Studying Abroad? Ship your items ahead and travel light!
Studying abroad means enrolling in an educational programme in another country, from a single semester to a full degree. To do it, you choose a destination and course, apply through your home university or directly, sort your visa and funding early, make your travel arrangements, and get your personal belongings there. My Baggage ships your suitcases, boxes, and sports equipment door to door to over 200 countries, so you avoid airline excess baggage fees and arrive ready to start.
This guide covers what studying abroad involves, whether it suits you, how to prepare, where students go, and how to get your belongings there and back. It sits within our student shipping service.
Studying abroad means enrolling in an educational programme in another country. This could be a full degree, a single year, or a short-term course at a college or university outside your home country.
It takes several forms. Many students join exchange programmes where their home university partners with an overseas institution for a semester or academic year. Others take a year or semester abroad as part of their course, or complete a full degree internationally. Gap year students may enrol in a short course abroad. At its core, studying abroad involves moving to another country for education, with the details varying by person.
Studying abroad suits a far wider range of students than most people assume, not just top students or those with large budgets. The better question is which type of experience fits you, rather than whether you can go at all.
There is an option to suit almost every situation. Short-term exchanges can last a single semester, full degrees abroad can be affordable depending on the destination, and many universities offer blended or online-first courses that let you begin from home before moving to campus. Scholarship funding is also more widely available than most students expect, and some students go on to opportunities such as teaching English abroad afterwards.
Start preparing at least six months before departure, and ideally twelve months for a full degree or a competitive exchange. Work through these five areas in order.
Check rankings, reviews, and cost of living. Confirm your credits will transfer home before you commit.
Visas can take weeks or months. Contact your international office and embassy early, and store key documents securely.
Check your bank's international options, research banking in your destination, and set a savings plan.
Look into routes to your destination early, and check return options too.
Use student shipping to send luggage door to door, and plan with the university packing list.
The destination comes down to your course and the options open to you. My Baggage offers luggage shipping to over 200 countries and territories, so wherever your studies take you, you are covered. These are among the most popular destinations for international students.
The reasons are as varied as the students who go. Here are ten worth knowing.
International experience shows adaptability, which employers actively look for.
From exploring new cities to building a life in a different culture.
Food, traditions, language, and daily life you cannot replicate at home.
Living where the language is spoken is the fastest route to fluency.
Fellow international students become lifelong personal and professional connections.
Managing budgets, visa paperwork, and daily life abroad builds confidence quickly.
Exchange and Erasmus+ fees are often comparable to studying at home.
47 countries take part in Erasmus+, opening up an entire region.
Stepping outside your comfort zone is where the real growth happens.
Studying close to home is safe; studying abroad is memorable.
Student shipping takes four steps and no trip to a depot.
For most students, shipping ahead is the easier option. Your bags travel door to door while you fly with hand luggage only, so the airport part of the trip looks like this.
All round, a much easier way to travel.
My Baggage sends your suitcases, boxes, and sports equipment such as golf clubs or a bike from your door to your university accommodation, and back again at the end of term, with full online tracking. Get an instant quote for your route.
Parents can take the stress out of studying abroad by booking a student shipping service like My Baggage, which sends suitcases and personal effects ahead to the destination with full online tracking. My Baggage has shipped student luggage worldwide since 2009, and compensation cover options, including enhanced solutions, are available for added peace of mind.
The service also works during and after term. Book a box to send a care package from home, or arrange a return collection when halls close. Families relocating together rather than sending a single student can use the international removals service for larger moves. Be sure to consult our moving guides to learn more about visas, healthcare, and other important information. We always recommend verifying everything with official sources, and if you have any questions about your My Baggage shipment, simply contact us.
"We used My Baggage for both of our children to ship luggage for study abroad from the US to Europe. Extremely satisfied with the ease of filling out paperwork online and the door-to-door pick up."
Verified review"Helped me ship our son's luggage from the US to the UK for his study abroad programme in record time and for a fraction of the price. I would absolutely use My Baggage again."
Verified review"Moved to Sweden from the UK for college. The most stress-free way of getting my items here. Sent in double-strength boxes, nothing was damaged, and it arrived in about four days."
Verified reviewThe most suitable country matches your subject, budget, and post-study plans. Compare tuition and living costs, whether your course is taught in English, visa and work rights, and how well your home credits transfer.
Apply through your home university's exchange or study-abroad office, or directly to the overseas institution. Confirm entry requirements, prepare transcripts and any language test results, and check deadlines, which can fall up to a year ahead.
Funding usually combines savings, student loans, scholarships, and grants. Programmes such as Erasmus+ offer mobility funding, and universities often list scholarships for international students, so check both your home and host institutions.
Most students need a study visa for courses outside their home country, though some short stays within a region may not. Requirements depend on your nationality and destination, so check the destination's official immigration site and apply early, as processing can take weeks or months.
Many student visas allow limited part-time work during term and more during holidays, but rules vary by country and visa type. Confirm the exact hours and conditions on the destination's official immigration website before relying on working.
Yes. Many universities offer courses taught entirely in English, and others provide language support for international students. Check the language of instruction for your specific course before applying.
A blended programme combines online study with time on campus abroad. You begin some or all of your course remotely, then move overseas for the in-person part, which can lower cost and ease the transition.
For most students, yes. It builds independence, language skills, and a global network, and international experience is valued by employers. Whether it is worth it depends on your goals, budget, and course.
Start at least six months ahead, and ideally twelve months for a full degree or a competitive exchange. Early planning leaves time for applications, visas, funding, and travel.
Studying abroad is generally safe when you research your destination, register with your university's international office, and follow local guidance. Check your government's official travel advice for the country before you go.
No. You can ship your belongings door to door instead of paying airline excess baggage fees. My Baggage collects from your home and delivers to your university accommodation, and back again at the end of term.
Studying abroad means enrolling in an accredited course for academic credit overseas, while a gap year is usually a break from formal study for travel, work, or volunteering. Some gap years include short courses abroad, but they are not the same as a credited study placement.
Yes. You can ship a box door to door to their university accommodation. Check the destination's prohibited and restricted items list and customs rules first, as food and certain goods may be limited.
Book a return collection from the university accommodation to the home address. Arrange it before halls close, label boxes clearly, and track the shipment the whole way. The service works the same in both directions.
Cost depends on the weight, size, and route, so the most accurate figure comes from an instant quote. Shipping ahead is often cheaper than airline excess baggage fees on heavier loads and long-haul routes.
This guide is designed to inform and inspire your plans for studying abroad, but you should always carry out your own research, as the details depend on your individual circumstances and destination. Refer to official resources, including your government's official travel advice, exercise caution, and verify everything before you act. The information here is correct at the time of publishing but can change.
