Shipping for postgraduate students: What is different
Shipping for postgraduate students works differently from a first year move into halls. You are often older, you own more, you may be bringing a partner or children, and you are more likely to rent a private flat for a year or longer. Your course may also involve research equipment, field kit or a library of books you cannot leave behind. This guide explains what changes when you study at master’s or doctoral level, how much postgraduates usually ship, and how to plan both the outbound move and the return leg.
| from £290 three to five boxes by sea |
around £550 small flat contents by sea |
1 to 4 years typical postgraduate stay |
same day quote from an inventory |
Checked October 2026. All prices are indicative “from” figures for door to door shipping and are confirmed when you book. Visa and customs rules change, so check the official sources named in this guide before you travel.
Is a master’s degree a postgraduate degree?
Yes. A master’s degree is a postgraduate degree. In the UK, postgraduate study means any course you take after completing an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree. Postgraduate qualifications include:
- Postgraduate certificates and diplomas (PGCert, PGDip), often taught over a few months to a year.
- Taught master’s degrees such as an MA, MSc, MBA or LLM, usually one year full time in the UK.
- Research master’s degrees such as an MRes or MPhil, typically one to two years.
- Doctoral degrees such as a PhD or professional doctorate, usually three to four years full time.
In other countries the word “graduate” is often used instead of “postgraduate”. In the USA and Canada, for example, you would apply to “graduate school” for a master’s or PhD. The level of study is the same, and so are the shipping considerations below.
How postgraduate shipping differs from undergraduate shipping
An undergraduate typically ships a few boxes to halls of residence. A postgraduate move often looks closer to a small house move. The table below sums up the main differences.
| Factor | Typical undergraduate | Typical postgraduate |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | One suitcase to five boxes | Five boxes to a small flat, around 0.5 to 2 cubic metres |
| Accommodation | University halls with furniture | Private flat or family housing, sometimes unfurnished |
| Household | Usually travelling alone | May include a partner or children |
| Length of stay | Three or four years with trips home | One year (taught master’s) to four years (PhD) |
| Study kit | Laptop and textbooks | Books, research equipment, instruments, field gear |
| Return shipping | Often stored or sold | Usually shipped home or onward to a new job |
You own more
By the time you start a master’s or PhD you may have been working for a few years. That means a bigger wardrobe, kitchen equipment, books from your first degree and perhaps a bike or musical instrument. Many postgraduates find that a small flat’s worth of belongings, around 1 cubic metre, is a realistic starting point.
You may be moving with a partner or family
If your partner or children are coming with you, your shipment needs to cover their clothes, toys, school items and household goods. Plan the shipment around when everyone will be at the destination address, and check that each family member has the right visa before you book. For the UK, the dependant rules for students changed in 2024: most taught master’s students can no longer bring dependants, while students on postgraduate research courses such as a PhD can, subject to the rules. Check the latest position on GOV.UK.
You will probably live in a flat, not halls
Postgraduate accommodation is often a private rental. That affects your delivery: your shipment needs a confirmed address, and an unfurnished flat may mean you want to bring bedding, kitchenware and small furniture. If your tenancy starts after you arrive, ask about storage at destination so your goods can wait until you have the keys.
Longer stays and research equipment
A PhD lasts three to four years, and many master’s graduates stay on afterwards to work. A longer stay usually justifies shipping more of your life with you, since buying everything again for several years is expensive.
Research students also ship things undergraduates rarely do:
- Books and printed archives. Dense and heavy, so pack them in small boxes.
- Lab or field equipment you own personally, such as cameras, recording devices or survey tools.
- Musical instruments for music and performance programmes.
- Specialist computing equipment such as a desktop workstation or external drives.
Some equipment is controlled or needs a licence to export, particularly items with scientific or dual use applications. If you are unsure, ask your department and check the export control guidance on GOV.UK before you pack. Batteries, chemicals and samples are usually restricted or prohibited in personal shipments.
Shipping options compared for postgraduates
The right service depends on how much you are sending and how soon you need it.
| Option | Typical cost | Transit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airline excess bag | £60 to £120 per bag, per leg | Arrives with you | One extra bag for the first few weeks |
| Air freight | From around £320 for a suitcase | 3 to 10 days door to door | Urgent books and study kit |
| Sea freight, a few boxes | From around £290 for three to five boxes | 2 to 12 weeks by destination | A one year taught master’s |
| Sea freight, small flat | From around £550 for around 1 cubic metre | 2 to 12 weeks by destination | PhD students, couples and families |
Larger family moves are usually quoted as a full international removal rather than as baggage. Shipments of a cubic metre or more often travel by Groupage, where your goods share container space with other customers’ consignments, which keeps costs down. A whole household may justify an FCL (full container load).
