Graduation is a momentous occasion in a student’s life, marking the progression of their academic journey and welcoming them to new stages in life. You can help to make their day feel even more special by marking their achievement with a graduation gift to show them how proud you are of all their hard work.
It can be easy to get stuck for ideas though considering the vast range of graduation gift options on offer. Read through our guide to some of the best graduation gifts for him and her and find the perfect gift for your loved one.
Graduation Specific Gifts
Gifts themed around the graduation itself are among the most classic presents to give a graduating student. It highlights thoughtfulness as well as guaranteeing you get them something unique and customised to the event they’re celebrating.
1. Graduation Teddy Bear
One of the most common graduation gifts is a teddy bear, allowing you to find something simple and sweet that the graduate can treasure forever. The teddy bear option is one of the most affordable graduation gift items, allowing you to easily convey your pride.
You can either find a general graduation teddy online or in a store or purchase a university-branded teddy bear at the ceremony for an added personal flair that is more specific to the graduate.
2. Graduation Photo Frame
One of the most important traditions at a graduation ceremony is when the graduate’s photograph is taken in their full graduation regalia, creating a lasting memory that they can look back on.
Purchasing a photo frame for your graduate is a practical choice, giving them something to display their photo on a shelf, mantlepiece or hanging on a wall. Alternatively, you can take a picture with the graduate yourself and create a more personal graduation memory to commemorate.
3. Graduation Socks
Another affordable and light-hearted option for graduation gifts are graduation socks. These can be themed with images or text that is graduation specific and can often add a sense of humour to the proceedings, providing a complementing contrast to the formality of the proceedings.
You can even get personalised graduation socks with the graduate’s photo or name on them for added novelty and flair.
4. Graduation Card
Buying your loved one a graduation card is an easy way to express your pride in their achievements. Add your own personal message to the card for extra thoughtfulness and make the card a memorable keepsake.
Sliding in some money or a gift card to the graduate’s favourite shop can help to take this gift up a notch, enabling them to buy something nice for themselves.
Practical Graduation Gifts
When a graduate completes their degree, they are often going to be starting to think about preparing themselves for the next phase of their life, whether that be the next educational level such as a Masters or a PhD or starting their first big job after university.
A practical graduation gift could help to take some of the monetary pressure off their shoulders and will make sure they have everything they need to start the new stage of their life in style.
5. Personalised Planner or Journal
Get your loved one a planner or journal to help them keep track of their day-to-day lives. This can be a great way to help your graduate become settled in their new jon or academic endeavour, keeping them focused and organised.
Personalising the planner with their name or some other detail will help to make the gift feel more special and unique, creating a stronger memory for them to smile upon each time they use it.
6. Personalised Pen
Buying a new pen for your loved one is the perfect gift to go hand in hand with the planner. Popular pens to buy as graduation gifts are fountain pens. They will come in a professional presentation box and makes the perfect small gift to express your pride.
Pens are also great gifts for graduation as they are often a representation of the academic achievements of the graduate. They will have worn out many pens over the long years of lectures and studying so getting them a fancy new pen is a great way to symbolise their hard work.
7. Headphones
If your graduate is heading into the next stage of their education, a pair of high quality headphones can be a practical way to help them focus on their studies, removing distractions and encouraging them to do their best work in their Masters or PhD.
Splash a bit of extra money on a good pair for maximum comfort and style. There will be long nights of studying and essay writing in their future and the right set of headphones will make listening to their favourite study tunes more fun than ever.
8. Laptop Tray Desk
One of the most practical gifts you can get a graduate is a laptop tray desk. Some students may not work at a desk and will be relaxing in bed or on the sofa while they carry out their work.
Purchasing a laptop tray desk will protect the laptop from overheating, saving your loved one money on a replacement while also giving them a stylish and more formal study environment. Try to get one with a cup holder so they can stay refreshed while they work.
Hobby Graduation Gifts
Getting your loved one a graduation gift themed around a hobby they love can be one of the most personal ways to express your pride and thoughtfulness, showing how well you know them and supporting their personal interests.
9. A Set of Tools
A popular practical gift for graduates that can also pair up as a hobby gift is purchasing a set of tools. Whether they need the latest tools to do some fixes and crafting at a new home or like tinkering in their spare time, a set of tools will get them started on the path.
Buy a mechanic’s set of tools for the burgeoning car lover to help them do their own work on their car or motorbike, allowing them to get something practical done during a day and allow them to learn or develop a skill.
10. Painting and Sketching Tools
For the graduate who has a passion for drawing in their spare time, why not buy them a brand new set of paintbrushes, paints or sketching pencils for their graduation gift and allow them to express their creativity?
