Packing Guide for Study Abroad Trip will help you to avoid overpacking and what essentials are needed. This guide will make your packing easier.
What to Pack for Study Abroad?
Here is our Packing Guide for Study Abroad Trip for you.
The Essentials:
These are the very important things that you should never forget. Everything must be on your essential list and also in the carry-on bag rather than the checked bag.
1. Passport and Visa:
Be sure to store your passport and visa with photocopies. Both originals and photocopies are kept separate so it’s easy for you to provide as per the demand.
2. Medicines with Prescription:
Keep your needy medicines with your doctor’s prescription with you and be sure that they are enough to cover the whole time you’re away. And even it’s better to show it to a local doctor in case you need more.
3. Local Currency:
Prepaid travel cards are one of the safest and most popular ways by which travelers carry their money abroad. A multi-currency forex card is a smart way to take multiple currencies at once. You can also keep some local currency, notes, and coins for miscellaneous purposes after reaching the destination country.
Reserve Bank of India’s site:
https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/FAQView.aspx?Id=22
4. Travel-Size Essential Toiletries:
According to your requirement, you must have essential toiletries like toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, moisturizer, deodorant, sunscreen, insect repellent, contact lens solution, etc., with you. And also according to the requirement in your travel hours you must have toothpaste, toothbrush, facewash, moisturizer, etc., in a travel kit or travel size packs to keep in a carry-on bag.
We also recommend packing enough of these toiletries’ items for your first 2-4 weeks there. Don’t waste space on things that you can buy later but to avoid worrying about your immediate need for such items after landing in your host country, you need to keep some. Pack enough of what you’ll need while settling there and once you have a good understanding of your host country’s supermarkets; you will feel easy to buy there.
How much is essential will also depend on the region where you’re traveling. Be sure to ask your study abroad coordinator or get proper knowledge regarding these. As sometimes they are expensive in other countries and it’s worth carrying them with you, rather than paying up to three times as much to buy a bottle once you’re there. Not all regions will have easy access to shops and supermarkets, so depending on where you’re studying, you may need to bring more toiletries with you.
5. Power Adapters and Converters:
For your phone/laptop, you need chargers and for that, you also need a converter and possibly an adapter. Not all countries use the same electricity voltage, which means that merely changing the shape of the plug might not be enough to make your charger work and could even be dangerous and short out the device. Be sure to verify which plugs and voltage are used in the country you’re traveling to so that you have the right adapters for all your devices.
6. Face masks and Sanitizer:
Safety first so it’s better to keep face masks and hand sanitizer with you all time to protect yourself from getting sick.
Needful Clothes:
When packing clothes for study abroad, plan according to the weather and region you’re traveling to. Remember to do a little research on what people normally wear in your study abroad city.
1. Light & Seasonal:
First of all, study the seasons and atmosphere of your host country. Select clothes according to host country weather such as long and short sleeves tops, sweaters, jackets, pants, leggings, etc., not of your present choice.
2. Selected Colors:
Choose such colors clothes that you can wear more often.
3. Cultural:
Keep in mind the local culture and choose your casual wear to carry on with you.
4. Washing Availability:
Keep in mind access to laundry while packing underwear and socks. If access to laundry is difficult then it is better to pack more of these essential items or you can pack some travel-size detergent packets so that you can wash underwear and socks between loads. But if you have access to a washer/dryer in your hostel/dorm then no need to waste space and weight.
Shoes Requirement:
Shoes take up more space in your bag. We recommend packing pair of shoes according to need only. Try to fight the craving to pack any more pairs than that.
- Flip-flops for the shower
- One comfortable pair of walking shoes
- One nice pair to wear when going out or eating dinner
- A multiskilled pair of shoes that can go from class to dinner (Optional, if the cost of shoes is too high in your host country.)
Some More Important Tips:
- Don’t forget the essentials listed above.
- It’s important to bring photocopies of your passport and visa, just in case the originals get stolen.
- Pack light instead of a large heavy suitcase.
- If you know you can purchase specific items in your host country, it may be smarter to buy them there and save space, rather than bring it from home. However, you should consider the cost too.
- Dress according to the region, weather conditions, and country’s cultural norms. Do your research!
- Try buying cheap but functional versions of some items like watches, wallets, sunglasses, etc., that will get you through your time abroad but won’t break your heart if they go missing.
- Be planned about what you bring with you abroad, and don’t forget to leave some extra space in your bag for all the new memorials you’ll be bringing back home.
Kumar Direct is one of the pioneers of international education in India (Since 1995). Our experienced and well-qualified team can help you in every stage of your migration process. We hope our Packing Guide for Study Abroad Trip will be very helpful to make your packing easier.