Made by Indian Students & Parents: The Only Guide You Need on Packing Before Moving Abroad
Packing for your studies abroad, fellow Indian? This isn’t just another generic checklist.
We’re a small group of Indian students already studying overseas (and parents who’ve sent their kids) who’ve gone through the same struggles — hours comparing suitcases, adapters, power banks, and kitchen gadgets debating what to buy in India vs abroad. Between anxious family WhatsApp groups and last-minute Amazon orders, it was chaos.
So we built this site to be different: a hand-picked, regularly updated list of the absolute best things to buy from India before moving abroad.
Not just what to pack, but which exact models and brands actually hold up — based on what hundreds of Indian students already use and recommend.
Over time, we’re also adding a few must-have digital essentials and online services that can save you money or keep you safer once you’re there.
Every few weeks, we check for better products, new deals, or cheaper alternatives, so you don’t end up buying the wrong stuff or overpaying overseas. It’s a practical guide made by students, for students (and their parents) — to help you pack smart, save money, and settle in smoothly.
No fluff. Just honest, tested picks that make your move easier.
Categories:
- Kitchen Essentials
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Storage and Organisation
- Electronics
- Outdoor Essentials
- Personal Toiletries
COMING SOON
We’re expanding to include carefully researched digital tools for Indian students abroad — covering VPNs to secure public university Wi-Fi, password managers to protect your accounts, and affordable antivirus solutions. Each product recommendation is chosen by actual students and families who’ve navigated the same journey, to keep you safe, connected, and stress-free.
As always, we will point you in the direction of only the best products, services and brands, this time with digital tools and security.
Kitchen Essentials
Plastic Measuring Spoon and Cup Set
You’ll absolutely need this — it’s essential for cooking all kinds of dishes, as every recipe there relies on these measurement standards, which differ from Indian ones. A must-have for accurate cooking.
Multipurpose Bag
Since you’ll be sharing kitchen space in flats, this is the simplest way to keep your fruits and veggies separate. Also check out the storage containers below for similar organization.
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6-in-1 Portable Kitchen Gadgets
This set packs six essentials—grater, peeler, bottle opener, garlic/ginger grinder, pizza cutter, and herb stripper—each a must for cooking there. You get all of them for the price of just one or two, saving both space and money.
Silicon Dough Kneading Bag.
Food-grade, reusable silicone bag perfect for kneading rotis, chapatis, bread, pizza, and pastries. Keeps your hands and counter clean—an effortless way to mix dough without the mess.
Goodscity Multipurpose Electric Kettle
Don’t dismiss this just because it’s called a kettle. A lot of us found this to be a total lifesaver — it boils, steams, sautés, even deep fries. You can easily whip up rice, dal, pasta, noodles, chicken manchurian — all in one small device. It’s super light (around 500 grams), has a healthier ceramic coating, and is just the right size for 1–3 people. Just a heads-up: if you plan to steam a lot, you’ll want to grab the expandable steel tray mentioned below. Don’t forget to pick up the UK plugs listed below. Also, before you leave, get an electrician to swap out the Indian plugs on all your devices for UK ones. This saves a ton of hassle later and ensures all your gadgets work smoothly from day one.
Nutri-Blend Juicer, Mixer, Grinder by Wonderchef
Most places you’ll stay won’t have a blender, and buying one there isn’t cheap. This 3-in-1 Wonderchef device lets you whip up smoothies, juices, chutneys, and even grind dry masalas. It’s also compatible with other jars, so you can use it as an electric chopper, food processor, or scale up to a larger jar when needed. Weighs just 500 grams—easy to pack and absolutely worth it. Don’t forget to pick up the UK plugs listed below. Also, before you leave, get an electrician to swap out the Indian plugs on all your devices for UK ones. This saves a ton of hassle later and ensures all your gadgets work smoothly from day one.
Expandable Steamer Basket – Stainless Steel
This can be used to drain rice, and other food items, can also be kept inside vessels of most sizes to steam as it has a minimum diameter of 5.1 inches and expands upto 9 inches.
Silicon Rolling Mat
A must-have for pizzas, parathas, and more. Easy to clean, mess-free, and essential for any kitchen. Comes with measurement guides for precise cooking—perfect if you like to get it just right.
Can Opener
Important. Many items, even tomatoes, are tinned. Unlike in India, they are not always sold fresh and even if they are, they aren’t always cheap. Your first few days there, if you do not have this, you will struggle to open tin cans. Mark our words.
