19 essentials every student should take to uni, from £9 (and 4 things they don't need)

This affordable Slumberdown duvet is a smart buy as it's suitable for all seasons, making it a year-round investment. In our tests, one panel member even compared it to a warm hug. Great for when you start to miss old ma and pa.

Let's face it, getting a full night's sleep at uni isn't always going to happen, but when you do want to get some rest, you'll need a supportive and breathable place to lay your head, which this Silentnight pillow provides.

A topper can add a layer of luxe to old mattresses and our friends at Slumberdown have you covered if you arrive to a lumpy, bumpy one in your new digs. This is hypoallergenic and machine washable, and has a non-slip base to keep it in place.

This affordable Egyptian cotton range comes in a wide choice of colours, so you can find one to fit in with your uni decor. Despite their low price tag, they're a good size and didn’t shrink during washing. Testers also found them pleasingly fluffy and soft.

Whether you want a quick cuppa between lectures, or a strong coffee to reverse the effects of the night before, look no further than this speedy-boiling kettle.

As the main component of many, many, university meals, get ready to take toast seriously. This sleek two-slice toaster won points for its wide slots and seven levels of browning. Testers were impressed with how it handled frozen bread too, and it toasted bagels well.

As well as being wallet-friendly, this eight-piece set can go in the dishwasher, so there's really no excuse for not clearing up properly after whipping up a meal. They pans heat up quickly and have a reliable non-stick design, so there’s no two-week "soaking" needed even if you don’t have a dishwasher to hand in halls.

A reliable budget buy for first timers decking out their kitchen, our testers were impressed with this set’s chopping and dicing skills. These were as effective and robust as some of the much pricier models we tested.

Thanks to their fun colour-coded design and the protective blade covers, you’ll easily be able to pick them out in a crowded utensil drawer, making them ideal for student life.

For those living in self-catered halls, you're really getting your money's worth with this air fryer and multi-cooker. It sears, grills, roasts, bakes and slow cooks, making it a reliable space-saving appliance.

The simple modern design is easy to use, yet still sleek and it scored a perfect ten in our chicken and chips test. That's dinner sorted.

If any gadget was designed with students in mind, it's the sandwich toaster. This one heats up quickly and turns out crisp toasties that are evenly cooked with plenty of oozing melted cheese – a failsafe cheap and easy lunch that requires minimal cooking skills.

Leave the iron and ironing board at home and take this portable steamer instead. While you won't need it everyday, it will come in handy for those summer balls and festive nights out when you want to look a little fancier.

When it’s hair wash day and dry shampoo won’t cut it, have faith knowing this hair dryer will get the job done in a flash. Not only is it quick, but it’s comfortable to hold – great news for those blessed with long or thick hair. In the GHI lab, it successfully kept frizz at bay, and our testers loved how smooth and glossy their hair felt after use.

Designed with smaller living spaces (like shared student halls) in mind, there’s a lot of drying space here – 21 metres, to be exact. It’s also portable and lightweight, and, at only 59cm wide when open, it takes up minimal floor space. The whole rack will easily hold a load of double bedding or two smaller laundry loads, plus it includes four extended hanging corners that each fit up to two extra items.

Multiple members of the Good Housekeeping team swore by clothes organisers when they were at university – making sure you don't have to compromise your style if space is tight in halls or a box room. It's not quite a Mary Poppins bag, but it will help you fit more in.

While not actually an essential, it's good to have some kind of decorations to fall back on when faced with a plain, empty university room. This set is an Amazon's Choice buy and has hundreds of five star reviews thanks to the bright lights and flexible copper wire.

Aerolite specialises in quality hardshell cases at budget-friendly prices. The case’s telescopic handle can sit at different heights, it has a spacious interior, and a selection of pockets makes packing extra easy.

With a five-year warranty, this is a nifty and substantial case – perfect for moving your worldly goods or travelling back home by car or train in the holidays.