Moving to another European city for university is one of the most exciting — and overwhelming — life events you'll experience. Between organising accommodation, enrolling in courses, and saying goodbye to home, packing and shipping your belongings can feel like an afterthought. It shouldn't be. Getting your stuff to your new city on time and in one piece sets the tone for everything that follows. Here's how to do it right.
Plan Early
The biggest mistake student movers make is leaving the logistics until the last week before departure. Shipping to popular student cities (Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Lisbon) gets extremely busy in August and September. Prices are higher, slots fill up faster, and last-minute bookings leave no room for error.
Aim to book your shipment at least three to four weeks before your move date. This gives your carrier time to schedule collection, process transit, and deliver before your first day of term. It also gives you a buffer if anything needs to be returned or repacked.
Create a moving timeline and work backwards from your arrival date. Book your shipment, your travel, and your accommodation in that order — logistics first, because they take the longest to arrange.
What to Ship vs. What to Bring on the Plane
Not everything should go in a shipping box. A practical rule of thumb: bring on the plane anything you'll need in the first 72 hours — documents, laptop, chargers, a few days of clothes, and any medication. Ship everything else.
Items well-suited for shipping:
- Textbooks and study materials (heavy — expensive to check as luggage)
- Bedding, pillows, and towels
- Kitchen items (plates, cups, small appliances)
- Off-season clothing
- Personal mementoes, photos, small decorations
- Sports equipment and hobby gear
Items to carry with you:
- Travel documents, passport, university acceptance letters
- Laptop, tablet, and essential electronics
- Valuables (jewellery, cameras)
- Prescription medication and medical documents
- First week essentials (clothes, toiletries)
Be honest about what you actually need. Students consistently overship and then donate or throw out a third of what they brought at the end of the year. Ship what you'll genuinely use.
Packing Smart
Packing for a student move is different from holiday packing. You're not unpacking on arrival day — you may be living out of boxes for a few days while you get settled. Label every box with its destination room and a brief contents summary on the outside.
Use small, manageable boxes rather than a few enormous ones. A 20 kg box is impossible to carry up stairs alone; four 5 kg boxes are not. Fill boxes completely to prevent items shifting and collapsing. Use clothes, towels, and soft items to pad fragile things rather than buying lots of extra bubble wrap.
Pack an "arrival kit" box and label it clearly — this should contain the basics you'll want on day one: bed linen, a towel, a mug, coffee or tea, and a phone charger. When you're exhausted after a long travel day, you'll be very glad you did this.
Booking Your Shipment
When booking, be precise about the number of boxes, their dimensions, and their total weight. Carriers price based on actual or volumetric weight (whichever is higher), so it pays to measure rather than estimate.
Ask your carrier about student rates — many logistics providers, including PrimeFlow Logistics, offer discounted packages specifically for students relocating for studies. These often include a set number of boxes at a flat rate, making budgeting simple.
Confirm the collection and delivery windows with your carrier. Student halls and apartment buildings often have restricted delivery hours or require a porter to be present. Pass this information to your carrier at the time of booking to avoid failed deliveries.
Consider shipping insurance for anything valuable. It's typically inexpensive relative to the value it covers, and it'gives peace of mind if a box is delayed or damaged.
On Arrival
When your boxes arrive, check them before signing the delivery note. If any boxes look damaged on the outside, note this on the delivery document and take photos before opening them. Report any damage to your carrier promptly — most insurance policies require notification within 24–48 hours of delivery.
Unpack systematically: essentials first, then study materials, then everything else. Break down boxes and store them flat in case you need to repack at the end of the year. Many students find it useful to keep two or three boxes for inter-semester moves or end-of-year shipping home.
Moving to a new city for university is the beginning of something great. With your logistics sorted in advance, you can focus on what actually matters — settling in, making friends, and getting excited about the years ahead.