The best budget university essentials to buy, according to Good Housekeeping editors

This affordable Slumberdown duvet is a smart buy as it's suitable for all seasons, making it a year-round investment.

It's made up of two duvets – one a lighter 4.5 tog for warmer evenings and the other a cosy 10.5 togs – that can be fastened together with poppers for one extra snuggly night’s sleep (which our testers compared to a warm hug).

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.

Our testers liked how lightweight it is and were fans of the air mesh sides, which allow air to circulate around your head to avoid overheating. Our back sleepers found it particularly comfortable and all said it retained its plumpness well.

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 while it doesn’t have any straps to secure it, the non-slip base kept it in place for most testers. Our panel also said it was comfy, breathable and helped improve the quality of their sleep overall.

This affordable Egyptian cotton range comes in a wide range 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.

We love gadgets that come with fun added extras, like this kettle, which has a handy illuminated water level gauge that lights up during use.

It boils quickly, making it well suited for quick cuppas between lectures, and our testers found it poured well with no splashes. Although the body of the kettle did get very hot after boiling, the handle remained cool to the touch, so as long as you're careful, it shouldn't be an issue.

At about £30, 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. The slots aren't the deepest, but it's quick enough that flipping your bread where needed won't delay you for too long – ideal for busy mornings before lectures.

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.

The pans heat up quickly and have a reliable non-stick design, so there’s no scrubbing needed even if you don’t have a dishwasher to hand in halls. Minced meat also browned particularly evenly in the frying pan (tacos anyone?). They’re not suitable for induction hobs, but uni kitchens aren't likely to use induction.

A reliable budget buy for first timers decking out their kitchen, our testers were impressed with this set’s chopping and dicing skills. There’s no block, but the knives were as effective and robust as some of the much pricier models we tested, with the paring knife receiving top marks for its sharp precision.

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.

This may be the most affordable and useful kitchen gadget you can buy, and it’s ideal for those cooking for one or two. Its best feature is the “Group-Fry” function, allowing you to cook multiple foods at once in one basket – a feature usually only available with dual-basket models.

The cooking results impressed our testers, who found it made faultless chicken, chips and even cupcakes. It’s also simple to use with clear and responsive controls. Midweek chicken and chips here we come.

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. You simply can't go wrong with a cheese and beans toastie.

You may not think you'll need an iron much at uni, but it’s handy for summer balls and fancy nights out when you need to look fresh.

This one impressed our testers with its ability to remove even the most stubborn creases and came out top in our tests overall, despite costing less than £30, making it a savvy buy. It's also very versatile and can switch seamlessly between corded and cordless modes when you’re struggling to access a plug socket in halls.

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.

And if you’re moving into a draughty house, then you may even want to splash out on a heated clothes airer – but that may up your electricity bill, so choose wisely!

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.

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.

A reliable laptop is a must, especially when pulling an all-nighter to get an assignment in on time. For Apple quality at a more affordable price, Simon recommends opting for something refurbished. This one is a 2019-era MacBook, so it’s not the latest spec (there are only two USB ports and the front-facing camera is only 720p), but it's less than £500.

Or, if you're not concerned about owning an Apple, we’d suggest looking at the Acer Aspire 1.