Inbound postgraduates moving to the UK
The UK is one of the most popular destinations in the world for international postgraduates. If you are coming to the UK for a master’s or PhD, the same service runs in reverse: your belongings are collected from your home overseas by a partner agent and delivered to your UK address.
HMRC offers relief from import duty and VAT for students bringing used personal belongings into Great Britain. According to GOV.UK, students do not need to complete a ToR1 form, but you must provide evidence of your period of study, such as your offer letter or Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. Relief covers clothing, study items and household effects, and excludes alcohol and tobacco.
| Item | What to know | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Student relief | Used belongings can usually enter without duty or VAT with proof of study | GOV.UK (HMRC transfer of residence guidance) |
| Staying after your course | If you decide to stay, you can apply for relief after graduating, provided you import within 12 months of graduation | GOV.UK (HMRC) |
| Visa | You need a Student visa for courses over six months | GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration) |
| Post study work | The Graduate route currently allows two years (three for PhD). For applications from 1 January 2027, it is due to fall to 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates | GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration) |
This is general guidance and not legal advice.
Read our guide to shipping your belongings for UK studies and our list of UK student visa interview questions if you are still preparing your application.
Plan your return shipping from the start
Postgraduates usually leave with more than they arrived with. You may have bought furniture, collected books and received a job offer in another country. Thinking about the return leg early helps you avoid a rushed and expensive move at the end of your course.
| Pros of shipping home | Cons of shipping home |
|---|---|
| Keep books, notes and kit you will use in your career | Sea freight needs several weeks of notice |
| Usually cheaper than buying everything again | Your thesis deadline may clash with packing |
| Can be shipped onward to a new job, not only home | Customs rules apply at the other end too |
| Collection from your flat or department | Some furniture costs more to ship than to replace |
Treat a postgraduate move as a small house move: plan the volume, the household and the return leg before you book your flight.
Ten tips for postgraduate shipping
- Estimate your volume by room. A bedroom and study is often around 1 cubic metre.
- Book sea freight early. Allow 8 to 12 weeks for Australia and New Zealand, and 4 to 8 weeks for Asia or North America.
- Confirm your tenancy start date before choosing a delivery date.
- Ask about storage if your flat is not ready when your shipment lands.
- Pack books in small boxes and keep each box to around 30kg or less.
- Check whether any research equipment needs an export licence.
- Keep receipts and an inventory of every box for customs.
- Bring your laptop, thesis drafts and data backups in your hand luggage.
- Include your partner’s and children’s belongings on one shared inventory.
- Book your return or onward shipment as soon as your submission date is set.
For box sizes and what to pack, see our shipping boxes page, and our guide to what students should and should not ship.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is a master’s degree a postgraduate degree?
Yes. A master’s degree is a postgraduate qualification because you study it after a bachelor’s degree. PGCerts, PGDips and doctorates are also postgraduate.
2. How much do postgraduate students usually ship?
Most ship between three boxes and a small flat’s worth of belongings, around 0.5 to 1 cubic metre. Couples and families often ship more.
3. What is the cheapest way to ship a postgraduate move?
Sea freight is usually the cheapest, from around £290 for three to five boxes and from around £550 for around 1 cubic metre, door to door.
4. Can I ship to a private flat instead of halls?
Yes. Delivery is available to any address worldwide, including private flats and family homes.
5. Can my partner’s belongings go in the same shipment?
Yes. You can combine your household’s belongings in one shipment. Check that everyone has the right visa first.
6. Can I ship research equipment?
Usually, if you own it and it is not restricted. Some scientific items need an export licence, and batteries, chemicals and samples are often restricted.
7. Do international postgraduates pay duty bringing belongings to the UK?
Used personal belongings can usually enter without duty or VAT under student relief, with proof of your studies. Check GOV.UK for the current rules.
8. How long does sea freight take?
Around 2 to 4 weeks within Europe, 4 to 8 weeks to Asia, 5 to 9 weeks to North America and 8 to 12 weeks to Australia and New Zealand.
9. Can I store my belongings until my flat is ready?
Storage can often be arranged at origin or destination. Ask when you request your quote.
10. How do I get a quote?
Send an inventory or book a free video survey through the Anglo Pacific app, and you will receive a quote the same working day.
Get a quote for your postgraduate move
Whether you are starting a one year master’s or a four year PhD, get a fixed quote for student shipping or explore baggage shipping for smaller loads. Moving a whole household? See international removals, or get a quote today. You can also call 020 8965 1234.
