Dates
‘Do I have a recommended arrival date from my university?’
‘What is my enrolment date?’
‘When do classes actually begin?’
Travel and getting to your destination
'Have I packed all my flight information and any other tickets for my journey, including itinerary?'
‘Have I read the regulations for what luggage I can take on board my flight (including how this must be packed, what must be checked in & what I can take on as hand luggage)?’
‘Will I be transporting any (large) belongings, possessions or furniture separately?’ and if so ‘Can I make do until these arrive?’
‘Am I going straight to campus or my accommodation?’
‘Is the airport close to where I am going? Or am I going to have to fly into another smaller airport?’
‘What transport options are there from the airport to where I’m going?’
‘Does someone at the university know when I will be arriving?’
Point of contact
‘Do I need to tell someone at the university when I’ll be arriving?’
‘Do I have the contact details for someone at the university (specifically the International Office) who I can call (or a third party can call) if I run into problems?’
How can you stay in touch with friends and family at home?
Accommodation
‘If I don’t have long-term accommodation arranged, do I have short-term accommodation until I find something else like a hostel or spare room?’
‘What do I need to bring to my accommodation which isn’t already included?’
‘Will I need to set up utilities such as water, electricity, gas and internet when I arrive at my accommodation?’
‘Do I know who I’ll be living with?’ (and ‘can I stalk them online to find out a bit about them?’)
Important documents
‘Do I have my passport?’
‘NO, SERIOUSLY; DO I HAVE MY PASSPORT?’ * This is really important!
‘Do I have permission to enter the country?'
‘Do I know what I have to do when I arrive at border control to show I can enter (i.e. a visa)?’
‘How would I prove to a border agent that I am who I say I am (i.e. an international student arriving to study at my university)?’
‘Do I have all the documentation I need to show (e.g. letter offering me a place at the institution, confirmation of acceptance of place, confirmation of scholarship awards etc.) and is it accessible?’
‘What will I do if I can’t access important documents on my laptop or mobile device?’
Read our guide to essential documents when applying - these are the kinds of documents you should have on you when you move too.
Things to pack
‘Do I have an international adaptor?’ and ‘Do I have enough for all my devices?’
‘Do I have all the chargers or adaptors I need to charge all my devices?’
‘What’s the weather going to be like in my study destination when I arrive?’
‘Do I have sufficient clothing for this climate?’
‘What medication do I take (regularly or seasonally)? Have I packed this?’ (and ‘Is this packed in an appropriate manner according to airline regulations?’)
‘Do I have a medical card (translated into English) detailing things like blood type, medical conditions etc., for when I sign up with a local doctor or if I fall ill?’
Money
‘Do I have access to cash in local currency if I need to pay for things the moment I arrive?’
‘What exactly might I need to pay for when I arrive?’
‘Do I know how much things are roughly like everyday food items?’
‘How can I access funds from my bank account (including emergency funds)?’
‘Will my bank cards work the moment I arrive?’
‘Have I told my current bank account that I will be moving away to another country so they don’t block my card?’
‘Do I know about the different offers or incentives which my bank offers for international students who bank with them?’
‘What banking options are there in my new country if I want to open an account there i.e. banks with branches or partners in different countries?’
Find out why you should open a bank account before you arrive in your study destination.
Other
‘Am I covered by insurance if I fall ill or something important I own is stolen or broken?’
‘How will I contact my family and friends to let them know that I have arrived safely?’
Read our guide to health & sickness abroad, including insurance and what care might be available to you should you fall sick abroad.
Read more:
Read our article, 'Essentials: Before you leave' to make sure you've not forgotten anything.
