I've decided to study in Germany and I'll be staying there for a long time (maybe 3 years). I'll take my wheeled luggage that has been fine for traveling, measuring 74/48/30 in centimeters (about 29 inches high, 18.9 inches wide, 11.8 inches deep). (Beside the luggage, I also bring my medium-size backpack to keep my more valuable belongings)

It seems that this big wheeled luggage isn't the most practical thing since I have to move to several different cities during the first few weeks in order to attend some entry exams in different universities. I also consider that it isn't practical to carry this big luggage on the train. On the contrary I need a big suitcase to pack many belongings, especially clothes, that I need for a long term stay. The question is: Is this luggage the best choice for my situation?

Thanks in advance.

No - take a human size wheelie and a backpack.Ship the other belonings to wherever you will be settling long-term. And for the first couple of weeks do laundry - there are laundromats everywhere.

I agree with ny - that's what I would do too. If you cannot ship the items ahead (lodgings not set, no one to recieve and hold your box, etc.), then have someone at home ship the box when you get where you are going.

I mean, WHAT? Why would you need to carry something around. You can buy anything for little money. Underwear, pants "for the first month" or so, ok.
You don't need a thing. You've grown up. Right? I didn't take a thing form "home". What a question..

Another possibility would be to take a rather large piece of luggage ( or two if your airline allows ) to take all the belongings that you absolutely NEED ( I know I'd want to take a good few of my books, and all my clothes and shoes at the least, as well as my camera, computer etc. ) then buy a smaller suitcase to travel with once you are there, leaving the bigger ones for when you need mass storage.

If you are moving around having so much luggage will drive you nuts. It's not really necessary to take so much. We went to live in the UK for 5 years and took one medium/large suitcase each - 23 kg per case. We managed fine and just bought the minimum of things we needed, like towels, saucepans, cutlery etc. You can buy things cheaply if you look around and it can be fun.

We found you can manage with a lot less than you think, it made me think differently of the excesses we had at home. Put out everything you absolutely have to take, then put half of it back in the cupboard.

Kay

Thank you for all the advices. I'll consider to repack again now.

logos - Did a reindeer fly up butt today, or what? You seem more cranky than usual.

november_moon,
I'm only realistic, cranky is something different. LOL.
Did you realize many of those questions just cry out loud, "I've got no idea what I'm doing, I can't plan and have to ask even for the tiniest little bit of info to organize myself". (Not saying this applies to Kevin at all!!!). At the same time being totally convinced that the way they want to handle a "problem" is totally right, even it it obviously isn't.. Why did they ask in the first place? Odd, is it not?

Referring to luggage, the solution for that is money. Money does it, you buy what you need, you really don't need much at all, right?

Next Sunday is the first of Advent, have you got your Adventskranz ready, november_moon??

logos - I still don't understand why being an adult precludes a person from bringing clothing/personal items from home. Did I miss something? Does adulthood bring with it the need to leave a trail of used belongings in one's wake?

If I were moving somewhere for a few years, I wouldn't want to ditch most of my clothing and buy new - total waste of money. Perhaps the OP has money, perhaps he does not. If it was me, I would prefer to keep my money rather than replace a perfectly good wardrobe with new stuff.

We don't do Advent, so no Adventskranz for us.

Very easy to explain, you buy what you need locally while you move around... Just do it. Once you decided to settle down, and actually need your "stuff" just have someone mail it to you. Not exactly rocket science . Male & student says it all. One spare pair of pants for 3 months will do!