Packing

General Tips

How do you pack for weeks, months, or a whole year abroad?

• When packing for your time abroad, it’s important to be strategic about what you bring.  Shipping can be very expensive, airlines have weight limits and traveling light makes everything a lot easier!  
• Before packing, become familiar with the baggage allowance and fees of your airline.
• Before placing items in your luggage, take the time to lay them out, check how the different items complement each other, and plan accordingly.
• Make a list of essentials and necessities before you start packing. This will help you focus on what you truly need, rather than packing unnecessary items. 
• Do research on the climate and culture of your destination, as this will affect what type of clothing and accessories you should bring.
• You can use packing cubes or compression bags to maximize space in your suitcase. These tools help to organize your items and compress them to take up less space. Additionally, rolling your clothes instead of folding them can also save space and prevent wrinkles.
• When packing electronics and valuables, it’s important to consider the possibility of loss or damage during travel. It is recommended to bring a surge protector for your devices and to purchase travel insurance for added protection.
• Keep in mind that you can always purchase items that you may have forgotten or that you can't find at your destination, so don't feel the need to pack everything.
• Make sure that you can comfortably carry your baggage up a flight of stairs and around one block!

Carry-on 

       It is important to pack a carry-on bag with essential items for your study abroad trip. This should include:

• Passport and visa (if required)
• Pre Arrival Instructions
• Insurance information 
• Medications with prescriptions & personal health kit 
• A change of clothes in case your checked luggage is delayed.
• Basic toiletries- toothbrush and toothpaste, face wash and lotion
• Laptop, phone, iPad, tablet, along with their chargers

• We do not suggest bringing any valuable jewelry or items, but if you must, it is safer to put them in your carry-on rather than put them in your checked luggage
• Keep in mind the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule for liquids in your carry on: 3.4 ounce (100ml) containers in 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 per passenger placed in screening bin.

Emergency Contacts and Passwords 

• In your checked luggage, carry-on luggage AND wallet put a list of emergency contact names, phone numbers and email addresses. Make sure they are written down not just on a laptop, cellphone, tablet or other electronic device. Although it is good to have an emergency contact on your cellphone, consider how you would access this information if your battery dies.
• Include with the above a copy of your travel insurance contact phone numbers, policy and assistance details. Keep copies with your passport, hand luggage, and checked luggage and with family back home.
• Before traveling abroad be sure to have a list of your laptop, tablet, cellphone, or any other “technology” passwords in case of a serious life emergency. Additionally be sure to provide the same for Facebook, X (Twitter), email, credit cards, etc., so that these can be accessed by family should some life emergency occur. Keep such listings secure, but also remember the need for 24-7 access. You can and should change these after you return home safely.

Toiletries

It's important to consider that you can easily find replacements for most toiletries at your destination, so it's not necessary to bring large quantities with you. Pack enough for a few days and then purchase more once you arrive. This will save on space and weight in your luggage. If your trip is only for a few weeks, it's likely that travel-size items will suffice.

Electrical Appliances

All US electronic devices used in the UK and Ireland require a voltage converter, because the standard voltage in the UK is different than in the United States of America. This means you will require both a travel adapter and a voltage converter to plug in any devices (like the picture below). We recommend purchasing 1-2 converters, which can be purchased here.

We recommend purchasing smaller appliances (such as hair dryers, straighteners or electric razors) in the UK, as using these small appliances (even with converters) could cause damage to the appliance, or a fire.

Note- if you're planning on traveling in mainland Europe, you will need to purchase a separate travel adapter, which can be found here.

Medication

We recommend researching the laws and regulations regarding medications in the UK, as some medications may be illegal or require a special prescription. Additionally, if you have any medical conditions or allergies, make sure to inform your Program Enrollment Coordinator of your condition and any necessary precautions.

When entering the UK, you must carry medicine containing a controlled drug with you in your hand luggage. You will need to carry a letter of proof that the medicine was prescribed for you and you can only bring up to three months supply of your medicine with you.

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you if your medicine contains a controlled drug. You can also check the drugs listed on the packaging of your medicine and search for them on the controlled drugs list.

If you currently use medical marijuana or recreationally use cannabis, please note that it is illegal to import into United Kingdom, travel internationally and use recreationally in the UK. Please DO NOT attempt to bring any cannabinoids into United Kingdom. Additionally, CIS Abroad adheres to US federal law around cannabis, and therefore considers any use of cannabis onsite as a Code of Conduct violation. Please feel free to discuss any concerns you have about this with your Program Enrollment Coordinator or International Operations Director.

Clothes

Pack versatile clothing items that can be dressed up/down and mixed/matched easily. Bring items that can be layered, so you can adjust to different temperatures and weather conditions. And don't forget to pack a small laundry bag for dirty clothes. This way you can easily keep your clean clothes separate from your dirty clothes, and you can wash them as you go. Remember to also check the weather forecast for your destination and pack accordingly. And most importantly, don't over pack. Trust us- you won't need as much as you think you do.

Attire

London is one of the fashion capitals in the world. But it also has some of the quickest changing weather conditions - leaving your accommodations you must be able to dress for two seasons. London is also a walkable city, most outfits are useful when they can be interchangeable between day & night and easily move about, i.e. boots or trainers instead of heels. Although not mandatory it is found that students regularly dress up for classes in university.

Sample Packing List for London

When it comes to packing for your study abroad trip, it's important to keep in mind that apartments in the city tend to be smaller than you're accustomed to in the US, so you won't have a lot of extra space for storing items. However, you will have access to laundry facilities, so you only need to pack enough clothing for two weeks, regardless of how long you'll be staying.

Remember, you can find just about anything you need in your host country, so there's no need to overpack. You'll likely have the opportunity to do some shopping while you're there.

Make sure you bring:

Essentials:

• Passport (and photocopies)
• Visa (if required)
• Acceptance letter
• International health insurance card
• Emergency contact numbers
• Wallet
• Debit cards/credit cards/cash
• Medications & Vitamins
• Reusable water bottle
• Ear plugs

Clothes:

• Underwear
• Socks
• Bras (regular and sport)
• Swimsuit
• Pajamas
• T-shirts
• Jeans
• Sweater or cardigan
• Dresses
• Shorts
• Formal outfit for going out, etc.
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sandals
• Flip flops for shower
• Hat
• Sportswear
• Rain gear

Toiletries:

• Travel-sized shampoo/conditioner/body wash (can buy full size abroad)
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• Hair brush
• Hair ties
• Eye glasses
• Sunscreen
• Makeup

Electronics:

• Cell phone and charger
• Laptop and charger
• Adapter/converter
• Power bank
• Headphones
• Camera

Other:

• Small bag/purse
• Backpack
• Pens/pencils
• Notebook/paper
• Journal
• Sunglasses