There are plenty of options to choose from based on what your loved one enjoys doing, including:
- Acrylics
- Watercolours
- Oils
- Sketch pencils
- Inks
- Gouache
- Encaustics
- Tempera
11. Cookery Gifts
Whether the graduate is already a seasoned food lover and cook or is moving into their first apartment and needs some equipment to get started, getting a cookery based gift can be both practical and educational, inspiring them to experiment with new flavours and cultures.
Cookery gifts can include everything from a new frying pan, a set of luxury kitchen knives, a set of spices or a cookbook full of new and interesting recipes for them to try. You can buy them a bakery cookbook if they have a sweet tooth or an international cookbook if they have a love for travel.
12. Photography Gifts
Photography is a fun casual hobby for those who love taking holiday snaps and pictures of their friends at parties and events. Buying a polaroid camera or stylish digital camera is a great way to encourage the hobby and help them create new memories.
For professional photography hobbyists, buying them new lenses or film for their high-end camera is a fun and practical way for them to continue their passion and inspire them to take their skills further and maybe even create career opportunities for them.
Holiday Graduation Gifts
Heading for a much needed holiday abroad is a popular choice for the recent graduate, giving them the opportunity to relax and unwind with friends and family as well as acquiring new life experiences and memories.
Buy them something to help make their holiday that bit more special and allow them to travel the world in style.
13. Travel Voucher
A travel voucher can be used to pay for flights and accommodation, taking some of the weight off the graduate so that they can focus on planning their perfect holiday around the destination of their choice.
A travel voucher will give your loved one more freedom to budget for activities and excursions on their holiday, allowing them to absorb and immerse themselves in the local culture and history.
14. Travel Bags and Totes
Buying your loved one a new bag will give them something to carry their valuables in while they explore a new city or country while also providing them with something new and stylish to use in their day-to-day life when they get home.
Make the gift extra personal by finding a bag in their favourite colour and buying some accessories like keyrings and pins to give it some extra flair.
15. Personalised Luggage Tags and Passport Holders
Help your loved one to keep their luggage and passport safe by gifting them personalised luggage tags and a passport holder at graduation. By keeping their luggage secure, they will be able to relax and enjoy their holiday in peace.
Personalised luggage tags and passport holders come with the added bonus of providing easy identification in case you lose them.
16. Luggage and Suitcases
Perhaps your loved one hasn’t been on holiday for a while and has outgrown or doesn’t own a suitcase for going on holiday anymore. Getting them some new luggage and suitcase carry-ons will help them to travel in style.
Whether you buy a set that has multiple sizes or just one suitcase, it’s always a good idea to add some personalisation by getting it in their favourite colour. Pair the suitcase with a travel voucher for their dream holiday.
Clothing Graduation Gifts
A new item of clothing always makes for a good, solid graduation gift choice for both men and women, giving them something long-lasting that they’ll get good use out of. Some universities will offer apparel with the university branding, making the graduation gift more representative of the graduate’s personal academic journey.
17. University Hoodie
Buying the graduate a university hoodie in their favourite colour is a great way to help them showcase their university pride and build a sense of community and belonging that connects the student to their university for life.
Hoodies are the perfect way to keep your loved one feeling warm and comfortable, especially if your graduate has a winter ceremony. Good quality hoodies will also last longer, getting you good value for your money.
18. Sunglasses
Sunglasses are a perfect choice for graduates with a summer ceremony, allowing them to accessorise their outfits with flair and providing you with a small and perfect keepsake to make their ceremony that much more special.
Sunglasses are also the perfect gift to pair with holiday-themed graduation presents so they can enjoy the hot weather and warm sunlight as they tour their dream holiday destination.
19. Jewellery
Jewellery is one of the most popular choices for graduation gifts, whether you’re buying your son or brother a new watch or smartwatch or getting your daughter or sister a fancy new necklace that can bring an outfit together.
Necklaces in particular have a lot of variety. Getting them a patron saint necklace can help to represent something in their life. St. Christopher themed necklaces for example are perfect for globetrotters as he is the patron saint of travellers.
Getting them a pendant or earrings based on their birthstone can add a personal touch to the gift. One of the birthstones for each month include:
- January – Garnet
- February – Amethyst
- March – Bloodstone
- April – Diamond
- May – Emerald
- June – Pearl
- July – Ruby
- August – Sardonyx
- September – Sapphire
- October – Opal
- November – Topaz
- December – Turquoise
20. Shoes
A new pair of shoes can make the perfect choice for graduates, giving them something new for the next stage of their life that can be a thoughtful choice with plenty of options available in a wide range of costs to fit your budget.
