What to bring to MMU halls: the actual list

Manchester Met lists every hall with its walking time to two places: the Business School, at All Saints, and the Brooks Building, at Birley. Cavendish, at the heart of campus, is a minute from the Business School. Others, like Brook Hall, Ropemaker Court and Wilmslow Park, are over twenty minutes' walk away, or a short bus ride. A handful, such as Artisan Heights, Chandos House, House of Social and Parkway Gate, are run by private partners. Check three things before you pack: the bathroom (en-suite, shared, or a mix within the flat), the size of the flat, and whether your hall is run by the university or by a partner.

A few things are the same wherever you live. Rent through Manchester Met covers the bills: utilities, Wi-Fi and contents insurance are all included, so there's nothing to set up. Your room comes with a bed and mattress, a mattress protector, under-bed storage, a desk and chair, a wardrobe, shelves, a noticeboard, a wall heater, curtains and an internet point. Some rooms also have a washbasin and mirror.

Bedding is where people get it wrong. Most rooms have a small double bed, and the university asks for 3/4-size bedding to fit it: a 3/4 duvet and cover, a fitted sheet, pillows and pillowcases. The exception is Cavendish, where the beds are single. Single sheets won't stretch to a 3/4 mattress, so buy for the bed you've actually got.

Then talk to your flatmates before anyone buys crockery. Flats range from two people to fourteen, and the kitchen list (plates, cutlery, pans, utensils) is far shorter when it's shared out.

The bedroom list is short because the room is furnished. Beyond the 3/4 bedding, bring hand and bath towels, clothes hangers, and whatever makes the room feel like yours: photos for the noticeboard, a good pillow, a throw for the bed. Under-bed storage is already there, so storage boxes can wait until you've seen how much space you have.

In the kitchen the university asks for crockery and cutlery, pots and pans, cooking utensils and tea towels, plus the cleaning basics: washing-up liquid, dish cloths, washing powder and bin bags. Some halls have induction hobs, so check what yours has before you buy pans; a set that doesn't work on induction is no use there.

The banned list deserves a proper read, because staff can confiscate anything on it. Deep fat fryers, candles and incense, portable heaters, halogen lights, hookah and shisha pipes, electric bikes and scooters, mini fridges (unless they're for medical use), DJ decks or a large sound system, sunbeds, dartboards, portable washing machines, large gym equipment and barbecues are all out, along with the obvious hazards: fireworks, flammable liquids, dangerous chemicals, nitrous oxide, replica weapons and CCTV. So are electrical items that don't meet UK standards, which matters if you're bringing appliances from abroad.

For tech, bring your laptop and chargers, and the stationery and course equipment your department has asked for. A TV is allowed, but Birley's bedrooms have no aerial point, and you'll need a TV Licence to watch live or catch-up TV on any device. Flat kitchens include a communal TV; at Needham Court and Oxford Court it comes without a licence.

Pack a proper waterproof, the kind with a hood you'll actually use. The Met Office's Manchester records make October the wettest month of the year, at around 95 mm of rain, with November and December not far behind. That's your first term. An umbrella helps on a short dash; a waterproof jacket is what gets you through a twenty-minute walk from Brook Hall or Ropemaker Court.

Expect to walk a lot. From Archway, Briarfield, Needham Court, Oxford Court and Rosamond House, the Business School is under ten minutes away on foot; Birley's halls sit next to the Brooks Building. Good shoes earn their place. A bike can be handy, but not an electric one: electric bikes and scooters are on the banned list.

Keep the paperwork in one folder. The university's list is short and specific: any letters or documents from Manchester Met, your accommodation details, proof of financial support if it applies to you, proof of disability if you've arranged support, and anything your academic department has asked for. International students should add their passport and the login for their eVisa, the UK's digital proof of immigration status.

Two more things for your first week: register with a GP near your hall before you need one, and sort out a TV Licence before you watch any live or catch-up TV. Neither takes long, and both are harder in a hurry.