Well, it is that time of year again. Schools and colleges will start to open up again in the next few weeks, and the panic of ‘do I have everything that I need?’ will start to kick in. To help make things more stress-free, we have pulled together a list of student essentials for getting back to school or starting college. So even if you have no idea where to look or what to invest in, this handy guide will help you.

We are keeping things super simple, and below, we are listing 5 student essentials that we think you could benefit from having in the upcoming college term.

Yes, we know that Google Drive exists, which is fine. However, many people like to have something physical to store their important data, or in your case, lecture notes and end-of-term essays. Plus, a physical USB or hard drive can be used offline/on the go. So if you don’t have an internet connection, you can still plug your USB into your laptop/computer (we will get to those in a moment) and voila, your work is ready for you, making them a great accompaniment for cloud storage services.

Now we don’t only suggest a good pair of headphones or earphones because music is great and every student should be able to enjoy good music, but headphones are also really useful for listening to online lectures, watching videos or documentaries for research, or for just showing that you want to be left alone (we have all pretended to be listening to something when someone we don’t like walks by). Thankfully at DID, we have a large selection of headphones that are high in quality and low in price. So with options starting from €50 and moving up to €500, there is certainly something here for everyone.

Ah yes, the ultimate essential college item. To put it bluntly, going to college without a laptop or something to type on is like going to do your shopping without any money. There is an unwritten rule when it comes to college: ‘thou shalt have a laptop’. Buy why? Well, most college courses share their resources online, where lecturers will upload their slides, notes, or readings for you to enjoy. Not having a laptop or a means to access this material puts you at a disadvantage because you don’t get to see the lecture notes or work on notes/essays of your own.

In-store, we have a large selection of laptops, ranging from budget-friendly Chromebooks to top-of-the-range MacBook Pro models. We have also included laptop bags because if you spend €400+ on a laptop, you should invest in protecting it properly. You will be in and out of college regularly after all, and you’ll certainly be using your laptop a lot, whether to take notes or play games at the back of the class.

To pretty much echo everything that we just said about laptops, tablets are another way that you can access vital college information and stay connected. They are lighter and more convenient to commute with than laptops but are usually not as powerful. Tablets are great for convenience and style, but for writing long essays and notetaking, the laptop probably edges it. Don’t let this deter you however, tablets have their own appeal, and you can always download a range of apps, browse social media quickly, and not have to listen to the clicking of keys all of the time (that can get a little irritating, especially if you are writing essays at 2am the night before a deadline. You don’t want to wake up your roommates).

This is a little more of a want than a need, but wireless accessories are super useful in terms of convenience. If you are setting up a little office in your home or dorm and want to purchase an accessory that will make life that little easier, then wireless keyboards and mice are the way to go. Why? Because you won’t be stretching over the counter or the table to type. You can have the screen further away from your eyes and relax as you work on meeting those deadlines. In-store, we have a range of wireless computer accessories that we are sure will make life easier, so don’t delay, pop into one of our 23 stores nationwide and avail of a great deal today. 

That all depends on what you are looking for. Generally, you can’t go wrong with a good laptop, a Microsoft Office subscription, and a pair of headphones for good measure. However, it all depends on your budget.

A high-quality college laptop does not need to break the bank. Most people will spend between €350-600 on a laptop for college (typically a Chromebook or regular laptop). However, if you wish to buy a Macbook, that will set you back anywhere from €1200 upwards. Check out our laptop buying guide if you are unsure what you will need.

Yes, as a student and a teacher, you can access free accounts for students and teachers, including the latest available desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access and Publisher (Office 2019 for Windows or Office 2019 for Mac). Additionally, these desktop programs can be installed on as many as five PCs or Macs as well as up to five mobile devices.