A laptop is a key piece of gear. It should have a sizable high definition screen while being lightweight and easy to carry all day. A two-in-one touchscreen model that flips into tablet mode for taking notes may be useful. The computer should have at least 8GB of RAM for multitasking, and at least 128GB of storage for files, apps, software and more. All-day battery life is important, too. A set of wireless noise-canceling headphones can make focusing while studying much easier for many students.

An all-in-one printer that can copy and scan can help by providing printed backups, and comes in handy when reviewing hard copy reports, making handouts and even sharing scanned handwritten notes for group projects. The best option is a refillable ink printer that comes with up to a two-year supply of ink.

Help your student get to class on time by investing in a smart speaker that can double as an alarm clock and can be set with reminders of class schedules and assignment deadlines. It can even help with research through voice-activated queries.

Add a fitness tracker or smartwatch to your student's toolkit and they can keep on top of schedules right from their wrist. Some also monitor health and wellness stats, like stress levels, heart rate and sleep. Many wearables offer mindfulness and breathing exercises, too, which can be useful for students who manage heavy workloads.