Whether you’re new to university life or a seasoned studymaster, a new semester or the beginning of the academic year is the perfect time to get yourself organised. And nothing quite hits the mark like a fresh batch of back-to-uni supplies. Luckily, stocking up on all your uni essentials doesn’t need to make a huge dent in your bank balance. Be prepared for all your sessions and help maintain focus with these budget-friendly uni stationery and tech finds.

Uni Essentials for $5 or Less

You’ll be surprised how many university essentials you can get for $5 and less.

Like hair ties and loose change, pens seem to regularly disappear into a black hole. So it’s a good idea to stock up on ballpoints as part of your university essentials and choosing a pack of pens in black, blue and red should stand you in good stead for those all-important lectures and seminars. Prefer your note-taking to be a tad jazzier? Try neon-coloured pens instead.

When revising, a bright and bold set of highlighters will help commit important facts, figures and quotes to memory. You can even get pastel highlighters made from recycled PET bottles. 

Whether you’re an undergraduate or studying for a masters degree, you’re going to have assignments to keep track of. Keep a pad of sticky notes on hand to scribble important reminders and help you hit those deadlines. Choose lined stickies if you like to keep longer notes for yourself.

Another handy tip to help with your studies is to pop a set of sticky tabs or page flags in your bag before you hit the library. Self-adhesive, repositionable page markers are perfect for bookmarking textbooks so you can easily find those references for your next essay.

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Uni Stationery Supplies at $10 and Less

Get bang for your precious buck with these practical and stylish university stationery must-haves for $10 and under.‍

Tackle that back-to-uni supplies list with university stationery must-haves for $10 or less. If you’re a student who jots down lots of notes by hand, or perhaps studying creative writing or journalism, spending a little more on your pen collection will pay off. Gel pens glide easily over paper and Pilot has introduced its Frixion line with erasable ink, so you can get rid of any mistakes. 

A snazzy set of highlighters and sticky notes will also be essential stationery items to keep on your desk throughout the term, especially if you rely on a colour-coding system. As for study notes, try separating your notebook with handy sticky filing tabs to keep different topics and modules organised. You may also find a desk planner will help you organise your thoughts, ideas and to-dos in one convenient place. 

Stay hydrated during study sessions with a refillable water bottle. A stainless-steel option will also keep your drink cool for the duration of your cramming sessions. And don’t forget headphones if you like to listen to tunes in the library. Many studies have found that music (particularly classical music) can reduce stress and exam anxiety, help you focus and can help you more easily absorb and interpret new information. 

Keep across your studies and your social life with a magnetic weekly planner or daily to-do list, which also has space for meal planning, exercise goals and managing your water intake. If you prefer an on-the-go journal to keep track of appointments, a set of planner stickers are a fun way to add emphasis and notes.

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Back-to-Uni Supplies Less Than $20

Save money in the long run with bulk and quality back to uni must-have supplies.‍

With $20 in your pocket, you can stock up on stylish yet practical uni essentials that will get your semester off to the best start. Speaking of good starts, you’ll be needing to fuel up for class and whether it’s coffee or a smoothie, a reusable cup lets you make your morning beverage at home so you won’t blow the budget on takeaway.

Then there are pens, that non-negotiable student staple. Prevent ink from going through your bag or pencil case by choosing retractable pens or easy-glide rollerballs that come with lids. If you don’t like to carry lots of pens to lectures, keep numbers down by using a multicolour ballpoint, or make colour-coding notes easy with a pack of gel pens in assorted hues. 

Once you’re done with the day’s learning, don’t forget to pencil in some downtime with your friends. Jot down reminders and tasks for the day ahead on a portable sticky notebook or a practical planner. A wall-mounted acrylic planner is ideal to use with dry-erase markers so it can be relied on again and again.

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Uni Stationery Items For Less Than $50

Some back-to-uni supplies may require a larger outlay, but you’ll reap the priceless feeling of being organised all year. If you’re a visual person, a noticeboard in your study space where you can add sticky notes, quotes and formulas will act as a reminder and memory aid. Use it to map out important to-dos, activities and reminders, and add a bit of fun with invites, concert tickets and photo memories from O-Week. 

A 2-in-1 planner board, with both corkboard and dry-erase whiteboard surfaces (plus an in-built area to store your pens so you’ll never be without again), lets you see what needs to be done every day. If you prefer to carry your plans with you, try a bag-friendly portable weekly planner or a diary. Plus, don’t forget a selection of rainbow-hued rollerball pens to write in it with.

A productivity planner can also help you stay on top of your goals. An undated version allows you to start the practice at any point and keep track of tasks and milestones. Oh, and it goes without saying that a pair of wireless headphones will be invaluable, both on and off campus.

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Uni Essentials for $100 or Less

A must-have uni essential: protect your most valuable investment with a computer backpack or laptop bag.

Since your laptop is likely to be one of the most expensive items in your university kit, you're going to want to take good care of it. A padded laptop bag or computer backpack is an essential bit of back-to-uni kit to get your tech from home to away and safely back again. 

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Back-to-Uni Must-Have Supplies for $500 or Less

At the higher end of the student budget are those big-ticket tech items. A quality laptop at the start of your degree should hopefully see you through the entirety of your course, especially if you take care of it by ferrying it around in a fit-for-purpose protective laptop bag. When it has the good looks of a classic leather backpack, it’s a responsibility you’ll be happy to shoulder. 

The same goes for headphones. Sennheiser wireless earbuds may come with a $449 price tag, but with customisable touch controls and adaptive noise-cancelling technology that adjusts to the sound level surrounding you, they’ll be a worthy investment.

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