i was wondering,
i have never been to Europe before so the culture might be a bit strange at first. i need advice on what to pack when coming. i am coming to study at lausanne. its a 2 year master at UNIL.
any suggestions about the clothes...,etc. i will be coming around first week in September. i need tips on how much it will cost for the first few days without a house,d transportation,food,basic needs etc.


thanks.

Book a hostel as soon as you have your flights booked. Even a dorm room can cost you 35 francs a night so it adds up super quick! Also, consider booking in hostels for 3-4 weeks to ease the pressure to find something. Most of them have cancellation policies. If you don't do this it can mean moving all your stuff every two days while waiting for openings in hostels.

Get a swiss cell phone and number as soon as possible. This will help you with the housing hunt.

Bring a range of clothes, or at least what you need for fall and winter and leave a box or two of stuff for your family to send you once you are settled with spring/summer clothes. Then you aren't hauling it all around with you during that beginning stage.

Get an international license before you leave. Ditto for any dental work needed.

Bring copies of your degrees, transcripts, and ask any former or current employers for a written reference if you have any hopes of working.

Order your textbooks from amazon.de (they deliver free and it is way cheaper).

Look into whether or not you can use a foreign health insurer in your canton. This is complicated, but doable, and can save you thousands.

Oh yes, also, get a "certified" copy of your bank account details and savings which will help you apply for apartments, and references from former landlords don't hurt either.

ok,actually am coming from africa,we dont have fall/winter????? what do u mean by certified copy of bank account details,is that my bank account in my country?

Yes, an official copy from your bank in Africa that shows how much savings you have. When you apply for apartments and tell them that you are a student, they will raise an eyebrow and look at you suspiciously or be direct and ask you how you plan to pay. When you submit an application, you will have an official document that proves you are a potential tenant with the means to pay your way. It helps. Universities recommend you budget at least 20,000CHF per year, so it helps to show you are aware of this and are capable of paying this.

Okay, fall and winter: you need clothing to keep you warm enough in up to -10 or -15 degrees celsius. So:
-long pants, jeans
-sweaters, fleece jackets or hoodies
-shoes that close, boots don't hurt
-warm socks that cover your ankles
-mitts/gloves, a bonnet/toque, or scarf
-a good jacket that blocks wind, and or rain, and provides you some insulation

You can get all these things here as you need them, but it's an expensive place to go shopping.