My First Days at an MBBS University Abroad: What I Wish I Had Prepared Before Arriving

By Shivansh | Shivansh Abroad

When I think about preparing for MBBS abroad, the first things that come to mind are usually admission, university selection, documents, visa requirements, tuition fees and flights.

Those are the big things, obviously.

But there is another part of studying medicine abroad that I think students sometimes underestimate: what happens after you actually arrive.

Before leaving home, it is easy to imagine the arrival as one simple moment. You land, reach your accommodation, visit the university and start classes.

In reality, the first few days can involve dozens of small decisions.

Where do I go after landing? How do I get to my accommodation? Where do I complete university registration? When is orientation? Where is the medical school building? How does the timetable work? Where can I buy groceries? Who do I contact if I have a problem?

None of these questions is particularly complicated on its own. But when everything is new at the same time, even simple tasks can feel surprisingly difficult.

That is why I think preparing for MBBS student life abroad should involve more than packing a suitcase and keeping your passport ready.

In this article, I am sharing the things I would prepare before arriving, the mistakes I would try to avoid and the small things I think can make the first week much easier for an international medical student.

The Biggest Thing I Would Prepare: My First Week, Not Just My Flight

If I had to give one practical piece of advice to a student preparing for study MBBS abroad, it would be this:

Don’t prepare only for the journey. Prepare for the first week after the journey.

Before departure, most of the attention naturally goes toward the flight and immigration documents. But once you reach your destination, your priorities change quickly.

You need to settle into your accommodation, understand your university’s instructions, attend orientation, learn your route to campus and start building a daily routine.

For a medical student, there is another layer as well: you are entering an academic environment that may use different teaching methods, schedules, terminology and assessment systems from what you were previously used to.

I would therefore make a simple first-week plan before leaving home.

My Simple Arrival Plan for an International Medical Student

I would keep one document containing all the information I might need during the first few days.

My list would include:

Flight details and arrival time
Accommodation address and check-in instructions
University address
International student office contact
Medical school or faculty contact
Orientation date and location
Airport-to-accommodation travel plan
Emergency contact information
Family contact details
Important university documents

I would save this information on my phone, but I would also keep an offline copy. Depending completely on mobile internet during an international journey is something I would avoid.

Official guidance for international students also stresses the importance of confirming arrival arrangements, preparing important documents, arranging communication and understanding orientation requirements. For students going to the United States, EducationUSA recommends confirming arrival arrangements with the institution and attending the relevant orientations. EducationUSA’s departure guidance is a useful starting point.

What I Would Keep in My Hand Luggage

One thing I would not do is put every important document inside checked baggage.

If a document is important for entering the country, checking in at the university or proving your student status, I would keep it accessible during the journey.

Category	What I Would Keep Accessible
Identity	Passport and required travel documents
Immigration	Visa or relevant immigration documentation
University	Admission, enrollment and arrival instructions
Accommodation	Booking confirmation, address and check-in details
Travel	Flight and onward transportation information
Contacts	University, accommodation and emergency contacts
Financial backup	Payment method and a backup option

The exact documents required will depend on the country, visa category and university. I would always follow the instructions provided by the relevant government authority and university instead of treating an online generic checklist as an official requirement.

My First Airport Experience Would Be About Staying Calm

After a long international flight, it is very easy to feel mentally exhausted.

You may have been awake for hours, your phone battery may be low and you may suddenly realise that you are responsible for getting yourself from an airport to a completely unfamiliar place.

This is where having a plan helps.

Before departure, I would check:

Which airport I am arriving at
How far it is from my accommodation
Whether the university provides an arrival or pickup service
Whether I need to book transportation in advance
What the backup transportation option is
How I can contact my accommodation if I arrive late

For students travelling to the UK, UKCISA advises students to check the information provided by their institution about getting from the airport or another arrival point to the university. Some institutions may arrange transportation, while students making their own onward arrangements need to plan the journey themselves. UKCISA’s travel-to-your-institution guidance explains this in more detail.

My general rule would be simple: never make your first airport-to-university journey completely dependent on last-minute decisions.

Accommodation Is More Than Just Having a Room

Before moving abroad, accommodation can look like a simple checkbox:

Accommodation — booked.

But when you actually arrive, your room becomes your first base in the new country.

You need to know how check-in works, what is included, what you need to buy yourself and how far you are from the university.

I would research the area around my accommodation before travelling.

At minimum, I would locate:

A nearby supermarket or grocery store
A pharmacy
The nearest public transport stop
An ATM or suitable banking option
A place to buy basic household supplies
The route to the university
Relevant emergency services information

Housing arrangements vary significantly between countries and institutions. For example, UKCISA explains that international students in the UK may choose institution-managed accommodation or private housing and highlights issues such as booking procedures, costs and immigration checks. UKCISA’s accommodation guidance is worth checking if the UK is your destination.

