First of all, try not bring too much! Here are some tips from students:
- Try to be able to carry everything you are bringing. Two suitcases/backpacks and one carry-on are sufficient for most people.
- Consider bringing a VISA or Mastercard with a PIN number to ensure access to cash when you arrive. Make sure have you at least your first month's rent to deposit into your German bank account as soon as you open your account. Bring about 300-400 € in cash to help you through the first few days. Expect to have a lot of expenses within the first few days, and do not forget that the train can be expensive.
- Temperatures range from -5 (in winter) to +30 (in summer) Celsius. Pack for all weather.
- Remember your camera!
- A good dictionary, e.g. Gerda Dippmann: A Practical Review of German Grammar, 2nd ed. Another example: Harper Collins College Dictionary and Grammar. (Some professors prefer that you use a German dictionary, as opposed to an English/German dictionary. These are usually cheaper in Canada, but remember that you will have this extra weight to carry.)
- Remember, German electricity runs on 220V, so leave your appliances at home unless they are adaptable.