This is just my advice based on each program, everything I did well, and everything I wish I did differently so that way when you go abroad you can pack perfectly.
Something to note while reading: I’m a girl/skincare consultant/makeup artist. If you don’t care about makeup/skincare/feminine products you can pack even less than what I’m about to tell you to pack, which is not much at all.
I started my study abroad journey in Grenoble, France. The program was only six weeks long, but I traveled through Italy and a bit of France and Spain for the two weeks after leading up to my four month program in Sevilla, Spain. I went to the US for winter break before leaving again to Paris for five months.
The BEST decision I made was to get a backpacking pack. It was my dad’s idea, and I didn’t want to do it initially because packs are so expensive. However, when you’re hopping on and off trains, walking up hills and stairs (Europe is not very handicap accessible, so don’t expect to find many elevators), and walking on cobblestones, you’ll regret bringing a suitcase, no matter what size it is. The pack also keeps you from overpacking, a mistake for any length of time spent abroad. The pack I have is from Osprey. I just went to an REI to get fitted. You don’t want one that’s too big. Mine weighed about 25 pounds at the airport when I had it full with all my stuff in it.
I also got the Osprey daylight bag. It’s a bag that you can use for your carry-on in the airport (it’ll fit a Mac Book Pro 13in and some more), it’s great for little day trips or as your everyday going to class bag. When you’re carrying all your stuff, you can just strap it over the front of your body while you have your pack on.
I got the Osprey pack bag as well. It’s a big sac that you put your pack into at the airport so straps don’t catch on things. It sounds ridiculous, but I got it because if I were to lose my luggage at the airport, it would insure the cost of my pack as well. The airport will only insure the contents of your luggage for up to 300 dollars or something, not the suitcase itself. Since the pack is expensive, if you put that in a sac, that will also be part of the contents, so it’ll be insured. Make sure nothing else of value is in that bag. Again, walk around your house with your pack on for a good while, and if it feels heavy, take out what you don’t absolutely need (there will always be something you don't need).
As far as clothes go, if you’re going for the year, bring things that you can layer. If your program is only for the summer, it’s safe to say you’ll need mostly hot weather clothes (aside from the extra light jacket/ sweater and umbrella and a pair of jeans in case it gets cold at night or rains).
I did programs that took me through all types of weather. I packed a couple pairs of shorts (when I went back to the US between Sevilla and Paris, I left those home), a couple pairs of jeans, tanks tops, cardigans, and socks. You can re-wear shorts and jeans forever. I probably wore my jeans five times before washing, and in the summer, even though it was hot, I’d wear my shorts three times before washing. Jeans get really heavy in your bag, so less is more.
Also, if you bring several basic tanks/t-shirts and cardigans, you can mix and match, and while you’ll wear the same things every week, you can make it look like you actually have different outfits. This saves SO much room in your bag. Mine were all neutral colors (like what everyone wears in France), and since Europe is more formal from day to day, they were all in a classic style that took me from day to night.
Pack about ten pairs of underwear if you’re doing your laundry once a week (the three extra are for the times when you’re lazy about laundry), and if you’re going abroad in the winter, about the same amount of socks (bring way less if you’re only going in the summer if you even bring them at all).
Bringing one scarf you really like that can go in all types of weather is nice, and don’t bring too much jewelry (you don’t want to lose it or tangle it, and tbh you probably won’t be wearing much anyway).
For night clothes, you’ll get in the clubs fine with your regular day clothes (I wore my riding boots, dark wash jeans, a tank top and sometimes something even more casual and was NEVER denied access to a club). If you feel like you absolutely need a dress and heels (you really won't), you can find nice ones there. However, if you’re a guy, in Spain, you’ll need dress shoes, nice pants, and a nice shirt. The bouncers in Spain are harder on guys if they’re not dressed up well.
If your city has beaches or you know you'll travel to a beach, bring a swimsuit.
If your city has beaches or you know you'll travel to a beach, bring a swimsuit.
Don’t bring a bunch of purses. Bring one that goes with every outfit. Cross body, zippered (harder to pickpocket), not too big (you don’t need much going out, and it’ll feel very heavy after a long day).
I had one of those money belts and never used it.
