10 Things Every International Student Should Consider As Soon As They Arrive In Germany

Are you about to travel to Germany to spend a semester abroad? Wonderful – congratulations! To ensure that your arrival in Germany is as comfortable as possible, we have compiled a list of 10 things that you should consider to make it easier for you to get started in everyday life in Germany. 

Let’s not beat around the bush, let’s start right away with the list: 

Important: The German weather is very changeable. So, it can happen that on some days you need both a warm jacket and an umbrella! 

Winter clothes (also available in Germany, also excellent quality) 

• A jacket from your country of origin is sufficient. 

We recommend you buy a jacket in Germany because the quality is particularly good there! 

• A pair of gloves 

• Socks (4-5 pairs) 

• Thermal underwear (2 pairs) 

• Scarf 

• Earmuffs 

• Winter leggings 

Clothes (without quantity recommendations, as you feel comfortable) 

• Shirt 

• Jeans 

• Shorts 

• Casuals 

• Innerwear 

• Traditional clothing 

Footwear (also available in Germany with superior quality) 

• Shoes (min. 2 pairs as you will be walking a lot) 

• Slippers 

• Heels (for girls, on special occasions) 

• Boots (we recommend buying boots in Germany) 

Electronic devices (often cheaper in the country of origin) 

• Mains adapter: Germany uses the Euro plug, which has two pins 

• All charging cables 

• Laptop 

• Mobile 

• Headphones 

• Power bank 

• USB stick 

• Clock 

• Scientific/graphing calculator (especially important for some courses at the university) 

• Hair straightener 

Stationery 

• Notebooks 

• Pens (of all shapes), fountain pens, erasers 

• Highlighter 

• Scissors 

• Perforator 

• Duct tape 

• Thumbtacks 

• Printer paper 

Sanitary ware 

• Dry towels 

• Soap 

• Facial cleanser 

• Oil 

• Cream 

• Powder 

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, tongue cleaner 

• Nail clippers 

• Hairbrush 

• Lip balm 

• Razor 

Kitchen utensils 

• Pressure cooker 

• Pans 

• Bowls 

• Storage boxes 

• Plate 

• Fork spoon knife 

• Sieve 

• Vegetable peeler 

Food 

• Certain spices and oils 

• Masala boxes 

• Sweets/fruits from your country of origin 

• Dried fruit 

• Rice 

• Ghee 

• Asafoetida 

Medicine 

• Band Aid 

• Healing Salve 

• Medication for headache, fever, diarrhea, nausea, cold 

• Vitamins 

Documents  

• Documents (with additional copies): residence permits, certificates, health insurance 

• Passport 

• Passport photos 

• Cash (1,500 – 2,000€) 

• Umbrella 

Accessories 

• Belt 

• (Sunglasses) glasses 

• Perfume 

Miscellaneous 

• rubber bands 

• Safety pin 

• Hangers 

• Paper clip (for replacing the SIM card) 

• Safety lock 

• Clothes bag 

• Board games 

If you follow this list, you will be well prepared for your arrival in Germany!  

Never forget: You always could buy something later, even in Germany, this applies to everyday objects. There is no perfect packing list, and you should not stress yourself too much about it. It is important that you have the items with you that increase your well-being! 

We wish you lots of fun during your stay in Germany!