Personally, I think accommodation is one area where spending a little extra time researching before departure can save a lot of confusion later.

My First Visit to the University Campus

There is a strange difference between seeing a university on a screen and standing inside it.

Before arriving, you might know the campus from photographs, Google Maps, videos and the university website.

But once you arrive, the campus becomes part of your everyday life.

For an MBBS student, I would not try to learn every building immediately. I would focus on the places I am most likely to use during the first few weeks.

Medical school or faculty building
Main lecture halls
Practical teaching areas
Library
Student services
International student office
Academic administration
Student support services

I would also walk the route from my accommodation to the university at least once before the first major teaching day.

It sounds like a tiny thing, but knowing exactly where I need to go on the first morning would remove one unnecessary source of stress.

Why I Would Not Skip Orientation

Orientation can sound boring when you are excited to start university.

I would still attend it.

The reason is simple: you may hear information during orientation that you do not know you need yet.

International student orientation can introduce university procedures, support services, academic expectations and important contacts. EducationUSA specifically advises new international students in the United States to attend both international and regular campus orientations because they cover different information. EducationUSA’s official guidance provides more detail.

I would also write down questions during the first few days instead of assuming I will remember them later.

For example:

Who do I contact about registration?
How do I access academic resources?
Where do I find my timetable?
Who should I contact if I miss a class?
How does academic support work?
Where can international students get help?

There is no benefit in pretending to understand a university system that is completely new to you.

Meeting Classmates: I Would Keep It Simple

Before starting an MBBS program abroad, one question that naturally comes to mind is:

Who am I going to study with?

You may meet people from different countries, cities and educational backgrounds. That can be one of the most interesting parts of studying abroad, but it can also feel awkward during the first few days.

I would not put pressure on myself to build a huge social circle immediately.

I would start with basic conversations.

Where are you from?
Why did you choose this university?
Have you attended orientation yet?
Do you know where our next class is?
Have you figured out the timetable?

Sometimes the easiest friendship starts with a very ordinary question.

And honestly, having even two or three classmates you can message when you are confused can make the first few weeks feel much less overwhelming.

The First MBBS Classes May Require an Adjustment Period

Once classes begin, the focus changes.

Until then, your main concerns may have been travel, accommodation and registration. Suddenly, you are thinking about lectures, practical sessions, study materials, examinations and academic expectations.

I would not expect myself to understand the entire academic system during the first week.

Instead, I would try to understand how the system works.

How are lectures organised?
Where are study materials provided?
How are practical sessions scheduled?
What types of assessments are used?
How do students communicate with academic staff?
Where can I get academic support?
What attendance requirements apply to my course?

This is an important distinction for an international student.

You are not only learning medical subjects. You are also learning how your new university expects you to learn.

That adjustment can take some time, and I would give myself that time rather than expecting everything to feel familiar immediately.

Homesickness Does Not Mean You Made the Wrong Choice

I think homesickness deserves more honest discussion in conversations about studying abroad.

There is sometimes an assumption that if you really wanted to study abroad, you should be happy every minute after arriving.

I don’t think real life works like that.

You can be excited about your university and still miss home.

You can enjoy meeting new classmates and still miss your family.

You can like your new city and still miss familiar food, familiar conversations and your old routine.

The first few days can be emotionally strange because almost everything changes at once.

Instead of trying to eliminate homesickness completely, I would build a routine around it.

For example, I would choose a regular time to call family rather than constantly checking my phone throughout the day. At the same time, I would make an effort to build a new routine around classes, meals, exercise, study and social activities.

The goal would not be to forget home.

The goal would be to slowly become comfortable in the new place too.

The Small Mistakes I Would Try to Avoid

Looking at the first-week experience as a whole, there are several mistakes I would actively try to avoid.

1. Assuming I Know Where I Am Going

I would check the accommodation address, university location and transportation route before travelling. Being familiar with the route in advance makes the first day easier.

2. Keeping Every Important Document Only on My Phone

I would keep secure digital backups and make sure important information is accessible offline. A phone is useful, but it should not be my only backup plan.

3. Treating Orientation as Optional

I would attend orientation even if I felt that I already knew the basics. University procedures are often easier to understand when they are explained directly by the institution.

4. Trying to Learn the Entire Campus Immediately

I would learn the important locations first and gradually become familiar with the rest.

5. Staying Alone Because I Feel Nervous

It is completely understandable to feel shy during the first few days. Still, I would make small efforts to speak with classmates rather than spending the entire first week alone.

6. Ignoring Small Expenses

The first week can involve many unexpected purchases: food, transportation, toiletries, bedding, basic kitchen items or other necessities. I would keep a simple record of spending from the beginning.

