12 best graduation gift ideas
Looking for the perfect graduation gift? You're in the right place. Here's a list of some brilliant gifts to buy for graduates.
Credit: Prostock-studio, Roman Samborskyi, SedovaY – Shutterstock
It's no secret that university can be very tough for a lot of students. Simply reaching the end of a degree requires a huge amount of work and dedication, so the efforts and successes of graduates should always be celebrated.
Whether they're your friend, relative, girlfriend, boyfriend or just about anyone you know who's graduating, acknowledging their achievement will mean the world. And if you decide to get them a little something to mark the occasion, this will definitely be appreciated.
If you're looking for graduation gift ideas, we've got you covered. With this list of 12 great presents, you can find one that's ideal for the lucky graduate.
12 top graduation gifts
Here are the best graduation gift ideas:
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Personalised stationery
Whether you're buying a graduation gift for him or her, personalised stationery is such a fitting gift for graduates.
If somebody's spent a lot of their degree writing essays or noting down equations, a pen that's engraved with their initials and/or the date of their graduation could represent all of the hard work they've put into their studies.
It would be even more fitting as a gift if they're also going into a career that involves writing. If you're buying a graduation present for a future lawyer or journalist, a special pen would be genuinely useful in their day-to-day life after uni.
Alternatively, a personalised calendar or diary would be both thoughtful and super practical for a recent graduate. It would help them organise their time after uni, whether they're planning to start working, study for a postgraduate degree or even go travelling.
Try sites like Not On The High Street (where the notebooks in the above picture are from) and Etsy for personalised stationery.
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Watch or jewellery
Anything from rings to necklaces to watches can make great graduation gifts. These items last a lifetime and will always act as a reminder of their success at uni.
While some fine jewellery will undoubtedly cost a lot, it is possible to find some good deals on pieces that are still beautiful.
At the time of writing, the watch in the above picture costs around £55 from Etsy. But don't worry if that doesn't suit your budget. You should be able to find something lovely, whatever price range you go for.
For jewellery that's more in the upper price range of the high street, you could consider brands like Pandora and Kate Spade. Or, if you're on a tighter budget, try Accessorize or have a look through the options on Amazon.
You could also look for jewellery pieces in local independent stores and in charity shops to see if you can find any affordable yet eye-catching gifts.
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Spa day
Getting a degree takes a lot of hard work. So, a recent or soon-to-be graduate will very much appreciate the chance to unwind and get pampered. And what better way than on a spa day?
Depending on where you book and what treatments are included in the offer, spa days can be quite expensive. But luckily, there are plenty of great deals out there if you know where to look.
You can find some good deals on spa day vouchers on sites like Virgin Experience Days, Red Letter Days and Buyagift.com (where the pictured gift is from).
On these sites, try sorting the results by low-to-high price to find the cheapest offers. But, when looking through the deals, make sure the reviews are good.
You should also check whether the voucher actually includes a spa treatment. Some vouchers only allow access to facilities like the pool and sauna. While that's still great for a day out, it could end up disappointing anyone hoping for a massage or similar spa treatment.
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Champagne
If there's ever a good time to pop open the champagne, graduation is it. While it's not the cheapest of drinks, it is possible to find good deals on champagne.
Our food and drink deals page is a good place to start, as is your local supermarket. If you have a big food shop near you, they should have a wide range of drinks and would therefore be more likely to have reduced prices on their champagnes.
Aldi is known to have a great wine selection for decent prices (you can often find champagne there for around £20). Similarly, you should be able to find some good deals on champagne at other supermarkets like Tesco. In the picture, you can see Tesco Finest champagne, which costs around £25.
Another option is Asti, which we've included in our top picks for wine under £5.
And, of course, prosecco, cava and other sparkling wines are excellent alternatives to champagne. They should cost a fair bit less, and will still taste delicious.
Or, if you're looking for a non-alcoholic alternative, Nozeco is a good shout.
