Departure guide
Study abroad packing list
A no-nonsense list from international students who've already made the move. Pack the essentials, skip the regrets.
Baggage rules of thumb
- • Most student airlines: 1 × 23 kg checked + 1 × 7 kg carry-on. Confirm on your ticket.
- • Lithium power banks go in carry-on, never checked.
- • Spices, dairy, meat — declare or leave behind. Fines are steep.
- • Weigh bags at home. Excess baggage fees often cost more than the items.
Essentials
Documents (carry-on only)
- Passport with student visa— Photocopies in a separate bag.
- University offer letter, CAS / I-20 / CoE— Printed + on phone.
- Accommodation booking confirmation
- Tuition fee receipts and bank statements
- Academic transcripts and test score reports
- Travel + medical insurance documents
- Passport-size photos (8–10)— Cheaper to print at home than abroad.
Tech and chargers
- Laptop + charger
- Phone + charger + spare cable
- Universal travel adapter— One per country you transit through.
- Power bank (≤ 100 Wh for carry-on)
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- External SSD or USB drive for backups
Clothing essentials
- Layers — thermals, a fleece, a waterproof shell— Even 'warm' destinations get cold indoors.
- One smart outfit— For convocations, interviews, formal dinners.
- Comfortable walking shoes— You will walk more than you expect.
- Two weeks of basics— Buy bulk locally; cheaper than excess baggage.
Health and toiletries
- Prescription meds + doctor's note— Enough for 1–3 months while you set up local care.
- Spare glasses + prescription copy
- Basic first-aid (paracetamol, antiseptic, plasters)
- Small toiletries— Restock at a local supermarket on day one.
Kitchen and dorm
- Reusable water bottle
- Small spice kit— Hard to find your home-country spices abroad.
- Bedsheet + pillowcase for night one— Most accommodations don't include linen.
Regrets — leave these behind
The items past students wish they'd skipped. Save the weight allowance for things you can't replace abroad.
- Heavy bedding, towels and pillows— Bulky and cheap to buy on arrival.
- A year's supply of toiletries— Every country sells shampoo.
- Multiple pairs of formal shoes— One pair is enough.
- Hair dryer or kettle from home— Voltage mismatches destroy them — buy local.
- Heavy textbooks— University libraries and PDFs cover 90% of reading.
- Bulk groceries from home— Many won't clear customs and weigh down your bag.
- Overdressed 'just in case' wardrobe— You'll wear the same 6 outfits on rotation.
- Expensive jewellery— Higher theft risk in shared housing.
Two weeks out — final checks
- • Notify your bank of international travel and order a forex/multi-currency card.
- • Pre-book airport pickup or save the campus shuttle details offline.
- • Take a passport-style photo of every page of your passport and visa.
- • Pack one outfit + chargers + meds in carry-on in case checked bags are delayed.