Are you heading on Erasmus? Beginning to pack and struggling to keep your suitcase within Ryanair’s stingy weight guidelines? Or are you at a complete loss on what to bring at all? Well, look no further – An Overpacker’s Guide to Packing for Erasmus is filled with all the non-essential essentials you’ll need during your time abroad.

Relying on the common sense of Erasmus students to recognise their own packing necessities, my aim is to provide some other thoughts to consider in order to make your move easier. To begin with, destination should play a key role in your decision-making, particularly in terms of wardrobe. Local weather, cost of living and the length of your stay will all influence the clothes and accessories you plan to pack for your time on Erasmus. For my year-long stay in Bologna, my wardrobe will need to range from light summer dresses to knitted jumpers, with a few swimsuits thrown in there for good measure. Students headed to a colder climate, however, may want to pack a few more hats and scarves. If you’re in any way fashion-orientated, the style and culture of the local population might also come into play when packing – and warning, don’t trust the “European Summer” Tiktoks to provide you with an accurate guide on this. For my own part, the classic yet effortless look that defines Italian style will undoubtedly influence my own wardrobe but I do intend to retain a sense of myself in the process; in other words, the platform Docs are here to stay.

Ryanair, “Europe’s Lowest Fare Airline”. Assuming most Erasmus students are working with a student budget, it’s safe to say that the majority of us will be flying with this notorious airline when moving abroad. However, this comes with its own set of issues. If you’re an anxious packer like me, you probably stuff ten pairs of underwear into your suitcase for a weekend away, on the off chance that you’ll defecate yourself twice a day. But with Ryanair’s strict baggage weight policy, overpacking is simply not an option. To overcome this issue, there are a few things to keep in mind when packing:

1. Look for versatility – Choose pieces of clothing that work well with a lot of outfits, not just one. This will maximise your baggage weight allowance and lead you to an ideal ‘capsule wardrobe’. 
2. Outfit repeatability – What clothes do you turn to most? What only makes an appearance once a year? In other words, what will you actually wear?
3. Necessities are unique to everyone – What I deem a necessity may not be what you deem a necessity, so don’t rely on others for guidance on this. Cowboy boots and Tetley tea don’t need to make an appearance in your suitcase but they’re already stowed away in mine.
4. Sentimentals are essentials – Moving away from home can feel isolating at times, especially when your friends are all scattered across the globe as well. Packing sentimental items, such as photos, lucky charms, or even teddy bears, will provide a sense of home in your new home. I know my own strawberry-scented Lotso bear will be securely situated in my suitcase. Impractical? Perhaps. Essential? Absolutely.

With a big move comes an even larger opportunity for decorating and there’s a plethora of ways to do this that won’t take up much space in your bag or do significant damage to your bank account. Photos of your friends and family, postcards, and posters can instantly transform a space into something inherently “you”; plus, they’re easy to pack. As an English student, books are not only a necessity for my course but also an “aesthetic” way to take up shelf space. Additionally, fairy lights can never be underestimated when trying to add warmth to your new room. If you’re sharing a space with strangers, there may be a limit to what you can do in terms of decoration but even the simplest things can add personality, especially when you’re in a new country; even a beermat will possess enough novelty to become part of your decor.

As it is unfortunately impossible to pack up your whole house and bring it to your new destination, you will inevitably need to buy some items upon your arrival. In terms of budgeting, this is something that you may want to be aware of so you can set aside a certain amount to spend once you arrive. Kitchen supplies like pots and pans will need to be purchased there if they’re not provided by your accommodation but, remember – you won’t be able to bring these items back with you, so don’t go overboard. If you’re living with friends and willing to share, these costs can be split amongst you. However, if you’re living alone, with strangers, or simply hate sharing, then you’ll have to foot the bill yourself but this doesn’t necessarily need to break the bank account. Facebook Marketplace is filled with previous students trying to offload the contents of their apartments for reasonable prices and, if push comes to shove, glassware can easily be found on nights out, picked up and shoved into your bag (this is definitely a joke and Misc. Magazine does not endorse theft). 

Whether you want to pack ten pairs of Croc or IKEA’s huge ‘DJUNGELSKOG’ teddy bear, it’s up to you and you alone – the first of an innumerable amount of decisions you will need to make yourself while on Erasmus. This guide has hopefully provided some insights and advice into your Erasmus packing endeavours. Happy packing and don’t forget your passport!