What to pack

You should be aware that storage is limited in student accommodation, so only pack what is absolutely essential – particularly if your hall requires you to remove your personal belongings during the inter-semester break. Many students choose to wait until they arrive in St Andrews to source kitchen and other household items, allowing them to consume consciously, share equipment, split costs with future flatmates, and reduce waste.

You can get most of your items second-hand from the St AndReuse initiative on a pay-as-you-feel basis. In orientation week there is a Big Giveaway event where you can find kitchenware, stationery, bedding, electrical items, clothes and general household items donated by previous students and local residents. St AndReuse runs throughout the year with events available on the Transition website. A large volume of charity shops are available in the town as well.

Students at big giveaway finding secondhand kicthenware.

Any luggage you have should only be sent to arrive after you move into your hall of residence. The University cannot guarantee secure storage of luggage, and belongings will not be covered by the University's block insurance policy until you have moved in. 


Students moving to St Andrews should consider the following items:

  • Clothing
    The weather in St Andrews is changeable, with average temperatures of 10° to 20°C (50° to 68°F) in summer and 0° to 10°C (32° to 50°F) in winter. Snow is rare, but wind can often make temperatures feel lower than they are. You should take this into account when packing and may want to bring a waterproof jacket and weatherproof boots.
  • Bedding
    Bedding is not provided in halls. Students should bring or buy bedding, including sheets, duvets and pillows. Find out which size bedding you will require and how to pre-order a bedding pack which can be delivered to your hall before you arrive. You can also reserve a limited number of second-hand duvets and pillows for free with St AndReuse. Reservations are done on a first-come-first-served basis, managed by Transition. For more information contact transition@st-andrews.ac.uk. Bedding arrangements are different for foundation students.
  • Towels
  • Posters and pictures
    Posters, postcards and pictures should only be attached to the notice board in your room. Please only use drawing pins to attach pictures to your noticeboard, and do not use sellotape, drawing pins, blu tack or white tack on the walls, ceilings, furniture or any other fixture and fitting. 
  • Computer or laptop with a British standard lead and plug
  • Mobile phones used with a British standard lead and plug
  • Power adapters and extension leads which were purchased in the UK. 

Any personal electrical equipment brought into a hall, including connecting leads, must be serviceable and in a safe condition. Safety testing on portable electrical equipment is carried out by an external contractor on all electrical goods and leads, including extension cables, during the first few weeks of semester. All electrical equipment will be tested and labelled to confirm testing is complete and the appliance is safe to use in accommodation.

The residence manager has the right to refuse use of (and, if necessary, remove from the study bedroom) any piece of electrical equipment within the residence.

Kitchen items

It is recommended that all students – including those in catered accommodation – have a small selection of kitchenware, including cutlery, crockery, saucepans and cooking utensils.

Students are allowed to bring UK purchased kitchen equipment to be used and stored in the kitchen only, subject to space available. Accepted items include:

  • blender
  • coffee grinder
  • coffee machine
  • electric grill such as George Foreman
  • electric frying pan
  • hand mixer
  • iron
  • juicer
  • mixer or food processor
  • panini press
  • rice cooker
  • slow cooker
  • toastie machine.

You are advised not to bring your own personal toaster or kettle. There are communal kitchen or pantry areas in all residences where kettles and toasters are available for use.

What not to pack

You should not bring your own furniture, curtains, soft furnishings, lampshades or halogen lamps into your bedroom or hall, since all furnishings must comply with relevant safety legislations (Furniture and Furnishings Regulations 1993-Fire Safety Amendment). Additional furnishings may only be provided with the written permission of your residential services manager or Student Accommodation Services (email accommodation@st-andrews.ac.uk). 

Banned items include:

  • electric blankets
  • any type of heater other than those provided by the hall
  • humidifiers
  • non-British adapters or extension leads.

The following kitchenware is not allowed in any hall:

  • deep fat fryer
  • electric rings
  • element for heating water for coffee
  • refrigerators or medical fridges
  • halogen oven (all in one pot)
  • freezer
  • microwave.

E-cigarettes are allowed within halls of residence if they have the original charging unit, and they must have a safety cut out mechanism. It is not permitted to smoke or vape in any residence. You are only permitted to charge your e-cigarette in your room, not smoke or vape.

Fairy lights are allowed within bedrooms, but they must use LED lights.

Lamps are allowed within bedrooms but should not be floor lamps and should not have a fabric lampshade.

A full list of items accepted in halls of residence can be found on the accommodation website