The Ultimate Study Abroad Packing List for 2024

Since you have landed on this page, it seems you are ready to jet off to pursue your study-abroad dreams! If this has happened for real, pinch yourself and sink in the moment to savor your achievement. It indeed is a big deal!

Days and months of meticulous planning, hard work, and effort have finally paid off. However, while you revel in your achievements, you need to buckle up for creating the perfect study-abroad packing list. 

Talking about packing your bags might make you jittery as well as excited for your transformative journey ahead. Probably your mind might be inundated with things to carry. However, before filling your bags with things coming to your mind, you need to create a study-abroad packing list.

This is necessary to avoid stuffing your bags with things you are never going to need overseas. Also, the list is to ensure you have international travel essentials you don’t regret missing out on. That said, let’s dive into this insightful blog crafted by MSM Unify overseas education consultants and learn about what things need to make their way to your student travel bag!

The Essential Study Abroad Packing List

Travel documents

Here’s a list of essential travel documents that you can’t afford to carry while packing your bags:

• A valid passport – If you wish to jet off, you can’t leave it behind!
• A student visa – Without this, you won’t be allowed to pursue education in the country
• Travel tickets – A passport alone can’t let you fly
• Admission letter- keep it close 
• Birth certificate
• ID cards
• Health insurance and travel insurance papers
• Payment cards
• Cash that works in the destination country

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Electronic gadgets

Even if you are a forgetful person, you probably won’t ever leave your phone behind! However, that’s not the only electronic gadget we are talking about. There’s more that you must carry:

• Laptop
• Chargers for your devices
• Adapters
• Headphones

Clothing

We are sure you want to look nice and flaunt different clothes when you start going to college. However, do not overstuff your bag with too many clothes, because you are going to shop for what you need in the destination country. So, here are some must-haves that you should carry in a limited number:

• Innerwears
• T-shirts/ tops
• Trousers/ Jeans
• Nightwear
• Warm clothing, including light and thick jackets
• Belt
• Swimwear
• Formal clothes
• Socks
• Formal shoes, sports shoes, and a comfortable pair of footwear

Healthcare essentials

This is one of the most important sections of this blog that you mustn’t gloss over. These health care essentials are absolutely a must just like the key documents mentioned in the above section. Here’s the crisp yet crucial list:

• Extra pair of glasses (if you wear one)
• Extra pair of lenses and their cleaning solution
• Prescription medicines along with the prescription!
• Health insurance papers (This is repeated because this is extremely crucial) 
• Intimate hygiene products
• Sanitary napkins (if applicable)
• OTC allergy medicines, pain relievers, etc.

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Toiletries

This section entails a list of some essential things that you will need immediately once you reach your accommodation. If you forget these, it is not a big loss. However, we suppose that you won’t like to rush to a store immediately after landing and buy some expensive stuff. So, here you go:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Comb
• Shampoo
• Body Wash/ soap
• Perfume/ Deodorant
• Makeup essentials (that you can’t do without)

Food and kitchen supplies

Even if you have never cooked before in your life, in all likelihood you will need to cook for yourself when you study abroad. This is important if you want to save money on buying food every day, after all, food in restaurants and eateries can be pretty expensive. So, here’s what you can carry: 

• A small pouch of tea or coffee (that will last you a week)
• Sugar, salt and pepper
• Small portions of lentils and cereals
• Spices that you can’t do without! (But please check with the airlines for any banned products)
• A saucepan/kettle
• Homemade food with a good shelf life (only if the product is allowed to be carried on international flights, also please don’t go overboard!)

Miscellaneous items

Wrapping up, here’s a list of some miscellaneous items that are important, but not mandatory. So, you may use your discretion while creating your international student packing list. Here are a couple of recommendations:

• Hand sanitizer (Probably you would like to have it in your handbag)
• A handy first-aid kit
• Your favorite pair of shades
• Notebooks, pens, pencils, and other essential stationery items

What not to pack for international travel?

If you want to know how to pack luggage for international travel, you must know what you shouldn’t pack! Here are our suggestions on things you must leave behind:

• Perishable food: Other than some travel snacks, and must-have condiments, avoid packing perishable food. It’s bulky and you would need to get used to the local cuisine anyway!
• Elaborate cookware: Resist the urge to bring kitchen appliances like a rice cooker or toaster. You can buy what you need once you arrive—just stick to the essentials for now.
• An Iron: While you might prefer wrinkle-free clothes, you are likely to find an iron available at your accommodation.
• A pillow: Pillows are bulky, and you will surely find one in your apartment once you’re there.
• Books: Besides the ones you need for your coursework, leave your books at home. Consider using an e-reader or borrowing from the campus library instead.

With this, we come to the end of the ultimate study-abroad packing list for 2024. If you are having goosebumps or are grappling with concerns regarding your travel or any study-abroad process, feel free to contact MSM Unify overseas education consultants. They will be happy to help you get rid of your concerns and apprehensions. Good luck and have an incredible study-abroad journey!