What are the best presents for students at university?
As a parent to a now third-year student, I like to send gifts that remind my teen that I’m thinking of her. But it’s an added bonus if those gifts are also useful to her.
With that in mind, I asked my teen to create a list of 25 presents that she’d be happy to get as a uni student. And so we (jointly) present our list of 20 presents for students at university. Some of these gifts are practical, others are just for fun. We’ve tried to find gift ideas for students at a range of price points for different budgets. Just so you know, some of the links are affiliate links, meaning we’ll make a small commission if you buy, at no cost to you.
Ready to dive in? Here is our ultimate guide to the best presents for students at uni, just for you:
20+ Presents for Students at University
Swanky Earplugs, £19.95
One thing that my teen learned really quickly when moving into uni halls is that the walls are PAPER thin. When you’re sharing a flat with another teen who is enjoying exploring new relationships (gross) or listening to non-stop loud music, you’re going to get pretty cranky, pretty fast.
These ear plugs have great noise-cancelling ability and will ensure that your teen can get a good night’s sleep or even (gasp) study in peace while they’re in a noisy environment. They’re from Loop and available in a number of colours and styles for different types of noise reduction.
A Thermos Flask, £17.25
One of the lessons that my daughter learned very quickly after starting uni is that eating out every day gets expensive REALLY fast. After a month of meal deals and on-campus lunches, I bought her this Thermos flask. A food flask also makes an ideal gift for university students because they can take a hot lunch to campus or the library. Teach your teen to meal prep and cook a few good hot lunches, and that’s more spare money for going out at the weekend.
Dinner for 2 weeks, £81
When my teen caught Covid in her first term at university, I didn’t know how I could possibly make life easier for her. What I decided was this – 12 healthy ready meals that would ensure she was well-nourished without the need to go through the hassle of prepping meals. I think this is one of the best presents for students at university. Especially when that Freshers Flu hits.
You could order an online shop of nice ready meals from Waitrose or Ocado, but how about a package of frozen meals that won’t spoil if they’re not used in the next three days?
The lovely thing about Cook! frozen ready meals is they’re healthy, made with lots of vegetables, and whole grains. They make great gifts for students who are under the weather, busy with revision, or just in need of some good meals. A box of 14 meals costs £81, or there’s a vegetarian option starting at £40 for one week’s meals.
Cute slides, £11.98
One of the most practical presents for students at university is a pair of slides – they’ll love you a LOT when they realise they’re the perfect thing to wear in their uni flat kitchen and bathroom. The floors in these areas can be nothing short of revolting, and your little teen will appreciate having something to protect their feet from someone else’s pasta and pesto or (worse) fungal foot infection.
Kodak Film Camera, £41
I was happy to seen that Gen Z is discovering a passion for film cameras for that cute, vintage aesthetic. So what better than this retro styled film camera for capturing those parties, nights out and kitchen evenings?
Giving the gift of memories comes at a nifty £41 with this model from Amazon.
Coffee machine
When your young person heads off to university, they will quickly discover that their brown sugar oat latte (or whatever) coffee habit is seriously expensive. I’ve recently treated my university student offspring to a coffee machine of their own. I went for a machine that will take Nespresso pods but will also accept the newer eco pods and regular coffee as well.
This machine costs £119 (it’s on special offer) and is perfect for making a quick cup on the way out in the morning. It will pour a single espresso or a longer coffee, so your teen can make iced coffees and lattes if they prefer. I supplement this with eco friendly pods from Grind, which also means she can have a flavoured iced coffee at home.
Noise cancelling headphones
Lots of kids find it really hard to concentrate on their work when they are at uni. Flatmates, other people in the library, busy coffee shops – it can be really hard to find a quiet, peaceful spot to work.
As parents, we can’t fix THAT, but what we do is provide them with noise-cancelling headphones. This pair are tried and tested by my own daughter, who absolutely ADORES them. They do a great job of blocking out surrounding noise, making it easier for her to focus on her studies, or just relax and zone out when she’s at home.
These are a great gift for teens at university who have sensory issues, too – it an be hard for them not to be stressed and distracted by the background noise that comes with university life.
Amazon Echo Pop, £44
My teen struggles with organisation – so having an Amazon Echo helps her by setting reminders, alarms, adding items to her shopping list, and even reminding her when her dinner is cooked and needs to come out of the oven!
We signed her up for the free 6-month trial of Amazon Student Prime. It means she has access to Prime Video and next-day delivery but also free access to both Amazon Music and Games. This means she can stream tunes when she’s working, and ‘drop in’ to the kitchen at home when she fancies a chat.
Shark 5-in-1 air styler, £229
When my daughter lived at home, she almost never used a hairdryer because she had HOURS to get ready for a night out. Now she’s at university, she often gets home from classes at 5pm, and has to eat, shower and get ready to go out within an hour or two.
A hair dryer and styling tool is now an essential. I know that a certain hair styling tool is THE business, but this one does the same thing, has amazing reviews and is about half the price. The Shark Air Wrap tool is a hair dryer and styling tool with a case, and is available for under £230 at Boots.
Don’t want to spend a small fortune? This Revlon version is just over £50 and available from Amazon.
Personalised phone card holder, £13
One thing I quickly realised about first year university students is that they go out a lot. Which is normal – how else are they supposed to make friends? But the first time you get a call telling you that your young student has lost their wallet, you’ll wish you bought one of these phone case card holders. It’s £15 from Etsy and can be personalised with a name and favourite photos – and it’s available in several colours.
