I know students (and the general traveling population) want a detailed packing list, and we all get annoyed when someone says “it’s common sense”.
So I’ve put together everything I thought you could possibly want or need when you study abroad. (I’ve tried to adapt it for everyone, both guys and girls.) I wouldn’t expect you to pack everything below, so use your own discretion.
At least with this list in front of you, you won’t forget something you really wanted to bring. Feel free to use this as your complete guide on how to pack when for studying abroad!
Clothing
Underwear (two week’s worth)
Socks (two week’s worth plus a pair or two of wool socks)
Undershirts
Thermal underwear
Long sleeve shirts
Short sleeve shirts
Sweatshirt/ hoodie (2-3)
Sweaters
Jeans/ Khakis (2-3 pair)
Shorts
A belt or two
Skirts (for the girls)
A set or two of workout clothes
Pajamas
Swimsuit (for those going to warmer climates)
Coat/Jacket ( I recommend at least 2 – one for cold weather, and one that is water resistant)
At least one nice outfit for formal occasions*
Flip flops/ sandals of some sort (good if you’re going to a warm climate, but also good for hostel showers)
Trainers/ dress shoes/ boots/ rain boots*
Cold weather gear (i.e. gloves/ mittens, hat, scarf)
Toiletries*:
TSA Compliant Toiletry Kit/ 1-quart zip-top Ziploc bags
Shampoo/Conditioner
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Soap
Deodorant
Feminine Products (one month’s worth – should go without saying you don’t want to be stuck without those)
Brush/Comb
Razors/ other shaving supplies
Contact lenses and solution
Nail clippers
Makeup
Over-the-counter medicines
Contraceptives
Tissues/ toilet paper (you don’t want to be stuck in a bathroom when its run out)
Extras
Although most places you can pay by card it is still recommended to get money in local currency
Purse/ wallet
Important documents (passport, visa, itinerary, plane tickets, ISIC card, etc.) in passport/document holder
Sunglasses/extra eye glasses/contacts
Phone (invaluable if you’re stuck in domestic airports and need to contact someone for delayed flights, etc.)
Laptop and charger (don’t forget, you’ll need an outlet adapter for the plug on your charger to work)
Sheets/ bed linens*
Bath towels*
Enough prescription drugs for the length of your stay (You need to make sure you are allowed to bring them into the country and that you have documentation, either the prescription or a doctor’s note)
Sleep sack/sleeping bag (most hostels and accommodation have sheets, however, some do not, some will charge you for them, and for those people that don’t like sleeping in unfamiliar sheets, I recommend a Cocoon Travel Sheet.)
Journal/ diary (you’ll be taking plenty of pictures on your travels, but it’s always nice to have something to write in. Of course I recommend writing a blog, but you may not always have your laptop with you.)
Backpack (for daily use and as your carry while traveling)
Plastic bottles for toiletries for use in your carry-on or while traveling (the maximum is usually 100ml)
Travel reusable water bottle
Tips
Packing for Study Abroad really isn’t as daunting as it looks. Here are some things to consider before you go.
Check the local weather in the country of your host institution:
It sounds pretty common sense, but it’s the most important thing you can do. When I was in Scotland, it didn’t get above 55° F for almost my whole stay. It would have been pointless for me to fill half of my suitcase with shorts, but I wouldn’t have known it never gets warm in St. Andrews if I hadn’t checked the weather. Weather.com won’t steer you wrong (most of the time).
Pack at least one nice outfit for formal occasions:
Some countries, especially in Europe, dress much more formally for important social events. I’m don’t mean shirt and tie for guys or cocktail dresses for girls, I’m talking black-tie/ tuxedos and ball gowns. In fact, St. Andrews probably had some sort of formal dance or event that required a suit at least once every week or so. Now I’m not saying you need to go out and buy a tuxedo or ball gown – I made it through most formal events with just a black suit and bow tie; however, it’s something to keep in mind. Guys, I would invest in a bow tie – they’re inexpensive and if there aren’t too many bright lights at an event, it can magically turn your black suit into a tuxedo.
Packing Tip #1: Rolling your clothes tends to be a more space efficient method than simply laying them flat in your suitcase.
Trainers/ dress shoes/ boots/ rain boots:
I’m sure you won’t have a problem figuring out which shoes to pack, but just remember a pair of good walking shoes. A lot of the streets in Europe are cobblestone, and while at school or while traveling abroad, your feet will get extremely sore after only a couple of hours if you don’t have a good pair of shoes/ sneakers – sorry girls, flats probably won’t cut it.
Toiletries:
The only reason I would suggest actually packing toiletries is because they can be pretty expensive in foreign countries. However, they take up a good amount of space in your luggage and provide a ton of unneeded weight. It’s really a game time decision, and if it were me, I would sack up and just buy them abroad. If you want, bring a couple travel sizes of your favorite toiletries, that way you don’t have to run to the store the first time you need a shower. Girls, if you think you’re going to be abroad in a more remote area, seriously consider packing a good supply of your usual feminine type products – its important to stay healthy.
Packing Tip #2: Pack socks (and maybe underwear) last. They’re great for filling in the random spaces, and they fit in just about every compartment of a suitcase.
Sheets/ linens/ towels:
See if your host institution provides these for you. Talk about taking up unnecessary space in your suitcase – even if your host institution doesn’t provide them for you, you’re probably still better off buying them when you land. If you do feel the desperate need to pack sheets or towels, try and bring sets that you won’t mind throwing away (or donating) at the end of your stay – it’ll free up massive amounts of space for your journey home. Uncomfortable sleeping in sheets that didn’t come from your own home? A lot of people I went abroad with used one of these Cocoons.
Socks/ underwear:
This one time, I advise you to load that suitcase up with as many pairs as you can. The more you bring, the less often you’ll have to do your laundry (which can get costly). If they don’t fit in your suitcase when you’re packing to come home, no worries, they’re cheap enough to throw away and replace.
Space Bags
My one piece of advice – be careful. Yeah you can fit more in your suitcase, but guess what – more stuff equals more weight. If you pack you entire luggage to the brim in space bags, there’s a chance you’ll pack so much that you’ll be over the weight limit. As a matter of fact, get one of these portable luggage scales. Making an attempt to stay under the weight limit will save you a lot of time and stress especially when you’re packing for those weekend trips.
Don’t Forget To Make Use Of Your Carry-on Bag:
Although your carry-on will be full of a lot of stuff to keep you entertained – i.e. laptop, Ipad, cards – it will probably still have a decent amount of empty space. Fill it with odds and ends, chargers and cords, and anything else that’s light and/ or flat.
Packing Tip #3: I’m not trying to rag on airlines (well, maybe), but no matter how advanced luggage tracking is, they will still lose bags. Save some space in your carry-on for a change of underwear, socks, etc. and some basic toiletries. Zip-loc bags are great for keeping your toiletries together and they’re TSA approved!
And there you have it, how to fit everything (or almost everything) on your study abroad packing list. If you have any recommendations for things I’ve missed let me know in the comments section below.
I have also written some more useful articles which might appeal if you enjoyed this one:
• How to get your parents to let you study abroad
• Studying abroad safety tips
• How the US government can fund you study abroad
Also if you are still researching options for things to do overseas view these gap year courses.