Perhaps they’ve had their eyes on a pair for a while and you want to surprise them. You can also get them a special branded pair such as Nike or Adidas to create a special commemoration of their achievements.
Food and Drink Graduation Gifts
Sometimes graduation gifts don’t have to last a long time in order to make the graduate feel special and appreciated. Sometimes the gift just has to be a delicious and unexpected treat that makes their day.
21. Cookies
Cookies are a classic choice for a graduation gift due to their versatility and the wide range of types and flavours on offer. To make the gift more special, why not try baking the cookies yourself and spend time handpicking your loved one’s favourite flavours and toppings?
Some of the different types of cookies and biscuits you can cook or buy include:
- Shortbread
- Chocolate chip
- Gingerbread
- Sugar cookies
- Snickerdoodles
22. Chocolate
Nothing says congratulations more so than a box of divine, luxury chocolates, whether it be their favourite brand such as Black Magic or a curated pick from Thorntons or other specialist chocolatier.
Handpick your loved one’s favourite flavours and fillings, whether they’re a fan of white chocolate and raspberry or salted caramel truffles, the right chocolates will bring a touch of decadence to their ceremony that can be shared and savoured.
23. Cake
Cake is the perfect choice for a graduation celebration after the ceremony has concluded. Perhaps you’ve headed to their favourite restaurant for lunch or dinner or are hosting a private party for family and friends at home. Either way, surprising them with the perfect cake will bring the whole party together.
There are a wide variety of flavours and fillings that the whole family can tuck into, depending on the palate of the graduate including:
- Chocolate cake
- Victoria sponge
- Lemon drizzle cake
- Black forest gateau
- Coffee and walnut cake
- Red velvet cake
24. Champagne
Champagne is the quintessential celebration drink that is perfect for any ceremony or event, making it an easy and affordable choice for your loved one’s graduation. Never underestimate the fun your graduate will have popping off the top and spraying it everywhere in celebration.
Champagne comes in a variety of brands. Some of the most popular are:
- Moet & Chandon
- Dom Pérignon
- Louis Roderer
- Veuve Clicquot
Fragrant Graduation Gifts
Fragrant graduation gifts such as perfumes and flowers are great gifts for female graduates while cologne is well-suited for the men, giving them something that they can either wear and get good use out of or use to brighten up their living space.
25. Perfumes
Perfumes are a great way to celebrate your graduatione with something special though the best brands may come at a steeper cost compared to other items on this list. You should also make note of any allergies your loved one may have so you can be sure to buy them a safe perfume.
With a variety of floral and herbal scents on offer, you’re sure to find the perfect combination that your graduate will love, whether you go for the classic Dior or Chanel.
26. Cologne
For male loved ones, cologne can offer a rich scent that will give the new graduate a sense of confidence and power as they head into the next stage of their life. The variety of scents will include sharp ocean aromas and fresh fruit smells from oils.
Bleu de Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent are always popular choices but there are plenty of other brands available if the big name colognes are a little too expensive for your budget.
27. Scented Candles
Scented candles are the kind of gift that are perfect for their uniqueness and also provide a new, fresh spin on the interior decor of your home or their new apartment they’ve moved into fresh out of university.
Scented candles will create a unique and personal atmosphere in their home to make it feel more comfortable and relaxed. Perhaps your loved one favours a strong scent or is more at home with subtle fresh aromas. Scents can include:
- Lavender
- Pumpkin
- Peppermint
- Jasmine
- Mandarin and sandalwood
- Vanilla
- Gingerbread
- Cinnamon
- Eucalyptus
28. Flowers
Last, but by no means least, come the flowers. Flowers are among one of the most traditional and classic graduation gifts that show you’re thinking about the graduate and give them something beautiful to pose for photographs with and decorate the home with.
Flowers can be a bit impersonal however so take some time to learn about the symbolism of different flowers so you can craft the perfect bouquet with the help of a professional florist. Some flowers with strong graduation ties and meanings include:
- Pink peonies – honour and luck
- Yellow tulips – happiness, joy and posterity
- Orange roses – a bright future
- Green hydrangeas – good fortune, success and health
- Calla lilies – admiration and new beginnings
Whatever your graduate likes, you’re bound to find the perfect gift that both symbolises them and the magnitude of their achievements at university, adding a final positive touch to their momentous occasion that will make the ceremony one to remember.
For more ideas, you can check out our guide on what to write in a graduation card. Head to our graduation page to find some of the graduation gifts we offer in our store.