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Houseplant
Houseplants make amazing graduation gifts. Not only are they long-lasting presents that can be enjoyed for (hopefully!) years to come, but they're especially delightful because they're a gift that the recipient can nurture and watch grow.
Bloom & Wild is better known for its flowers, but it also has a small yet great selection of houseplants for sale. The Pachira Money plant in the above picture is from Bloom & Wild and costs around £38 at the time of writing.
Another popular online plant store is Patch Plants. They have a range of plants with rather brilliant names such as Val (a sweetheart plant), Gus (an Asparagus Fern) and Big Ken (a kentia palm which is, in fairness, pretty big).
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Art print
A personalised art print is such a wonderful and unique graduation gift.
We love the one pictured here from Etsy. Prices start at around £10 at the time of writing, and the print can be custom-made for the person you're giving it to.
Or, if you're a talented artist yourself, you could consider drawing or painting something. Knowing that you took the time and effort to make an artwork for them is bound to mean a lot to any graduate. Plus, it's a great eco-friendly gift.
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Sweet treats
There's a huge range of biscuits, chocolates and other sweet treats on sites like Etsy (where the pictured biscuits are from), Biscuiteers and Not On The High Street. Prices for these gifts can vary quite a lot and will generally be higher for personalised ones, but they shouldn't cost you a fortune.
It's also worth checking out the Life Changing Bakes from Yellow Submarine. This is a social enterprise that supports people with learning disabilities and autism. Their cakes taste incredible, and 100% of the profits go to charity.
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Graduation scrapbook
Scrapbooks themselves are usually pretty affordable. You could customise them for free if you already have arts and crafts materials at home.
Find some photos of you and them and maybe add some notes along the way about the good times you've spent together. It's even better if you have photos and stories that are directly related to their time at uni, but it's not a problem if not.
And you don't even have to spend money. There are lots of free photo deals you can use.
Ultimately, a scrapbook can be a perfect graduation present. It's thoughtful, well-presented and full of happy memories that will put a smile on their face.
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Afternoon tea
Like with spa days, websites like Buyagift.com (where the pictured gift is from) have some great deals on afternoon tea experiences. You might even be able to find vouchers for spa days with afternoon tea.
However, this isn't the only way to treat a lucky graduate to delicious tea, cakes and sandwiches.
You could prepare some indulgent sandwiches and cakes at home, making sure to get their favourite tea and maybe even a glass of bubbly. It would be the most cost-effective way to give the gift of afternoon tea, and quite possibly the most thoughtful way too.
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Perfume or aftershave
A nice bottle of perfume or aftershave is a lovely graduation gift. Maybe think about what kind of scent they normally wear, or whether they might like to try something new.
There are so many options available. But, at full price, they can be quite pricey.
Luckily, we have loads of tips on how to get cheap perfume or aftershave.
As an example, The Fragrance Shop have a huge range of scents on discount.
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Planted tree on their behalf
It's essential for the planet that we try to reduce our carbon footprints and plant more trees.
So, arranging for a tree to be planted on someone else's behalf is easily one of the best eco-friendly gift ideas. You and them will have the joy of knowing that the graduation gift is doing some good in the world – and will do for many years to come.
For this gift, perhaps have a look at the National Trust website to donate towards their 'plant a tree fund'. They ask for a minimum £5 donation which pays for a tree sapling to be planted. And, the more you donate, the more trees that get planted.
You could also plant trees through Ecologi. At Save the Student, we use this site to plant trees and run as a climate-positive workplace, so it's definitely one we'd recommend.
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Handwritten letter
When it comes down to it, the best graduation gifts really don't need to cost much, and could even be free.
It would be hard to buy a gift that's nearly as heartfelt as a long, handwritten letter about how proud you are of them and their achievements – not just in their degree, but in everything they do.
It may sound cheesy, but celebrating how well they're doing, and letting them know that you'll be there for them through whatever comes next is, as far as graduation gifts go, pretty hard to beat.
If you're looking for more gift ideas to suit a small budget, see these surprisingly thoughtful gifts for £5 and under.