Instacuppa Multipurpose Electric Kettle
Pretty much like the Goodscity, but with a few perks that some of us appreciated: it already comes with a built-in steamer tray, plus you can pick between non-stick and stainless steel versions. Worth it if you want something even simpler, with less to buy separately. Don’t forget to pick up the UK plugs listed below. Also, before you leave, get an electrician to swap out the Indian plugs on all your devices for UK ones. This saves a ton of hassle later and ensures all your gadgets work smoothly from day one.
Cuckoo Electric Rice Cooker
If you’re someone who likes a bit more convenience, or often cooks in slightly bigger batches, this one’s a clear step up. It’s from a reliable brand and has 13 cooking presets — rice, porridge, steamed stuff, even multi-grain settings. Big enough for 2–6 people, which is great for sharing meals with roommates or prepping ahead. Don’t forget to pick up the UK plugs listed below. Also, before you leave, get an electrician to swap out the Indian plugs on all your devices for UK ones. This saves a ton of hassle later and ensures all your gadgets work smoothly from day one.
Nutricook Air Fryer Slim
Once you’ve settled in, you’ll probably crave more than basic meals — that’s where this comes in. It’s an air fryer with 10 presets, so you can make crispy fries, juicy chicken, samosas, pizza, even cakes, all with hardly any oil. Super popular with students who want comfort food without spending a fortune on takeout. Don’t forget to pick up the UK plugs listed below. Also, before you leave, get an electrician to swap out the Indian plugs on all your devices for UK ones. This saves a ton of hassle later and ensures all your gadgets work smoothly from day one.
Nutricook Smart Pot
If you’re only getting one big-ticket appliance, let it be this. Almost every senior student or experienced parent recommends it. It’s 9 appliances in one — pressure cooker, sauté pot, slow cooker, rice cooker, soup maker, steamer, sous vide, yogurt maker, and food warmer. With pre-set options, you just toss in your ingredients, press a button, and it’s done. Saves so much time, mess, and money on eating out. Honestly, most of us wish we’d bought this sooner. Don’t forget to pick up the UK plugs listed below. Also, before you leave, get an electrician to swap out the Indian plugs on all your devices for UK ones. This saves a ton of hassle later and ensures all your gadgets work smoothly from day one.
String Chopper for Vegetables
Cheap, takes up almost no space and weight. Just buy it from India
3 Minute Poha Pouch
Buy this along with the biryani kit below — it’ll make settling in so much easier during those first few days in a new country. It keeps you from having to worry about cooking during the beginning and at any point when you fall sick. Buy multiple packets.
30 Min Biriyani Kit
You can’t keep eating poha all the time during your first days here, this is to spice things up.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Sponge Wipe
An absolute lifesaver—lightweight, space-saving, and perfect for quickly cleaning up kitchen messes. Unlike home, you won’t have spare rags lying around or time to shop for them there. Highly recommended.
Magic Eraser
These lightweight, budget-friendly sponges are a cleaning powerhouse. They lift tough marks, scuffs, and stains from walls, countertops, tiles, shoes—basically any hard surface. No hassle, no chemicals. Just trust our experience and add them to your cart.
Savlon Cloth Refreshing and Disinfecting Spray
When you’re living in colder places, repeating outfits is totally normal — you won’t be washing clothes after every wear like in India. This Savlon spray is a lifesaver for that. It kills 99.99% of germs, viruses, and odor-causing bacteria, keeping your clothes fresh and hygienic without water or detergent. Plus, it leaves a light, clean fragrance.
Shoe Cleaning Kit
Trust us on this one — this is an absolute must if you’re heading somewhere rainy (and muddy) like most places abroad. This kit comes with stain-removing shoe cleaners that make it so much easier to keep your shoes looking fresh. Without it, cleaning mud and water stains off your shoes turns into a real hassle. Many of us also recommend picking up extra bottles of the cleaning liquid so you’re stocked up for the year
Sneaker Crease Protector
This is a must buy if you don’t want your sneakers to end up with wrinkles months into your freshman year.
Shoe Protector Spray
This will make your shoe water-resistant on the outside and more importantly, stain resistant. Each spray on layer lasts a month and will protect your shoe from wear and tear.
Storage and Organisation
Fridge Storage Boxes
These aren’t just any plastic containers. They’re built to handle both fridge and freezer temps, so you can safely store everything from fruits and veggies to snacks and seasonings — and keep them separate from your roommates’ stuff. A lot of us found they actually help groceries last longer too, thanks to their tight sealing. Available in different sizes and setups on Amazon, so you can pick what you want.
Foldable Underbed Storage Bags
In most student accommodations, space is limited and these bags make it possible to utilize the underbed storage areas effectively. This is something that if you don’t buy for cheap in India, you’ll end up buying for more wherever you’re going.