Teens can go out with their phone, and safely slot their student ID and bank card into the phone case wallet – meaning they can leave their purse, with all their other important stuff – safely at home. Definitely one of the most practical presents for university students!
Desk Fan, £34
The funny thing about students is that they tend to be incredibly cold in their flats during the winter – but they’re stuck in ridiculously hot flats when they’re in halls.
One of the most useful presents for a university student is a compact, powerful desk fan. Positioned near a window it can help cool down their room, and can help when they are struggling to sleep.
This fan from Amazon gets great reviews, fits easily onto a desk, and looks sleek. It even includes timers so it can be set to automatically turn off after 2, 4 or 8 hours.
Plastic Glasses, £15
One of the best presents for university students according to my daughter is a set of reusable plastic wine glasses. Her set has survived all the way to third year, despite being dropped in the kitchen, lost under beds, taken to the park and many more adventures.
Plastic glasses are safer (no risk of cutting themselves on glass when drunk), pretty much unbreakable when dropped, and they’re easy to keep clean. This set from Amazon are lightweight, clear plastic, BPA free and save kids using disposable plastic. I also love this set, which is coloured and feels just a little bit fancier – because why not? It’s a present! They can also be stacked, which might be helpful if your teen has limited cupboard space at university.
Change Robe, £90
If your teen is going to be involved in uni sport then one of the best present ideas is a changing robe. These long, heavy duty jackets are designed to be worn in cold and/or wet situations, and are huge, allowing your teen to get changed into sports kit, while wearing the coat.
We used to have a more expensive well-known brand but this version from Amazon is £60 less and JUST as good – even better, because it rolls up into a bag and teens can use it as a pillow on the team bus. My daughter is definitely appreciating this for hockey during the Scottish winter!
Shopping Trolley, £21
There’s a hilarious video meme on TikTok where students show themselves carting their shopping home from Lidl without the benefit of Mum or Dad’s car. It’s all VERY dramatic. No need for drama though – why not send your student one of these shopping trolleys on wheels? They’re only £20, store flat, and will make it so much easier to get their shopping home. This one has a 12-month guarantee and made my teen quite the most popular flatmate when she moved into a shared house at the top of a hill (the supermarket was at the bottom).
Heated Blanket, £38.99
I’ve found this heated blanket that’s currently 35% off on Amazon and my teen declared it to be the BEST thing I’ve ever bought for her. So I’m confident in recommending this as one of the best presents for university students. My daughter is in Scotland and while it’s hot as heck in summer, during the winter her flatmates took it as a point of principle NEVER to turn on the heating. This heated blanket costs a few pence per day to run, and is a life saver when she’s in her room studying or watching TV.
Wool Dryer Balls, £9.95
One of the lesser-known joys of moving into university halls is the absolute HORROR that is Circuit Laundry. This company appears to supply the washers and dryers to universities across the land. The industrial machines do a poor job of washing clothes but a truly terrible job of drying. My theory is the washers are so big, the laundry clumps together and no matter how much the students spend, the clothes never get totally dry.
What your student needs, friend, are these wool dryer balls. They’re eco-friendly and inexpensive. Throw them into the dryer and they do a great job of bouncing the clothes around and separating them, so they dry more quickly. Top tip: sprinkle some essential oils on the balls, and your clothes will come out smelling amazing.
Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, £35
Despite the name, this is an all-over body cream that smells amazing and tightens the skin. Brazilian BB Cream is a cult favourite that uni students might not want to splash out on. So why not treat them? This is a great gift to include in a comfort box – if you want to send some home comforts and self-care treats to your first year student. Available for £35 from Boots.
Uniqlo Shoulder Bag, £14
When I tell you that this bag is a uni staple, I mean that almost every girl on campus will have at least one in their wardrobe. They can be worn cross-body, they hold plenty of stuff on a night out, and if you have them in different colours, they can be co-ordinated with different outfits. At just £14, it’s a present for students that won’t break the bank.
If you’re looking for something really special and blow-the-budget in the ‘gift ideas for students’ category, how about a bike?
eBike, from £499
Walking to and from lectures seriously cuts into my young student’s sleeping time, and so we’ve gifted her the family e-bike to make the morning commute a lot less stressful. It helps keep her active, and makes it easier to get from one end of campus to the other when she only has a few minutes between lectures.
This e-bike starts at just over £400 with a range of up to 90km. There are models offering higher speeds and battery range running up to more than £600. They’re an investment but will save the trauma of bus rides to campus and underground ticket costs.
Tips for choosing presents for students at university
When it comes to choosing presents for students at university, especially those in Halls, there are a few things to bear in mind:
- Most students have limited storage for clothes and accessories in their room. Check if they have space before buying any presents that might be too large.
- Some halls of residence will prohibit the use of electrical items that haven’t been PAT tested, so see if this is the case before spending on something they might not be allowed.
- Food is always a good idea, but again, your student will have limited fridge and freezer space so it’s best to get ambient treats that can be stored in their room, where possible.
- If you want to buy a bike, check that there is somewhere to keep it, and don’t forget to buy a lock and get the bike security marked!
- Presents for students at university should be treats – let your kids work out how to manage the essentials for themselves!