7. Being Afraid to Ask for Help

This might be the biggest one.

If I did not understand something, I would ask.

I would ask the university office, accommodation staff, classmates or the appropriate support service rather than letting a small problem become a much bigger one.

What I Would Pack Differently

If I were preparing my luggage specifically for the first week, I would focus less on carrying everything I own and more on carrying what I genuinely need.

My priorities would be:

Important travel and university documents
Essential clothing suitable for the destination
Phone and charging equipment
Basic personal-care items
Appropriate personal medicines and prescriptions, where permitted
A suitable financial backup
A small amount of familiar food only if permitted under destination customs rules
Any university-required equipment or materials

I would also check the destination country’s customs rules before carrying food, medicines or other restricted items.

International travel is not the right place to rely on assumptions. If something has specific import or documentation requirements, I would check the official rules before packing it.

My First-Week MBBS Abroad Checklist

If I had to reduce this entire article to one practical checklist, this is what I would keep:

Complete accommodation check-in.
Confirm university registration requirements.
Attend international student orientation.
Attend academic or medical-school orientation.
Get the student ID or university access credentials if applicable.
Learn the route between accommodation and campus.
Locate the library and student services.
Save important university and emergency contacts.
Meet a few classmates.
Understand the timetable.
Find out where academic materials are provided.
Create a basic weekly spending plan.
Establish a realistic sleep and study routine.
Tell family that you have arrived safely.
Give yourself time to adjust.

Questions I Would Ask Before Starting MBBS Abroad

What should I do immediately after arriving at my MBBS university?

I would first make sure my accommodation check-in is complete and that I know how to contact the university. After that, I would complete any required registration steps, attend orientation and learn the basic campus layout.

Should international students attend university orientation?

Yes, I would attend it. Orientation can explain academic, administrative and student-support procedures that may be unfamiliar to someone coming from another education system. For students going to the United States, EducationUSA specifically recommends attending the relevant international and campus orientations.

How can I make friends at an MBBS university abroad?

I would start with simple conversations with classmates and participate in appropriate orientation activities or student groups. There is no need to build a large social circle immediately. A few genuine connections are enough to make the beginning easier.

What if I feel homesick after moving abroad?

Homesickness can happen during the adjustment period. I would stay connected with family while also building a local routine around classes, meals, study and social activities. If homesickness becomes difficult to manage, I would also look for the university’s student-support resources.

What documents should I carry when travelling to study abroad?

The exact requirements depend on the destination, visa category and university. I would keep my passport, required immigration documents, university admission or enrollment information and accommodation details accessible. The official instructions for the destination country should always take priority over a generic online checklist.

Should I arrange accommodation before travelling?

It depends on the destination and the type of housing. Some university-managed accommodation requires advance arrangements, while private housing processes vary. Students should check their university’s housing instructions before travelling. For the UK, UKCISA provides current guidance on institution-managed and private accommodation.

What I Wish I Had Understood Earlier

When people talk about studying abroad, the conversation often focuses on the big milestones.

Getting admission.

Getting the visa.

Booking the flight.

Arriving at the university.

But I think the real transition happens through much smaller moments.

Finding the right classroom.

Learning the bus route.

Buying groceries for the first time.

Figuring out your timetable.

Talking to a classmate.

Calling home after a long day.

Getting lost once and remembering the route the next time.

These ordinary experiences are what slowly make an unfamiliar place feel familiar.

My Final Advice for Students Preparing for MBBS Abroad

If you are preparing for your MBBS abroad experience, I would not put pressure on yourself to have everything figured out before the first day.

Prepare the important things properly.

Confirm your accommodation. Check your university’s arrival instructions. Keep your documents organised. Save important contacts. Plan your first journey. Attend orientation. Learn the campus. Talk to people. Track your spending. Build a realistic routine.

And then give yourself permission to learn the rest gradually.

You may feel nervous even after preparing carefully. That is not automatically a sign that you made a mistake. Moving to another country and starting medical education at the same time is a significant transition.

For me, one of the most interesting parts of the international student experience is that the learning does not happen only inside classrooms.

You learn how to manage your time.

You learn how to communicate with people from different backgrounds.

You learn how to solve small problems without immediately depending on someone else.

You become more comfortable making decisions for yourself.

And slowly, the place that initially felt unfamiliar starts becoming part of your everyday life.

If I had to give one final piece of advice, it would be this: prepare for your first week, not just your first flight.

Useful Official Resources for International Students

Important: Immigration, university registration, accommodation, healthcare, student-status and travel requirements can change and may differ by country and institution. Always verify current requirements with your university and the relevant government or official student-information website before travelling.