When it comes to being a student, you might envision a desk absolutely covered in stationery of all sorts – but in reality, this is the 21st century and things have come a long way from the days of pencil and paper… Don’t be drawn into spending your student loan on pastel post-it notes and thick, ring-bound diaries with dedicated sections for your shopping lists, gratitude lists, and seven other types of list! Below you’ll find the best stationery and study tools for students, just as a starting point.
Notebooks and Pens
Pen and paper aren’t dead yet – you’ll do well to have some basic notebooks or refill pads, and some biro pens in the ink colour of your choice. These are ideal for note taking and revising, and can be picked up in supermarkets and bargain stores across the country. You don’t need anything fancy, just good quality paper and pens that won’t run out after a day!
Highlighters
Sticking with the pen-and-paper theme for now, highlighters are great for when you’re revising for exams or want to create detailed notes with lines which really stand out. Again you can get highlighters in places like Poundland – the cheapest ones will do you just fine.
Laptop
It isn’t a complete necessity to have a laptop to aid you with your studies, but it will be of a big help if you are in a financial position to obtain one. This means you can take notes digitally, and write your essays from your student accommodation rather than having to head to the library every time you need to complete typed or computer-based work. Laptops can be picked up second-hand, and you can often get great student discounts too – especially near the start of a new term. Keep an eye out for refurbished laptops too! You’ll need a good warranty policy, and it’s worth getting your laptop insured… just in case!
iPad/tablet
An iPad or other branded tablet is a great idea for digital note taking, especially if you don’t feel comfortable taking a laptop out and about with you – tablets are much cheaper too, for the most part, so this might be a factor in your decision. Many tablets have the ability to download specific note-taking apps which have built-in features designed to accelerate your studying.
A basic diary/desk calendar
You can opt for a digital diary, or pick up a basic one – even a desk calendar will do. It’s just super important to have all of your exam dates, deadlines and other important dates in one place. Having the ability to flick through and see them in front of you will help you feel more organised, less stressed, and better prepared for what you need to achieve.
We know buying new stationery is somewhat of an unadulterated joy, but it’s wise to just get the basics and build from there should you decide you need anything else in the long run…
