If you’re planning to bring a didgeridoo or some other souvenirs back from Australia after your first term studying abroad, you’ll need to save some space in your luggage. Therefore you should think carefully about what you pack when leaving for Australia.
Read our guide to what you should pack for Australia...
Before you start packing
Check with the airline you're flying with what the luggage limitations and restrictions are. You should weigh your bags at home so you're not carrying too much. Also, take care to ensure you're not bringing any sharp objects or liquids in your hand luggage. Liquids in your hand luggage must be in small quantities of 100ml and in see-through bottles, all carried in a see-through re-sealable plastic bag which is no bigger than 20x20cm. For Australia, you can read the full guidelines here.
DO pack:
Appropriate clothing
Australia is warm to very hot all year round so you can probably leave your winter clothes at home. Anything you do need for cold weather can be purchased in Australia; the cost for these will be minimal compared to the headache of packing them and the space they’ll take up (this can be used for clothes for warm weather). Still you can always check online for what weather you can expect when you arrive. Think shorts, t-shirts and dresses, with a swimming costume or two too for the beach – essentially anything you’ll be comfortable in, in hot weather.
Cash
While we’ve already outlined that there are several banking options in Australia for international students, it may take you a few days or weeks to actually find a bank you’re happy with and to set up an account. So you’ll need access to funds in the meantime. You’ll probably be able to access money in your home account via debit card (remember to tell your bank that you’ll be in Australia), but you should also have some cash in Australian dollars on you. We would recommend about AUS$700 though this will vary on your circumstances (i.e. do you have to pay for short-term accommodation if you still need to find housing?).
Documents
Read our guide to essential documents which you should have when you’re applying to study abroad; you’ll need to take some of these with you when you finally move to Australia, either in a hard copy format or stored digitally. Additionally, you should have any documents relating to your student visa, as well as documentation to confirm that you have arranged Overseas Student Health Care (i.e. a receipt) if you need it; these should be in your hand luggage and readily accessible so you can pull these out at border control when you touch down in Australia.
Read our guide, ’40 Questions international students should ask before leaving home’
LEAVE behind:
Warm clothing
You simply won’t need clothing for cold weather unless you’re planning to explore the outback; so wait until you plan to make such a trip to buy the appropriate warm clothing and attire for this – you’ll need it for sure when camping out, even in Australia! Boots, jackets, jumpers....leave them at home!
Pets!
Australia has a very strict policy on what animals can enter the country in order not to disturb the natural environment. So even if you’re very close to your pets, leave them at home no matter how small or big they are. Plus university isn’t the time to be looking after pets; you should be outside making new friends and exploring the country!
Now that you know more about precautions you can take when studying in the country, begin your journey to studying in Australia.
Read more:
'The Australian higher education system....simplified'
'Applying to study in Australia'
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