While we believe study abroad is a gift in and of itself, sometimes for the holidays, your birthday, or even a "treat yourself" day, it's great to plan ahead and ask for (or buy) things that will help you on your journey.
In addition to our handy dandy study abroad packing list, we asked our IES Abroad Ambassadors to share their favorite things they brought, bought, and wish they had during their international experiences.
“My Host Family had three young girls so I made sure to bring gifts that we could use together. I brought a puzzle, painting sets, and a friendship bracelet-making kit. This was great because right from the start we had an activity to do!”Katia R. • Bates College • Arles - Summer In Provence
“AWAY luggage, a good and cute duffle bag with a shoulder strap, lock (for my backpack zipper so no pick-pocketers), MagSafe portable phone charger.”Gabrielle G. • Indiana University • Milan - Business Studies
“I brought a fantastic laptop tote bag that I used every day for going back & forth to class. I could fit my water bottle inside it with my 15.6" laptop, and still have a lot of room! It was comfy on my shoulder for long stretches of time and it's very durable. This is the YALUXE Genuine Leather Laptop Tote to be exact!”Corena P. • Miami University • Berlin - Security Studies & International Affairs
“A portable weight for your suitcase! It was super helpful when traveling around New Zealand, so I could always weigh my suitcase ahead of time and make sure it wasn’t going to cost more!”Emily M. • Miami University • Auckland - University of Auckland
“I think that the best item I had brought was a warm long trench coat and a scarf - I arrived in brisk Milan in January and I felt warm and fashionable in my new city. Also, my own towels. Lots of my peers didn't bring towels and when you first arrive and want to take a hot shower your apartment or residence may not have them readily available just yet.”Nicole K. • Penn State University • Milan - Italy Today
“The best item that I brought with me for study abroad that I think would make a good gift would have to be a journal. My dad had gifted me a nice journal so I could document all of my adventures while I was abroad, and it's now one of my favorite things to have. It's really easy to get wrapped up and overwhelmed with the chaos of studying abroad, so having a journal where I can write down all of the memories I was making was something that was really nice to have. Now, I can read it for years to come and reflect on all of the fun times I had.”Maya R. • University of Pittsburgh • Dublin - Irish Studies
“I wish I had brought my pillow. You can easily bring it on the plane and it makes a world of difference to have that piece of home when you're miles and miles away!”Katia R. • Bates College • Arles - Summer In Provence
“Luggage scale!”Gabrielle G. • Indiana University • Milan - Business Studies
“I wish I brought my mini clothes steamer! I ended up buying one in Berlin because I had a few tops and bottoms that were prone to wrinkles, but I could've saved a few dollars if I packed mine from home.”Corena P. • Miami University • Berlin - Security Studies & International Affairs
“More comfy clothes! I definitely didn’t pack enough lounging clothing and I regretted it. Had to go buy some!”Emily M. • Miami University • Auckland - University of Auckland
“More socks! I underestimated how much I would need and had to do laundry quickly within the first few months.”Nicole K. • Penn State University • Milan - Italy Today
“An item that I wish I brought from home to study abroad would probably me some kind of personal item that reminded me of home. I was so worried about not bringing too much random clutter with me since I wanted to bring back more than I brought there that I didn't really bring any personal items. Sometimes having a piece of home with you when you're so far away from it can be a really nice thing.”Maya R. • University of Pittsburgh • Dublin - Irish Studies
“I got myself postcards from all the different towns I visited so when I got home I was able to frame them!”Katia R. • Bates College • Arles - Summer In Provence
“A pair of designer sunglasses!!!”Gabrielle G. • Indiana University • Milan - Business Studies
“I went to a Christmas market with a friend and we bought these tiny ceramic winter village homes! It's incredibly cute and will always remind me of how lovely it was to be in Europe for the holiday season.”Corena P. • Miami University • Berlin - Security Studies & International Affairs
“I am definitely a keychain person, so I got a keychain with the kiwi bird on it and I love it. Take a good camera too!”Emily M. • Miami University • Auckland - University of Auckland
“I bought a great deal of shoes from the vintage markets in Milan.”Nicole K. • Penn State University • Milan - Italy Today
“It was hard not to buy myself every single momento I saw while abroad, but I did my best to only get things that meant something to me. With that, the best gift that I got myself while abroad would honestly have to be my Guinness pint glass. That may sound silly, but Guinness has to be one of the most well known parts about Dublin. Now, I have a glass that I can use as decoration and even to drink out of. Overall though it's a gift that actually has some kind of meaning to me instead of a magnet that just says Dublin on it.”Maya R. • University of Pittsburgh • Dublin - Irish Studies
“Ask them what they need, and find out what climate they are most unprepared for and gage what they need most. My west coast friends came unprepared and had not winter jackets - that sort of thing.”Nicole K. • Penn State University • Milan - Italy Today
“Journals! I went everywehre with my journal when I studied in Arles. It helped me when I needed to write down a word to look up later, a new friend's address, or even draw cool things I saw on my walks. It helps if they're pretty too!”Katia R. • Bates College • Arles - Summer In Provence
“Think about making this person's time on-the-go easier, and consider practical items like a good quality portable charger or windproof umbrella. Being prepared for weather and fully-charged will always be valuable!”Corena P. • Miami University • Berlin - Security Studies & International Affairs
“Notebooks specifically for traveling memories. Cameras. Extra storage for their phones. Suitcases! Duffle bags. Packing cubes for the suitcases.”Emily M. • Miami University • Auckland - University of Auckland
“For Christmas right before I went abroad, my parents got me a backpacking backpack - and it was the best thing that they could have gotten me. When traveling around Europe, you will save A LOT of money by only traveling with a backpack. This backpack was perfect for weekend trips because I could fit everything that I needed in it, and it has technology to it that doesn't kill your back. So, if they don't have it already, a nice backpacking backpack could be the gift that they didn't know they needed.”Maya R. • University of Pittsburgh • Dublin - Irish Studies
Need more ideas to add to your list? Chat with an IES Abroad ambassador about what it’s like to be a study abroad student. Our study abroad advisors are also available for any questions you may have regarding visas, paying for study abroad, and more.
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