Documentation is one of the most important parts of having to prepare to study abroad. The necessary documents you’ll require are your passport and your visa. If you don’t already have a passport, this is the first thing you will need to tackle during the preparation for studying abroad. It’s also important to apply for a new passport if the one you currently have is about to expire or doesn’t have enough blank pages.

Some countries require a proficiency exam to know that you’ll be able to deal with the workload and understand the language of instruction. The UK is one such country. If you’re studying abroad at a UK university, you’ll need to take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test to prove that you can handle assignments and lectures in English.

When you’re starting to prepare to study abroad, you must think about packing up your entire life into a few suitcases. We’re sure you’ve heard not to overpack, but we’re here to tell you to pack wisely. Start packing at least a week or two before you’re going to leave to ensure you do not forget things simply because you’re in a hurry. Additionally, this will give you plenty of time to buy things you don’t have.

It’s also essential to keep the weather in mind when packing. If your study abroad location is warm, don’t waste your time packing sweaters and coats you won’t end up using. Also, make sure to pack neutrals or outfits you can mix and match and keep the baggage limit in mind when packing. Ignoring the limit or forgetting to check it beforehand can lead to later paying exorbitant fees at the airport. Most international flights only allow one or two checked bags, so you must be careful when packing.