Course offer letter? Check! Tickets? Check! Passport & Visa? Check!
You are now all set and ready to go ahead on the journey toward your chosen educational field. And all you have to do now is pack your bags and rush towards accomplishing your goals. Studying abroad is one of the most rewarding experiences. By studying abroad, individuals will have the opportunity to take in a new culture, see the world and find new passions.
One needs to put ample thought into what you must be taking with you when travelling for Abroad Study. It all comes down to where you will be travelling to and your living environment.
Packing mindfully is indispensable. Today’s comprehensive post will help you assemble the perfect study abroad packing list and will enable you to get set to board the flight to your study destination effectively.
Let’s dig in!
What to Pack When Travelling To Study Abroad
Packing for a beach vacation is easy- sunscreen, sandals, swimsuit, sunglasses, and you’re all set! However, when you are packing for six months or even a year to study in another country-well, that goes a bit high on the difficulty scale!
There are certain things you don’t want to forget. Here are certain things you must remember while packing to go abroad to study-
- Choose The Right Luggage
According to the best minds associated with reputed abroad study consultancy around the world, it is crucial to take the right kind of luggage. Ensure your primary gear is versatile, easy to move around and big enough to hold all your stuff together. A four-wheeler stroller bag is the best since it keeps weight off your wrist effectively. If you’re going for a backpack, try getting a wheeled one for hands-free mobility.
- Travel Documents
The second crucial thing you want to add to your packing list is your travel documents. It’s wise to have photocopies of your original documents in your carry bag just to be safe.
Take a look at the essential items to incorporate into your significant documents-
- Passport
- Visa
- Boarding Pass
- Student Visa
- Enrollment confirmation from college/university
- Debit/credit card
- Student Card
- Health Insurance Card
- Travel Insurance
- Fee receipt of allotted Accommodation
- Local currency
- Clothes
It is vital to conduct a pre-research on your destination to decide on which clothes you want to take. Notice the kind of clothing people generally wear, the kind of weather of the place, and the dress code in the university (if any).
Also, look for culturally appropriate clothing for the location. Based on all these points, start packing your clothes. You can pack all these things listed below-
- Jeans, pants, skirts, or other comfortable bottoms
- Shirts, t-shirts, or tank tops
- Hoodies or sweatshirts (if the weather is cold)
- Undergarments (2 weeks’ worth)
- Casual clothes like leggings, shorts, dresses, etc.
- Formal clothes like a suit
- Daily wear clothes like pyjamas
- Workout wear
- Towel
- Comfy footwear
- Flip flops
- Walking shoes and sleeping bag
- Accessories like a belt, watch, scarves, hat, etc.
It’s wise to pack clothes that are easy to layer, comfortable, don’t need ironing, and can be drip-died. Also, remember not to over pack clothes as you have to pack other crucial items too.
- Toiletries
When it comes to toiletries, only pack your essentials for a couple of days. Anything beyond that, you are better off purchasing them in your host country. This way, you will save a lot of room in your luggage.
Also, make it a point to remember the rules for liquids in your cabin luggage. You can only carry 100 ml containers, with no more than 10 items in a small transparent plastic bag. Security personnel at airports will not argue with you if you break this rule- they will simply throw the liquids away. The essential items to incorporate are-
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash
- Hairbrush or comb
- Deodorant or perfume
- Skincare products like face wash, moisturizer, sunscreen, body lotion, and more
- Soap or shower gel
- Shampoo conditioner
- Hand wash and sanitizer
- Feminine products
- Toilet paper
- Hair straightener and blow dryer
- Medicines
Now, do not forget to pack important medicines and the prescribed medicines in the suitcase. In an emergency, finding a pharmacy in a foreign land can become difficult. Moreover, finding the same medicines in other countries will be challenging. Thus, ensure to take your prescribed medications with you in adequate quantity.
Certain vital medicines you must pack are-
- Cough syrup
- Savlon or Dettol
- Anti-nausea medicines
- Paracetamol
- Bandages
- Anti-allergy medicines
- Currency of Host Country
Although cards and virtual currency are accepted widely worldwide, carrying some local currency with you is still crucial. You can get foreign currency from airport kiosks, money exchange Businesses, banks, etc. Apart from cash, also remember to carry your international debit and credit cards.
- Electronic Devices
Undeniably, electronics are a vital part of our lives in the recent era. That’s why you must remember to pack them.
Do not forget to carry a universal adapter in your luggage, as most charging points are different in other countries. Ensure to pack all the below-enlisted electronic devices-
- Cell phone
- Laptop
- Chargers for all devices
- USB cables
- Universal adapter
- Camera
- Memory cards
- Portable power bank
- Miscellaneous Items
Last but not the least, here are a few miscellaneous items you must remember to pack if required. There aren’t your typical travel essentials, but we’re mentioning them just in case you need them-
- Umbrella
- Backpack
- Sunglasses
- Contact lens
- Physical map
- Earphone
- Books
- Wallet or purse
- Travel pillow
In the end, remember that you’re about to embark on an academic journey of a lifetime. Hence, it’s always wise to pack light. As the famous quote goes, ‘When preparing to travel, lay out all your money and all your clothes. Then, take half the clothes and twice the money.”
