Using a steamer is a good way to re-wear a shirt that isn’t quite ready for washing. (And that kind of frugality is actually the essence of college.) You can also use them on pillows and towels and to disinfect items.

You can buy the Swan clothes steamer from Amazon for £20.99 at the time of writing. The nice thing about this device is that you can use it on flat clothing as you would with an iron, as well as on hanging garments. Just fill with water and go.

5. A light alarm

A light alarm wakes you up gently, instead of prompting you into action like a traditional alarm does. Moreover, it helps you wake up naturally in the dark winter months. A light alarm works by gradually increasing the light level in the room, so that you wake up rested rather than gloomy.

We’ve tested some of the best light alarms available and some are pricey, but the Groov-e Curve is an absolute bargain. You can buy it from Amazon for £16.99.

In addition to the light alarm function, the device has a sunset setting to help you fall asleep, and eight different alarm sounds – just in case you’re worried that the light won’t be enough to wake you up.

And don’t forget to pack…

In addition to your electrical appliances, you also need a way to charge or connect them. If you want to give your dumb devices some smart features, like turning your lamp or fan on and off on a schedule or remotely, check out our round-up of the best smart plugs we’ve tested. You can get one for a tenner.

You should buy one tooone extension cord. A four socket with a long cable like this one, from Amazon (£6.99) should be sufficient.

You may have a shared bathroom or a private bathroom. In either case, don’t count on having a two-pin shaver socket. If you bring bathroom gadgets that can be charged via a shaver socket, such as an electric toothbrush or shaver, you should bring an inverter so that you can charge them via a three-pin plug if necessary. This two-converter pack costs £7.49 from Amazon UK.

Do you have your audio system in order? A portable, budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker is a must-have in the bedroom. Check out our overview of the best cheap Bluetooth speakers available.

For everything else you need for autumn, check out our complete back-to-school hub, with deals, tips and essential buys.