Collapsible Water Container Bag
Yes, your kitchen has water—but you won’t want to walk there every time, especially in cold weather when you naturally drink less. This lightweight, space-saving bag makes it easy to store water right in your room, helping you stay hydrated (which, let’s be honest, most already neglect).
Bedsheet Holders
Spend a couple hundred rupees once and enjoy a neatly made bed every day for years—totally worth it. No more fussing with sheets or remaking your bed every morning.
Zipper Folder
A secure, organized way to store all your important documents. Don’t risk misplacing originals in random files—this is a small expense for peace of mind and keeping everything safe.
Packing Cubes and Organiser
Ask anyone who’s travelled long-term — these are a total game changer. Packing cubes help you fit way more into your suitcase by neatly compressing clothes and separating outfits, socks, or even chargers. No more rummaging through a messy bag just to find a T-shirt. They also make unpacking in your new place way easier. Honestly, once you use them, you’ll wonder how you ever packed without them.
Collapsible Light Weight Laundry Basket
51 L capacity, should be enough as long as you do laundry once a week.
MULTIFUNCTIONAL Packing Cubes and Organiser
Very similar to the set above, but instead of 8 cubes, this one gives you 4 cubes, 2 toiletry pouches, a mini drawstring bag, and a shoe bag — all at just a third of the price, with the same solid quality. An absolute steal.
Waist Bag
Do you plan to comfortably roam the scenic city you’re studying in? If so, this is a good option.
TSA Approved Locks
IMPORTANT — don’t overlook this. A lot of students think they can just use the suitcases they already have, but miss one critical point: for international travel, TSA-approved locks aren’t optional, they’re essential. Without them, airport security might break open your lock if they need to inspect your bag, leaving it unprotected for the rest of the journey.
Check your suitcase now — if it doesn’t have a red or orange diamond logo on the lock, it’s not TSA approved, and you’ll need to buy these immediately. Also, know that these sell out quickly, especially around travel seasons. Don’t risk your luggage security or delays at customs; get them while you can.
Shoe Bags for Travel
If you’ll be packing multiple pairs of shoes (or using the same suitcase for clothes and footwear), these shoe bags are a must. They keep your shoes neatly separated and protect the rest of your stuff from dirt — great for travel, home, or the gym. Reusable, durable, and a total steal at around ₹25 per bag for a pack of 6.
Over the door hook hangers
If you’re planning to wear wool or thicker winter clothes (which you will abroad), an electric lint remover is a must. It keeps your sweaters, coats, and scarves looking fresh by clearing fuzz and pilling. Honestly, it’s worth picking up two — one to keep in your room and another handy in your bathroom — so you’re never stuck with shabby-looking clothes. You’ll thank yourself later.
Electronics
Tile Pro Bluetooth and Worldwide Location Tracker
A global tracking solution and the perfect Android alternative to Apple AirTags. Attach it to your backpack, wallet, keys, or suitcase, and locate them instantly through the app if they’re lost or stolen—anywhere in the world or your campus. You aren’t be paying for the tracker, you’re paying for the peace of mind.
All-in-One Ultimate Powerbank
This might feel pricey at first, but think of it as a solid decade-long investment. It’s not just for your phone — it can rapidly charge your laptop, iPad, and pretty much any device you’ve got. Most students quickly realise how stressful uni life gets without a reliable powerbank that handles both your laptop and phone, especially during long days on campus or travel. Save yourself the panic later and get one that truly does it all.
Budget Friendly All-in-One Ultimate Powerbank
At about half the price of the previous Anker model, this one from Urbn is honestly a great deal. It’s a bit heavier, but still charges your laptop, phone, and tablet without a hitch — you just miss out on a few of the fancy extras. If you want something sturdy without spending as much, this is a no-brainer.
Ceptics Universal Charger Adapter – Type 1
This is the best of the lot. It’s a 4-in-1 universal adapter with 2 USB-C and 1 USB-A port. What makes it stand out is it can directly charge laptops at up to 65W via USB-C — so you can skip carrying those bulky laptop chargers altogether. It also still has the regular AC socket for any plug. Ideal if you want fewer heavy chargers in your bag.
Ceptics Universal Charger Adapter – Type 2
Another solid 4-in-1 option, with 1 USB-C and 2 USB-A ports. The main difference? It can’t fast charge laptops through USB-C like the Ceptics does, so you’ll still need to carry your laptop charger to use with the AC socket. Works great if you don’t mind carrying that extra charger.
Ceptics Universal Charger Adapter – Type 3
A simple, budget-friendly 3-in-1 adapter with 2 USB-A ports. It charges laptops via the AC socket only, so you’ll definitely be bringing your regular laptop charger. Good pick if you’re mainly focused on phone and small device charging and want to save some money.
