Moving to university or between student accommodation is a rite of passage—exciting but potentially stressful, especially when you’re working with a tight budget and unfamiliar logistics. A man and van service is often the perfect fit for student moves: affordable, flexible, and scaled to handle exactly what students typically need to transport.
Why Man and Van Works Well for Students
Student moves sit in a sweet spot that makes them ideal for man and van services rather than full removal companies.
Most students don’t have much furniture. You’re typically moving a bed (sometimes), a desk, clothes, books, electronics, and personal items. This fits comfortably in a Medium van, keeping costs low.
Flexibility matters more than premium service. Students often have awkward timing requirements—moving in on specific freshers’ week dates, working around exam schedules, or needing to vacate accommodation at short notice. Man and van services typically offer more flexibility than larger removal companies.
Budget is usually the priority. Full removal companies charge for services students rarely need: comprehensive packing, furniture assembly, full insurance packages. A straightforward man and van move strips back to the essentials.
What a Typical Student Move Involves
A student move generally falls into one of three categories, each with different requirements.
Moving to University (First Year)
The first move to university is often the largest student move you’ll make, simply because you’re setting up from scratch. Typical items include bedding and pillows, clothes for all seasons, books and study materials, laptop and electronics, kitchen basics (if self-catering), toiletries and personal items, and perhaps a desk lamp or small furniture.
Most of this fits in 10-20 boxes plus a few bags. A Medium van handles this easily, often with room to spare. Many families drive this themselves, but a man and van makes sense when the journey is long, the family car is too small, or parents can’t take time off work.
Moving Between Student Accommodation
After first year, most students move from halls into shared houses or private flats. By this point, you’ve accumulated more stuff: books from the first year, kitchen equipment shared with flatmates, maybe some furniture bought second-hand. You might also be moving items you’ve kept in storage over summer.
These moves are often local (within the same university town) but involve more volume than the initial move. A Medium or Large van is typically needed, and having help with loading makes a real difference when you’re carrying boxes down from a third-floor walkup.
End of University / Moving Home
After graduation, you’re likely moving everything you’ve accumulated over three or more years. This often includes furniture bought during your degree, a full wardrobe of clothes, years of books and notes, kitchen equipment from shared houses, and potentially items from multiple friends if you’re sharing a van.
This can approach the volume of a small flat move. A Large or Extra Large van may be needed, especially if furniture is involved.
What Student Moves Typically Cost
Student moves are generally among the cheapest removal jobs because the volume is low and distances are often short.
For a local move within the same city (halls to private accommodation, for example), expect to pay £60-150 for a Medium van with driver, covering 2-3 hours of work including loading and unloading.
For longer distances—moving from your family home to university in another city—costs depend heavily on distance. A 50-mile move might cost £150-250, while longer journeys (100+ miles) could reach £300-400 or more.
Some services offer student-specific pricing or allow you to share van space with other students heading the same direction, which can reduce costs further.
What Affects the Price
Distance is the biggest factor for longer moves, but for local moves, time matters most. The more stuff you have and the harder it is to access, the longer the job takes.
Floor level and lift access significantly impact student moves. Halls of residence are often multi-storey buildings, and not all have lifts. Carrying boxes up four flights of stairs takes considerably longer than loading from a ground-floor house.
Parking can be tricky around universities and student accommodation. If the van can’t park close to your building, the move takes longer. Some halls require advance notice or have designated moving slots—factor this into your planning.
Timing Your Student Move
September is the busiest time for student moves, with most universities starting in late September or early October. Move-in dates typically fall the weekend before freshers’ week begins.
This creates a surge in demand. If you’re moving during peak periods, book early (at least 2-3 weeks ahead, ideally more). Availability becomes limited, and prices may be higher.
If you have flexibility, consider moving slightly before or after the main rush. Some universities allow early arrival for an additional fee, which can make the move itself easier and cheaper.
End-of-term moves (December, Easter, and especially June/July) also see increased demand as students clear out for holidays or graduation.
What You’ll Need to Organise
Before Booking
Check your accommodation’s move-in procedures. Halls of residence often have specific rules about when you can arrive, where vans can park, whether you need to book a lift or loading bay, and any restrictions on moving hours.
Know your access situation. Which floor are you on? Is there a lift? How far is the nearest parking? This information helps you get an accurate quote and avoid surprises on the day.
Take an honest inventory. Students often underestimate how much they’ve accumulated. Walk through your room and list everything that needs moving—you might be surprised.
Before Moving Day
Pack everything properly. Boxes are easier to carry than loose items, and they protect your belongings. Use proper cardboard boxes rather than flimsy supermarket ones that might collapse. Label boxes clearly so unpacking is easier.
Decide what’s actually coming. Moving is a good opportunity to declutter. That broken desk chair, the textbooks you’ll never open again, the kitchen equipment nobody ever used—consider donating, selling, or disposing of items you don’t need rather than paying to move them.
Coordinate with flatmates. If you’re in shared accommodation, agree who owns what shared items. The toaster, hoover, and communal pots need to go somewhere—sort this out before moving day rather than arguing about it while the van waits.
On Moving Day
Be ready when the van arrives. Having everything packed, labelled, and ready to load means the move goes faster—and since you’re paying by time, faster means cheaper.
Have clear access routes. Make sure corridors are clear, doors are propped open where possible, and you know where the van can park. If you’re in halls, you might need to collect keys or access cards before the movers can start.
Do a final check. Before leaving, walk through every room, open every cupboard, and check under beds. Students frequently leave items behind, especially in storage spaces they’ve forgotten about.
Common Student Move Challenges
Halls of Residence Access
University halls often have security requirements, designated moving times, shared lifts with other residents moving simultaneously, and long distances from car parks to rooms. Contact your accommodation office beforehand to understand the process and avoid delays.
Parking Problems
Student areas are notorious for difficult parking—narrow streets, residents’ permits, yellow lines, and competition from dozens of other students moving on the same day. Some halls have temporary loading zones; others don’t. Check what’s available and consider whether you need a parking suspension from the council.
Shared House Complications
When multiple students share a house, move-in and move-out days can be chaotic. Different tenancy end dates, overlapping moves, disputes about shared items, and cleaning requirements all add complexity. Clear communication with housemates (and the landlord) helps everything run more smoothly.
Furniture Decisions
Student accommodation varies widely in what’s provided. Some halls are fully furnished; some private houses are empty. Check what your new place includes before deciding what to bring. Moving a bed across the country only to find one already there is frustrating and expensive.
Do You Actually Need a Man and Van?
Honestly assess whether professional help is necessary. For a first-year move with just clothes and personal items, a family car might suffice. Man and van services make sense when the family car isn’t big enough, the journey is too long for multiple trips, you don’t have access to a suitable vehicle, you have furniture or bulky items, there are lots of stairs involved, and you want help with the heavy lifting.
For very small moves (a few boxes and bags), some students use parcel services or student-specific shared-load services that can be cheaper than booking a van.
What to Look For in a Service
When booking a man and van for a student move, check that the service includes loading and unloading help (some cheaper services are driver-only), that basic insurance covers your belongings during transit, that there are no hidden charges for stairs, waiting time, or minimum hours, and that the timing works with your accommodation’s requirements.
Get a clear quote based on your specific situation. Describe your items, the access at both ends, and the distance involved. The more accurate information you provide, the more accurate the quote will be.
If you’re planning a student move, you can get an instant quote based on your pickup and drop-off locations and see exactly what it would cost.
