Graduation Gifts for Him

We make cards, pin badges and prints in the UK. We don't sell laptops or luggage, so the ideas below are a straight guide - the card at the end is the only thing we're selling.

Ask a new graduate what he needs and you'll get a shrug. Look at his flat and you'll get the answer: nothing in it is his, and everything in it is borrowed.

Ideas by budget, all aimed at the year after the ceremony rather than the three before it.

Finish it with a card

Whatever you buy, the card is the bit he'll still have in ten years.

Personalised graduation card celebrating the Class of 2025 with customizable text for the graduate. Class of 2025 Personalised Graduation Card £3.87 Congratulations graduation card featuring the bold text "You did it!" to celebrate academic success. You Did It! Graduation Card £3.87 Festive graduation card with "You did it!" written on the front, perfect for celebrating exam or university success. You Did It! Graduation Card £3.87 Whose a Clever Girl (Funny Graduation Card) Whose a Clever Girl (Funny Graduation Card) £3.75 Illustration of a smiling graduate in a cap and gown on a congratulations graduation card for him. Congratulations! You Did It Graduation Card For Him £3.87 Graduation card for her featuring a cheerful illustrated character wearing a black graduation cap and gown. Congratulations! You Did It Graduation Card For Her £3.87

Browse congratulations cards

Under £20

  • A decent pen and notebook for the first job - small, cheap, used daily.
  • A print or poster for a flat with four bare walls and no budget.
  • An enamel pin badge or keyring that marks the milestone without a crest on it.
  • A good coffee setup for a desk: a flask that doesn't leak beats another mug.

£20 to £50

  • A laptop bag or backpack that looks like an office rather than a lecture hall.
  • A tie, a belt or shoes for interviews - dull, and immediately needed.
  • A wallet to replace the one held together since first year.
  • A meal out with the people who kept him fed during finals.

£50 and up

  • A watch, if he'd wear one. This is the classic graduation gift for a reason.
  • An interview suit, or the budget and an afternoon to pick one.
  • A trip away before the first job starts, while he still has the free weeks.
  • Help with a flat deposit, given quietly in a card rather than announced at the party.

What to avoid

  • University merchandise. He's had three years of it.
  • Bulky homeware if he's about to move cities.
  • Novelty gifts about being unemployed. Funny in March, less funny in the third month of applications.
  • Anything that needs assembling in a flat with no tools.

Browse congratulations cards

How to write it so it lands

  • Buy for the first job, not the last exam.
  • No crests.
  • Practical wins.

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

What is a good graduation gift for a guy?

A watch, a work bag, interview clothes, or an experience. Practical first-job kit consistently beats novelty gifts.

How much do you give for a graduation?

£15 to £30 from friends, £50 to £100 from family is typical in the UK.

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