A poll of 1,200 current and former students finds that the list of items considered essential for university living has shifted dramatically in three decades, with technology now dominating what students and parents view as indispensable.
From kettles to laptops
Items once viewed as basic survival tools — towels, kettles and alarm clocks — have made way for devices and accessories that support remote learning, daily organization and entertainment. The study, commissioned by Samsung alongside the Galaxy Book6 Pro, reports that contemporary students rely heavily on digital gear: laptops, chargers, mobile phones, headphones and portable speakers are now frequently listed as essentials, alongside more lifestyle-oriented items such as reusable water bottles.
Respondents indicated a notable change in study habits as well: whereas students 30 years ago might carry as many as 10 books for revision and note-taking, many of today's students take far fewer physical books and instead keep materials on a laptop or tablet.
Parents changing priorities
The poll found that parents are responding to that shift. A clear majority of those surveyed believe technology plays an important role in a student's academic performance:
- 66% of parents said they believe technology can directly affect their child's academic success.
- 65% agreed technology is one of the most important investments ahead of university.
- 55% of parents identified a laptop as the single most important purchase for a child heading to college.
"Thirty years ago, university survival meant a kettle and an alarm clock and something to take notes on. Today it involves keeping on top of lectures, deadlines, part-time work, family life and the admin like food shopping and bills," said Annika Bizon, a spokesperson for Samsung.
Bizon framed the change as practical: parents are equipping students with devices that support both academic work and the wider responsibilities of living away from home for the first time.
Perceptions of lifestyle and tech dependence
Attitudes reflect a sense that university life has become more upscale and technology-dependent. The survey reports:
| Measure | Survey result |
|---|---|
| Believe student life is more "boujee" than 30 years ago | 58% |
| Think today’s students rely more on technology than 30 years ago | 90% ("nine in 10" respondents) |
| Agree students’ belongings differ from 30 years ago | 85% |
| Gen Z students who said they couldn't complete their course without a laptop | 67% |
Those findings suggest a broad consensus — among students and the public sampled — that technology is now central to the university experience, not only for learning but for daily life management.
Implications for students, parents and institutions
As parents increasingly prioritize spending on devices, the landscape of student preparedness and inequality could shift. A laptop designated as the most important single purchase underscores a material baseline for participation in modern coursework. Institutions and policymakers may need to consider how access to technology affects equity, course design and support services.
For students, the change alters how they prepare for terms and allocate space in small accommodations: fewer physical books and more digital devices reshape study habits and storage needs. For retailers and brands, the findings point to sustained demand for education-focused tech, accessories and hybrid solutions that blend study, work and life management.
The survey highlights a generational pivot in what it takes to navigate higher education: where a plug for an electric kettle once mattered, today a reliable internet-connected device does more of the heavy lifting.
