We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we earn.
Graduation gifts for a new start
A graduate is about to commute, work and live on a budget, so give them kit for that: a laptop backpack, earbuds, a power bank, a decent pen for the interview. Useful lasts longer than sentimental.
-
Best overall gift
1. MATEIN Travel Laptop Backpack (15.6-inch)
Up to 15.6 inch · Luggage strap · Lockable main zip and hidden back pocket
The bag that goes to work every day, so it gets more use than anything else on this page. The listing confirms a padded sleeve for laptops up to 15.6 inches, a strap that slips over a suitcase handle and a hidden pocket on the back. The maker says not to use it in heavy rain, so a graduate who cycles to work in all weathers needs a waterproof bag instead.
-
Best for the commute
2. INIU 45W 10000mAh Power Bank
Detachable USB-C · 45W · 10,000mAh
A flat phone in the first week of a new job is a bad look, and this fits in a pocket. The listing confirms 10,000mAh, 45W output and a detachable braided USB-C cable, so a broken cord does not finish off the whole charger. The cable is only 12cm long, so it charges from a bag or pocket rather than across a desk.
-
Best for the interview
3. Parker IM Duo Pen Gift Set
Medium · Stainless steel with chrome trims · Fountain pen, ballpoint pen and pen pouch
A proper pen to sign the contract with, and the one item here that feels like a graduation present rather than kit. The listing confirms a fountain pen and a ballpoint in stainless steel with chrome trims, plus a pouch to carry them. A fountain pen needs refills and a little care, so anyone who only wants something that clicks is better off with a Parker Jotter.
-
Best budget gift
4. Contigo Byron Snapseal Travel Mug (470ml)
Leakproof Snapseal, one-handed · 470ml · Hot for up to 7 hours, cold for up to 12
Cuts the coffee-shop habit that a first salary invites. The listing confirms 470ml, drinks kept hot for up to 7 hours and a lid that locks shut, so it can ride in a bag. Only the lid is dishwasher safe; the steel body has to be washed by hand.
-
Best for a new routine
5. Samsung Galaxy Fit3
Up to 13 days · 1.6" AMOLED · 100+ with auto detection
A new job tends to wreck sleep and exercise, and this keeps an eye on both. The listing confirms a 1.6-inch AMOLED screen, up to 13 days per charge, tracking for over 100 workouts and sleep monitoring. It is a slim fitness band, so a graduate who wants apps and a big watch face should look at a full smartwatch.
-
Best treat
6. Amazon Kindle 16GB (2024, without ads)
None · 6-inch glare-free · Up to 6 weeks · 16GB
The bigger present, for the train and for a first flat with no room for bookshelves. The listing confirms a 6-inch glare-free screen with dark mode, 16GB of storage and up to 6 weeks per charge, and this is the version without adverts. It is the standard Kindle rather than the Paperwhite, and the listing makes no waterproof claim.
-
Best for the first week
7. Smarpau A5 Hardcover Lined Notebook
A5 · 180 lined pages · 80gsm, lies flat
The first weeks are all names, logins and acronyms, and a notebook looks better in a meeting than a phone. The listing confirms 180 lined pages of 80gsm paper, a ribbon marker, an elastic closure and a back pocket for business cards. The listing calls the cover leather but gives no more detail, so expect a smart everyday notebook rather than an heirloom.
-
Best for the gym after work
8. HAOYUYAN BX17 Wireless Sports Earbuds
Ear hooks, 3 tip sizes · 15 hours, 80 with case · IPX7
Earbuds for the commute and the after-work gym session, with ear hooks that stay put. The listing confirms IPX7 water resistance, up to 15 hours per charge with 80 in total from the case, and physical buttons rather than touch controls. HAOYUYAN is a little-known brand and the listing describes passive noise isolation, so a graduate who wants real quiet on the train needs a dearer pair.
Nothing matches those filters. Try fewer filters, or search for a brand like "MSI" or "Crucial".
How we rank
Chosen from what is selling on Amazon UK in each category on the day we checked, inside the price cap, and only if it was in stock. Ordered by how useful the gift is to the person it is for, then price. We have not handled these products: the write-ups rest on what each listing states. Prices and stock are checked daily.
Prices are Amazon UK and eBay UK at the time we last checked; they move daily, so confirm on the retailer's page. We earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no cost to you. It never changes the order. More about how we work.