Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not everyone gets the chance to study abroad. Now, it is also important that you don’t face any kind of problem and feel comfortable. So, what items you have with you greatly determines that you are not facing any problem. For instance, you wouldn’t want to suffer due to the lack of any important document or necessary item.
It is extremely necessary to do proper packing before going to study abroad. You should optimize your packing very well. Here are some important tips for every individual section of your bag. For any international student about to move abroad, it would be a good idea to consider these points before starting to pack for the most important journey of their life.
- Study essentials
First things first: the reason you are moving abroad is to study. So you should pack all the items which you will need for your studies and assignments. However, you can buy all the items in the country in which you are going to study but still you should pack all the basic study essentials as a settlement in the new country takes time. Also, you can research whether study essentials are cheap in your country or in the country you are relocating to. One important thing you should keep in mind is that you have to pack only those books which cannot be found in the country in which you are going to study as books weigh much. Basic study items you should pack in your suitcase are:
- Key textbooks
- Books from the reading list
- Bilingual dictionary
- Notes from the related courses
- Stationary, kit- pen, pencil, eraser, ruler, etc
- Paper
You can pack your favorite novel also for the starting days as you may feel lonely and uncomfortable in a foreign country.
- Clothing and accessories
The clothing items that you should pack while going to study abroad depends on various factors.
- Climate and location
The climate of the country in which you are going to study greatly determines the list of your clothing items. You should do previous research about the weather or climate of the country, so you can pack proper clothing items.
- Length of your stay
The length of your stay also helps you in deciding the list of clothes you should pack while going to study abroad. If you are going abroad to study for only summer, then you don’t need to pack winter items. If you have a plan of stay that involves multiple seasons, then you can arrange your bag accordingly.
- Consider the culture as well
This is a very important factor you should keep in mind while packing. You should research the country and focus on some critical questions and factors, such as: what the culture of the country is, what kind of clothes are relatively more socially acceptable. You don’t want to land in a new country and wear something that offers you unwanted and unwarranted attention. Also, the idea should be to avoid packing clothes that reveal you are in a new place since you’d want to make yourselves as comfortable as possible.
- How much luggage you can carry
Airplanes have their own rules about how much luggage you can carry. So, you should keep this in mind while packing. You should pack only those items which you think are important.
- Color Combination
As you have to pack only selective and important clothes. So it is better to pack those clothes which can match many other clothes like packing a pair of pink-colored jeans is not a good idea as it will match only with the white top instead you should pack dark-colored bottoms.
However, there is a list of some basic items you should pack before going to study abroad
- Towels
- Undergarments
- Socks for a week
- Belt
- A set of workout clothes
- Black or Blue Jean’s
- Pajamas
- Two or three jackets for winter
- Cap or climate-friendly hat
- Swimsuit
- Scarf, gloves, and ear muffs for winter
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Short-sleeved shirt
- Sunglasses
- A few hangers
- You should carry some small bags. They will be of great use
- Footwear
You should avoid extra and extravagant footwear. You should select only those basic and important items which are comfortable and you will need more. You should avoid bulky footwear items. However, a list of suggested footwear items is given below
- Sports shoes
- Sneakers
- Slippers
- Flip flop/Sandals
- Boots
- Formal shoes
- Medicines
As you will shift to a new country, you should make all attempts to prevent any kinds of health problems as you will be different in weather conditions and local time zones. A good idea would be for you to pack some basic medicines that help you to overcome the problems due to changes in the environment. Also, if you are suffering from any disease, you can talk to your doctor and ask for a prescription. The list of some basic important medicines are
- Prescription medicines
- Cold and flu medicines
- Painkillers
- Plasters or bandages
- Indigestion tablets
- Home decors
This does not mean that you should pack unessential and extravagant items you’re your new home. However, you will feel more comfortable at the new place if you make the new place feel like home. So you should pack some decor items which are very close to you and give you good vibes. The items can be
- Photos of family and friends
- Cuddly toy or soft toy
- Favorite mug
- Favorite cushion
- Native Food Items
You won’t be short of food when you reach the new country but packing some little food wouldn’t hurt you. You can pack those food items which you love very much and might miss in the new country.
For those who come from parts of the world like India or other Asian countries, it would be a good idea to pack some native snacks that may not be available in the study abroad destination.
- Technology and Entertainment
You should pack some electronic items that you can use for your entertainment also, however, the important thing you should keep in mind is that different foreign countries have different outlets and voltages for their electronic appliances and gadgets. Considering this, you should pack only the necessary items.