Pack a coat that doesn’t take up much room. I have a down coat from Uniqlo that I can mush into a tiny bag, and it’s great for cold weather. Otherwise, just bring a light jacket and something that you can layer under.
Don’t pack a zillion shoes. Pack shoes that you can wear through most weather situations. This applies to France mostly because they have the BEST shoes. You’ll buy some anyway most likely.
A pair of shower flip flops is good for hostels if you travel a bit (don’t actually wear them around in France unless you want to make yourself a target for pickpockets. Only Americans wear flip flops outside of the beach and pool). A pair of boots is good for everything else (weatherproof them before leaving) because depending on the style, you can dress them up or down for day or clubs, if they’re flat they’re comfortable to walk around in for long amounts of time, and they go with every outfit. Also bring nicer looking sandals for day. If you’re backpacking at all, bring your comfiest shoes (although I did go backpacking/hiking even with my 12 dollar sandals from Target and was fine (they broke at the very end, but I'd had them for two years anyway)). If not, leave those at home unless you love to exercise and go running (bring the respective clothes, too, then, and remember exercise clothes can equal pajamas). If you’re going to Spain, pack slippers. Trust me. The floors get insanely “I think I’m going to die” cold.
Packing toiletries is optional. I went to France and Spain for study abroad, and the case was different in each country.
In Spain, the toiletries are expensive and the same as what you’d buy in the states, so pack the amount you’d need for the whole trip (including makeup, which is VERY expensive there). Plus, if you pack all that, once you leave, you’ll have finished it and will have the extra space in your pack for what you bought there.
In France, however, I really wanted to try all the skincare and things they have, because French skincare is AMAZING and not too much more expensive, so if that’s your thing, don’t pack any toiletries.
However, bring your vitamins (if you have big bottles of them, count out the supply you need so you don't need to lug the extra back home), a little bottle of your favorite pain reliever, your contacts and solution to last you throughout the trip, and deodorant (deodorant in Europe is extra expensive, and it comes in roller balls or sprays, which I don’t like). You might want to pack the feminine products you’d need (again, count out what you need, don't bring whole boxes of the stuff), because they’re really overpriced here. If you wear makeup, bring the amount you’d need, too. Makeup is very expensive abroad. If you're really into makeup, consider a magnetic palette so you can depot your favorite stuff and save space.
Some other great things to pack are an adapter (you’ll probably not need a converter unless you’re bringing hair styling things (which I don’t recommend because they take up so much space, and you’ll never use them)) and a reusable water bottle (it’ll save you 1-4 euros every time you need to drink otherwise bottled water). Bring a lock that you can use on your suitcase and in hostels.
Buy your notebooks and pens there. In Paris, my favorite and not too expensive store to get my stationary is MUJI. Bring your computer and chargers for everything, obviously.
Don’t bring a big camera if you have a phone that takes nice pictures (Iphones 4 and 5 take incredible pictures, and you can bring phones everywhere). I brought my big Canon and didn’t use it because I just used my iphone to take pictures. It ended up just wasting space. If you're a photographer, you can ignore this and bring whatever you want.
If you’re living with a family, they’ll have you covered with sheets and towels. If not, you can find those cheaply when you get there. In Paris, the market at Porte de Clignancourt has all the really cheap sheets, towels, kitchen stuff, etc, and you won’t mind leaving it all behind because it’s so cheap.
Do not bring books abroad, and when you’re abroad do not buy any. Maybe in Spain, you’ll need to buy a book or two, but in Paris (not so much Grenoble), I borrowed every book I needed from the library. FO FREE. I study literature: for other majors it might be a different story, but you’d be surprised what books you can find free here. The reason you don’t want any books is because they’re A) expensive to buy B) really heavy C) expensive to ship home after if you’re not carrying them. However, La Poste in France will let you ship home a box of books for 50 euros.
Really, the only mistake you’ll make when packing is overpacking. If you pack a huge suitcase, I promise you’ll not even use half of it. Bare minimum is fine, and you’ll buy stuff while abroad anyway. Even though I only came to Europe with 25 pounds on me, I STILL overpacked and didn’t use everything (my camera and toiletries being the main culprit along with some clothes items I didn’t use in Spain). If I were to go abroad again, I’d take even less than that. You’ll be surprised by how little you actually need.
I hope this was helpful in anyway, and have fun abroad!