1 Piece Type G adapter with dual sockets
This for India to UK/Singapore/Malaysia/UAE/HK conversion only, hence it is also considerably lesser in weight and less bulky than the universal adapters mentioned above. Once again, top brand, the best option. All you’ve got to do is click buy.
3 Pack Single socket Type G Adapter
This for India to UK/Singapore/Malaysia/UAE/HK conversion only, hence it is also considerably lesser in weight and less bulky than the universal adapters mentioned above. 3 Pack for students who will definitely need more adapters for a lower price overall.
UK 3 Pin Top Plug with Fuse
IMPORTANT: Buy as many of these as you need, get an electrician to swap out the Indian plugs on all your devices for UK ones. This saves a ton of hassle later and is safe too. Note, this is a plug, not an adapter.
Outdoor Essentials
Bamboo Socks
Take it from students and parents who’ve sent kids abroad — these aren’t your average socks. Made to international standards, they’re super soft and do exactly what you’ll need there: they soak up moisture to keep your feet dry and, even better, help regulate temperature. That means your feet stay warm when it’s cold out and feel cooler when it’s warm. A rare combo that’s a total must in unpredictable weather.
Umbrella
Because…rain. Sure you have one at home, but not as light weight, compact, good looking and durable as this one.
Winter Set
Surprisingly good quality, that too available in Amazon India so that you don’t have to wait to buy some after you reach uni. Buy just one set, not more, not less. Once at uni, you can get yourself some more.
Thermal Socks
Like all other products listed here, these are simply the best ones you can buy when coming from India. Specially curated by fellow Indian students abroad.
Premium Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow
The most comfortable pick for long flights- tried, tested, and significantly better than the cheaper ones on amazon India. Trust us, your neck will thank you.
Personal Toiletries
Complete Grooming Kit
Um…..hygiene is non-negotiable for everyone, not just students. Kit seems too much ? Trust our recommendation, those tools will help. You don’t know yet just how much your nail care and skin care will change because of the different weather conditions.
Electric Handheld Bidet
As the domain name says, this is for those moving from India to abroad nations. If you’ve been born and brought up in India, you’ll most certainly buy this. This particular brand, though you may not have heard of it, is the best option available for purchase in India. From experience, we recommend this over products from brands like Kohler, Peesafe, etc
Water Resistant La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50 Sunscreen
Most sunscreens wash off in the rain, leaving patchy tans. This one’s different — lightweight, matte, dermatologist-approved, for all skin types, water resistant, and made specifically for rainy weather. Keeps your skin even and healthy, rain or shine. This particular brand and product come recommended by the girls who’ve been there — take their word for it.
Water Resistant Bioderma Photoderm SPF 50 Sunscreen
A almost equally recommended alternative for La Roche-Posay Anthelios. Same product, different brand, two options, now your preference.
Vega Hairdryer Pro edition for Women with detachable nozzle, 2 speed, 3 temperatures settings.
Wet Hair + Colder Climate = Bad for health, really bad. Once again, don’t forget to purchase the UK (Type G) plugs listed in this list and have an electrician swap out the Indian plugs on all your devices for the Type G plugs. This saves a ton of hassle later and ensures all your gadgets work smoothly from day one.
vega Compact Hairdryer – 3 heat, 1 speed and No nozzle.
Lesser features and lesser price than the previous one but certainly no less in quality. Once again, don’t forget to purchase the UK (Type G) plugs listed in this list and have an electrician swap out the Indian plugs on all your devices for the Type G plugs.
Bath Towel
Specially curated by Indians abroad, we highly recommend this over any bamboo or cotton towel ideas you might be having. These are softer and dry much faster, something that matters a lot in colder areas and are just as absorbent as the rest of them.
Electric Lint Remover
If you’re planning to wear wool or thicker winter clothes (which you will abroad), an electric lint remover is a must. It keeps your sweaters, coats, and scarves looking fresh by getting rid of fuzz and pilling. A total lifesaver whether you love taking care of your clothes or have never dealt with wool in your life — trust us, you’ll thank yourself later.
Essential Guides for Indian Students Moving to the UK
Find quick answers to your most pressing questions about studying and living in the UK.
What documents do I need to prepare before leaving India?
You should gather your passport, student visa, university offer letter, and financial proofs.
How can I open a bank account in the UK as a student?
Most banks offer student accounts; you’ll need your ID, visa, and proof of address.
What essentials should I pack for my UK university stay?
Include weather-appropriate clothing, adapters, important documents, and basic kitchen items.
Where can I find support networks for Indian students in the UK?
Many universities have Indian student societies and cultural groups to join.
Essential Steps for Indian Students Moving to the UK
Find key contact information to stay connected effortlessly.
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