2 min read

Student moving checklist and timeline

A practical week-by-week student moving checklist to help you pack, plan, and move between semesters without the stress.
By · November 6, 2025
Student moving checklist and timeline

Planning your move can be difficult, especially when you’re juggling coursework, deadlines, and exams. This student moving checklist and timeline will help you stay organised and fully prepared for moving day.

3 months before

  • Secure your next accommodation.
  • Finalise your moving day and note any gap between leases.
  • Start decluttering to minimise your packing volume, time and money. 

Want to make packing easier and start fresh in your new space? Check out our decluttering guide packed with expert tips, viral Cleantok trends, and motivation to keep you going.

2 months before

1 month before

  • It's time to pack, starting with items you don’t use. You can even save time and hire a professional packing service to handle it for you.

2 weeks before

  • Arrange a professional clean before moving out. Confirm if your new place will be cleaned (by the previous tenants) before moving in.
  • Confirm the move-out time with your current landlord and your move-in time with your next landlord.

1 week before

  • Pack your final items, and put together a bag of essentials to keep with you on moving day.
  • Check in with your moving service to finalise the details.

Moving day

  • Walk through your current student accommodation with your landlord to note any damages (and hopefully secure your full deposit back).
  • Meet your movers and move!
  • Walk through your new student accommodation to note any pre-existing damages. Assess if you’ll need to book a cleaning service before unpacking.

After moving day

  • Start unpacking (or hire professionals to do it for you).
  • Set up your WiFi if needed.
  • Change your address with your university, bank, insurance, etc.

Moving as a student can feel overwhelming, but with a solid checklist, you’ll have everything under control from start to finish. Start early, stay organised, and lean on reliable student movers if you need help with the heavy lifting. Once the boxes are unpacked, you can focus on what really matters: settling into your new home and the year ahead.

Read our student moving guide for more tips on finding your accommodation, packing, budgeting and more, and start your new student life chapter with confidence.

What do our customers say?

Read reviews of Wise Move to learn stories from our customers.
R 1,650
Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch
Cape Town
10
Kate
Reviewed 7 hours ago
These guys were absolutely incredible! They were super super helpful and so kind! Definitely recommend them!
R 800
Cape Town
Cape Town
10
Shelby
Reviewed 13 hours ago
Terence! Thank you! You were absolutely amazing! Excellent communication skills, efficient, punctual, went above and beyond! I'd still be in a pickle if not for you! Much appreciated!
R 1,600
Cape Town
Cape Town
10
Katlego
Reviewed 14 hours ago
Great moving services. The gents are friendly and professional. Definitely recommend them for your next move.
R 1,600
Cape Town
Cape Town
10
Abdul
Reviewed 14 hours ago
Fast , effective, friendly, safe. Nothing more one could ask for.
R 5,500
4+ bedroom house move
Winchester Hills, Johannesburg South
Fairland, Johannesburg
10
Hason
Reviewed 16 hours ago
Dre’s went the extra mile in not only coming through last minute but also the care, the respect and constant endurance he is willing to assist in anyway until you comfortable with where things are placed, not once making any comments regarding time etc, it was an absolute privilege working with Andre an honour to find such people in the service industry