Here are some of the most common electronic items you can pack. Although these items would seem extremely obvious, following a planned list won’t help. You don’t want to land in the study abroad destination and find out that you’ve left one of the following essentials behind.
- Smartphones
Today, smartphones have become a part of your life. You can’t forget this while going to study abroad. Smartphones also have cameras, in which you’d most likely want to capture the moments in which you leave the home country.
- Laptop
It is also a very important gadget. Of course, you are going abroad to study, so you will need a laptop for your studies and assignments. It is also used to make your CV or resume. Also, you may do an internship or a pastime job, which will most require a laptop. However, if you pack a lightweight laptop, it will be better for traveling purposes. You can also watch movies or web series. So it should be packed as it is important for both your studies and entertainment.
- Headphones
You should also pack headphones with you. You will need headphones to listen to music, podcasts, or language lessons. Noise cancellation headphones would be a better option, as you can use them in noisy places also.
- Adaptors
You should pack a local power adaptor or a universal adaptor as it may be required in the future.
- Kindle or other e-readers
Books are one of the bulkier items in your bag. So, kindle or another e-reader will be a better option.
- Charger plugs and other cables
You should pack your charger with your laptop. You can also keep some other important cables.
- Documents
This is the most important part of packing. You should not forget any document. The list of important documents you should pack is given below:
- Passport
Always double-check that you have kept your passport with you or not.
- The second form of ID
You should also keep another id proof, other than a passport in case you lost the passport, the second I’d help you.
- International driving license
If you know how to drive and want to drive in the country in which you are going to study, then you must have an international driving license.
- Boarding pass
You should have your boarding pass either in a printed form on your mobile phone.
- Proof of onward travel
You should have proof of your onward according to your destination.
- Letter of acceptance
You must have your letter of acceptance from the university you are going to study. You should also carry your mark sheets for your 10th and 12th class.
- Bank related document
You should also pack all bank-related documents as they can be needed while applying for opening a new bank account in the new country.
- Few passport size photos
It is better if you carry some passport size photos with you. As these, you may need to apply for various international documents and SIM cards. Also, you will need to fetch some photos to apply for a bank account.
- Medical documents
You should pack all your medical documents related to the medicines you are carrying with you. This may include a prescription by the doctor. You should also carry your vaccination cards with you. You can also keep your full body checkup reports with you. It may prove to be helpful.
- Toiletries
Toiletries are very personal items, so you should pack the essential toiletries with you. Although you can purchase items in the country, it does not hurt to pack the basic items that you use daily to make yourselves feel at home.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
While you can buy toothbrushes and toothpaste everywhere, it is better to pack them. So that you may freshen up after reaching the place.
- Soap
Soap is available everywhere, but still, if you are very particular about the ones you use, there is no harm in packing them.
- Shampoo, conditioners, and hair gel
You should pack the shampoo, conditioners, and hair gel that suits you and you use daily. Also, you should carry a small bottle or container of every item.
Mistakes you should avoid while packing for going to study abroad
- Do not skip the bathroom scales
Airports have their own rules and regulations on how much weight you can carry with you. If the weight of your bags exceeds the weight limit, then you have to pay extra charges. So it would be better if you already checked the weight of your baggage.
- Do thorough research about prohibited or restricted items
You should do proper research about the prohibited or restricted items at the airport or in the country you are studying. You should start packing after considering your research as there is a rule that you can carry water only in a 100 ml or less container. Also, you should not carry any medicine which is restricted or prohibited in the country in which you are going to study. But still, if you need them, then you must have a proper prescription from a certified doctor.
- Do not pack toiletries without enclosing them in a bag
There can be a possibility of toiletry leaking. So you should pack toiletries in separate bags. It is not only beneficial for you but can also save you from any investigation at the airport as if there is any visible leakage, then it will be against the rules. You should also pack the food items in an airtight container.
- Do not take things you could buy in the destination country
You should pack only those articles which are very important. You should not pack those items which are easily available in the country in which you are going to study, like almost all books are available online, so there is no need to carry so many bulky books.
- Do not put essential items in different boxes
It is good to pack all the items accordingly but you should not put the essential items in different boxes. You should pack them in a single bag. So that as soon as you reach your destination, you can unpack all the essential items first. This will help you to set yourself immediately.
- Do not forget a general bag
You should carry a general bag with you like a college bag which would be required in your day-to-day life. Also, a general bag doesn’t weigh so much. A good idea would be to carry a rolling bag as it is easy to travel with them.
