The path from one’s first matriculation to their eventual graduation is not always linear.
Though the most traditional route looks something like a student finishing secondary school at 18, before moving onto three years of studying their chosen degree, university and higher education can come in many different forms, for many different people.
Those studying for medical degrees will be in the university game for longer, while mature students embarking on their first, or even second higher education degrees may have very different tastes, styles and needs.
Signet rings and commemorative albums are fantastic, go-to choices, but sometimes the perfect graduation gift requires some out-of-the-box thinking. It’s important to consider just where your graduating pal is at their life, how they got there, and to choose a gift accordingly.
Is your graduate a human magpie who is attracted to shiny things? Or would your graduate prefer a practical piece of kit that they can use daily? On the other hand, your graduate might place a particular value on memories, and would appreciate something that would allow them to share their university shenanigans with friends and family for years to come.
Still stumped? We’ve got you covered. Keep scrolling for a round-up of the best graduation gifts, for all types of graduates, at all ages.
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Astrid & Miyu Orbit Gold Signet Ring
Signet rings have had a resurgence in fashion in recent years, and they are no longer limited to the realm of aristocratic families with ancient crests. Signet rings can be used to commemorate a variety of occasions, but we love the idea of personalising one to celebrate a graduation. Perhaps engrave the ring with the year of your graduation, or simply go with the graduate’s initials. Either way, this sparkly yet understated piece of heritage jewellery will not disappoint.
Buy now £70.00, Astrid & Miyu
Aspinal of London 8-inch Lizard Print Leather Photo Album
Luxurious photo albums shouldn’t belong solely to grandmothers. Just because we have the ability to create endless digital albums that doesn’t mean we should stop curating wonderful memories to flip through physically. Having a wonderfully bound, personalised photo album to sit alongside your perfectly curated coffee table books and candles is a must for post-grad life.
Buy now £125.00, Aspinal of London
Always Pan 2.0
High quality and good-looking cooking utensils don’t come cheap. A graduate might find themselves just starting to curate homeware for their very first, adult home – so why not help them out a bit?
The fantastic value Always Pan is capable of being used for a whopping 10 different functions despite its seemingly singular base – meaning that your graduate won’t have to invest in a 10-piece, expensive gourmet set. Plus, the Always Pan comes in a variety of super chic colours to match your chosen aesthetic. Double plus, it’s Selena Gomez’s favourite pan. Read our review of this kitchen gem here.
Buy now £130.00, Our Place
Amazon Echo Dot Smart Speaker with Alexa Voice Recognition & Control, 5th Generation (2022), Glacier White
Whether utilised to improve their smart home’s offering, or simply as a speaker slash personal weatherperson, you can’t go wrong with a fifth gen Amazon Echo. Equipped with the cleanest audio quality yet and a chic, globe-shaped designed, they’ll wonder how they got through pre-grad life without one.
Buy now £54.99, John Lewis
Apple Watch Series 8 GPS, 41mm, Regular, Starlight
Go all-out and treat the graduate in your life to a spanking new Apple Watch Series 8 in the gorgeous Starlight colourway. Whether they’re starting a new job, getting more active after a couple of years of sitting in the library all day, or simply love a hi-tech accessory, a smart watch helps to track everything from health stats to your daily calendar. You might even want to treat them to an additional, luxurious watch strap.
Buy now £369.00, John Lewis
Diptyque Extra Large Figuier Candle, 1.5kg
Sage green is huge in the interiors space right now. Not only will this extra-large candle from luxury fragrance house Diptyque ignite the senses, but it’ll also spice up your living space. Equipped with five wicks to ensure even scent distribution, this fresh, fig-tree inspired candle is housed in a beautiful earthware container that can be reused when (or if) they’re able to burn the entire candle.
Buy now £283.00, Diptyque
Gousto Subscription
New grads will rejoice for this gourmet meal kit from Gousto. Adding a little bit of meal time structure to one’s life as they embark on their next stages is simply a godsend, and we couldn’t recommend this gift more. What’s more you’ll get 60 per cent off of your first box, and 25 per cent off of all boxes for two months after that. Bargain.
Buy now £24.99, Gousto
Bed Threads Mineral, Sage & Olive Table Bundle
Though Bed Threads offer the ability to build your very own linen tableware set, we are big fans of this gorgeous and perfectly unisex mineral, sage, and olive combo.
Buy now £184.50, Bed Threads
Sage the Bambino Stainless Steel Coffee Machine
Let the grad in your life say goodbye to late-night instant coffees to get them through a study sesh and allow caffeine to become a delightful morning ritual. The Sage Bambino is a brilliant starter coffee machine, providing excellent espresso and microfoam milk frothing. To really determine whether this is the right gift, read our full review of the machine here.
Buy now £329.95, John Lewis
Moet & Chandon Exclusive Impérial Brut NV Champagne and personalised tin 750ml
The gift that keeps on giving, a commemorative champagne bottle and case will sit pretty on your graduate’s desk or shelf as a reminder of all their accomplishments after being popped, shared and enjoyed during their special day. They might also want to save the champagne cork alongside others which were popped for various milestones. As such, you could also invest in a secondary present – either a small glass vase or trinket dish – to house those special corks.
Buy now £64.99, Selfridges
Rimowa Original Check-In L
As we enter into adult life, or continue along its treacherous path, one item that always seems to surprise us in terms its sheer expense is the humble suitcase. If you’re in a position to treat your graduate to a luxurious piece with a lifelong guarantee, we couldn’t recommend the classic large suitcase from Rimowa more. Whether they’re moving houses, cities, or travelling the world, this chrome suitcase will hold its own for years to come.
Buy now £1290.00, Rimowa
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
A decent pair of noise cancelling headphones are a must-have for graduates who are moving to the city for work. The Bose 700s don’t just provide excellent sound quality for a unique listening experience, but they’re also capable of blocking out the Jurassic screech of the Northern Line during your daily commute. Water-resistant, equipped with up to 20 hours of listening time and easy USB-C charging, you’ll never go without a comforting podcast or your favourite tunes ever again. Trust us, we have a pair ourselves.
Buy now £279.95, Bose
Barwell Cut Crystal Rocks Glass, Set of Four
Nothing screams adult life more than cut-crystal tumblers. Mouth-blown, intricately cut and polished by artisans, these are the very same tumblers that you’ll find dotted across Soho House’s members clubs globally. A timeless classic that’ll start off any homeware collection with a bang, your recipient will be raising their glass like Gatsby every week.
Buy now £175.00, Soho Home
Caves d'Esclans 'Whispering Angel' Rosé 2020/21, Provence
At this stage, who hasn’t heard of Caves D’Esclans’ Whispering Angel Rosé? Crafted and bottled in Provence, Whispering Angel is an ultra-dry, ultra-trendy rosé with delightful notes of apple, pink grapefruit, peach and cream, with a long, smooth finish.
Buy now £20.00, John Lewis
Radley Causeway Row
A fantastic piece for weekends away and big moves, this sleek and stylish bag from Radley will hold its own on planes, trains and automobiles.
With a discreet padded inner pouch for laptops, and an outer zip for all those bits that you remember to add in just after you’ve finished packing, the Causeway Row is ideal.
We’re also big fans of the fact that it has an adjustable tightening clip located by the outer zipper for keeping everything secure and compact. Measuring just W51 x H31 x D21 cm, it’ll fit comfortably in most plane cabins as a carry-on.
Buy now £159.00, Radley
