Half the dorm lists online are shopping lists in disguise. This one starts with the room: what is already in it, what your residence will not allow through the door, and how little floor space is left once the bed, desk and dresser are in place.
Run the three checks below before you buy anything.
Three things to check before you pack
- The bed size. Most residence beds are twin XL. Standard twin sheets sit about 13 cm short, and you will find that out on the first night. Housing services normally publishes the size on the room and board page.
- What the room already has. Desk, chair, dresser, closet, mattress, sometimes a fridge or a shared kitchen down the hall. Every item on that list is a box you do not have to carry up three flights.
- What is not allowed. Candles, halogen lamps, space heaters and pets appear on almost every banned list. Kettles, air fryers, mini-fridges and window AC units vary by building, and the rules usually live in a residence handbook PDF rather than in anyone’s inbox.
Bedding and sleep
- Two sets of twin XL sheets, so one set can be in the wash
- Mattress protector, plus a topper if the mattress turns out to be thin
- Duvet or comforter and one throw blanket
- Two pillows and spare pillowcases
- Earplugs and an eye mask, because residence hallways are loud at 1am
- A small fan. Older buildings get warm in September and again in April
Storage and organisation
Vertical space is the only space you get more of, so most of this list goes on a wall, a door or under the bed.
- Two under-bed bins, measured against the height of the bed frame
- Slim hangers, about 30 to start
- Over-the-door hooks for towels, coats and bags
- A drawer organiser and a small shoe rack
- Removable adhesive strips and hooks, since most residences charge for wall damage
- A collapsible laundry hamper that fits inside the closet
The kitchen corner
- Mini-fridge, if the room does not come with one and your roommate is not bringing one
- Kettle or a single-cup coffee maker, where the building allows it
- Two plates, two bowls, two mugs and a few sets of cutlery
- One sharp knife and a small cutting board
- Reusable containers, a can opener and a travel mug
- Refillable water bottle, and a filter pitcher sized to fit the fridge door
- Dish soap, a sponge, a tea towel and a couple of dish cloths
Laundry and cleaning
- Detergent, stain remover and dryer sheets
- Coins or a laundry card, if the machines are not app-based
- A folding drying rack for anything that should not go near a dryer
- Disinfecting wipes, an all-purpose spray and paper towel
- Small bin with bags, a lint roller, and a hand vacuum or a broom and dustpan
Bathroom and toiletries
A shared bathroom changes what you pack. Everything travels down the hall with you, so it has to fit in one caddy.
- Shower caddy that drains, and shower sandals
- Two bath towels, two hand towels and a face cloth
- Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razor and shaving cream
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash
- Face wash, moisturiser, sunscreen and lip balm
- Deodorant, nail clippers, hairbrush, hair ties, and any styling tool you use weekly
- Period products
- Prescriptions, pain and allergy medicine, bandages and a thermometer
Study and tech
- Laptop, charger, and a laptop lock for library sessions
- Surge protector, plus one extension cord of the type the residence permits
- Headphones, ideally the kind that cut noise
- Desk lamp, if the room does not have one
- Notebooks, pens, highlighters, sticky notes and a stapler
- Backpack, and a wall calendar or paper planner for deadlines
- An ethernet cable. Wi-Fi in older residences slows down the week before exams
Documents, cards and money
- Government ID and your student card
- Provincial health card and any private or international insurance details
- Bank cards, and a note of your account and branch information
- Immunisation records, which some programs ask for
- Residence agreement and financial aid paperwork
- Emergency contacts written down somewhere other than your phone
Scan all of it and keep a copy in cloud storage before you leave home.
Split the big items with your roommate
One message in August saves two fridges in September.
- Mini-fridge and microwave
- Kettle or coffee maker
- Area rug
- TV, monitor or streaming stick
- Speaker
- Iron and a small board
- Vacuum
What to leave at home
- Clothes for all four seasons. Bring the current one and swap during reading break.
- A printer. Campus printing costs less than ink and takes up no desk space.
- Most of your books. Reading lists change in the first week.
- Furniture. Rooms are measured to the centimetre and yours is already furnished.
- Candles, incense and halogen lamps, which set off alarms and break the rules at the same time.
- Kitchen gear sized for an apartment. Two of everything is plenty.
Pack a first-night bag
Move-in day ends with boxes everywhere and no idea which one holds your toothbrush. Keep one bag with you: phone charger, medication, toiletries, a towel, one set of sheets, pyjamas, a change of clothes, ID, water bottle and something to eat.
Getting it all there
Most residences run move-in on booked windows. You get an hour or two at the loading door, then the car has to move so the next family can unload, and the elevator queue does the rest. Anything that does not fit in one car load is worth planning properly: measure the biggest item, know which entrance you are assigned, and bring one person who can stay with the pile while the other parks.
If the run is bigger than a carload or the residence is across the province, our student moving crews do residence and shared-house moves across Metro Vancouver. Secure Moving is a Vancouver moving company charging by the hour, so a short residence run is priced like one.
FAQ
How much should I actually bring in first year?
Less than the lists suggest. A rough test: if it does not fit in a car with one passenger seat free, it will not fit in the room either. You can buy the rest in the first week once you have seen the space.
When should I buy the bulky things?
After you arrive, if you can. Bins, fans, drying racks and lamps are all sold within walking distance of most campuses, and buying them there saves you shipping or driving them across the country.
What if I am flying in?
Bring clothes, documents, tech and anything you cannot replace. Ship one or two boxes ahead if your residence accepts parcels before move-in, and buy bedding, kitchen items and cleaning supplies once you land. The boxes themselves are worth collecting free in the weeks before rather than buying.
