Gift Ideas for students

Postgraduate Community Assistant and Juris Doctor Kaitlyn McCaw gives her best gift ideas to help you give the perfect ‘pick me up’ to your friends and family.

I don’t know about you, but I just love giving gifts. Especially during a time as testing as the Covid-19 pandemic, it is nice to give the people we care about some ‘wee pick me ups’! I have compiled this list of ideas to give you inspiration.

QUB branded gifts

We are all so lucky to attend such a beautiful institution. Our university days are something we will remember for the rest of our lives – so why not gift a fellow student a token they can always attribute to their time at Queen’s?

Visit the QUB online shop to find branded items such as t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags and mugs.

Gifts under £15

As students, it can often be difficult to find nice gifts on a suitable budget. I hope this below list can offer you some inspiration. 

For your friend who loves travelling

Scratch off World Map, £9.99

This super cute scratch off map can serve as a token of all the places this person has visited! It also has an aesthetically pleasing colour scheme that would complement a variety of spaces. 

Personalised Initial Passport Cover and Luggage Tag, £14.99

Who doesn’t love a personalised gift and travelling in style? With so many color options, there is something for everyone. 

For your friend who loves cooking, or is learning how to cook

The Hungry Student Cookbook, £9.26

This book is fabulous – it is made for students on tight timelines and tight budgets and will help the user make the most of time in the kitchen. 

Beeswax Food Wraps, £12.95

Not only are these wrappers eco-friendly and reusable, but they also take up less storage space and are so cute! 

Personalised Wooden Chopping Board, £9.95

This gift will add a touch of personalization to your friend’s kitchen. This board is extremely durable and easy to clean – ideal for students. 

For your friend who is into skincare

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater, £5

This product is an essential in my handbag – extremely hydrating and gentle on skin it is multi-purpose and extremely refreshing. 

Rosehip Oil, £6.99

The Inkey sell a wide variety of skin care at extremely affordable prices. You can definitely find a gift for any friend with any skin type for under £15 on this page.

Lavender Hydrating Hand Sanitizer, £6

Covid has been tough on our hands – this lush sanitizer will help alleviate some of the usual dry skin associated with sanitizing. 

For the friend who needs a pick me up

Uplifting Quotes Book, £6.99

Sometimes we just need a reminder to see the best in ourselves. This cute book offers plenty of friendly reminders to reinforce to your friend how amazing they are. 

Hug in a Box, £9.99

Etsy has some really cute gift boxes – if this one isn’t the one for you then I would definitely recommend browsing. You can get boxes from £5 up to £50. 

Chocolate and Marshmallow Melt Spoon, £3.50

If you haven’t tried these yet, you should! There is something extremely soothing about watching the chocolate melt off the spoon and into the milk as you mix it. One word – YUM! 

Coffee voucher, as much as you like!

And as a final idea, grab your friend a Coffee Voucher £ value up to you! 

Gifts under £30

For a friend you want to help relax

Essential Oil Diffuser, £23.99

This 300ml aromatherapy diffuser is an extremely soothing addition to any room. The scents can be customized and switched anytime. 

For a friend who enjoys creative activities

French Village Fry Pan Pizza Kit, £20

This set makes for an extremely fun and interactive dinner activity. It comes with 4 pizza dough balls + cheese and pepperoni toppings. 

For a friend who loves cool gadgets

Smartphone Projector, £22

There are a variety of options available online so I would recommend searching for one that fits all your needs. This option from UO’s is a simple to use 8x projection with no added equipment required. 

Google Chromecast, £30

Make any TV a smart TV with Chromecast – by plugging it in and connecting to WIFI, you can stream videos from your phone on the big screen. 

Smart Notebook, £30

This smart notebook is a game changer for dedicated students! Write your notes as you would in a book…but have the ability to scan them directly into an app. When you’re finished, wipe the page clean and use it again and again – you’ll never be short on paper. Also, you can search your scanned notes to easily find certain sections. Notetaking just got way easier. 

For a friend who you want to make feel appreciated

Coffees of the World Gift Set

If your friend loves coffee, they will undoubtably love this gift set boasting a range of light to dark roasts from 9 different locations.  

Still looking?

If you are still looking for other ideas, I’d recommend checking out ‘Not on the High Street’. They have a wide variety of gifts for any occasion. 

I hope this list was helpful  Remember to check in on your friends during this time – a gift does not have to cost anything. A simple text or video call can make a big difference to someone who is struggling during the lockdown. 

QUB Student Wellbeing Service

The QUB Student Wellbeing Service is offering a variety of services to support students during this time. Please check them out and share the information with your friends  https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/wellbeing/

KAITLYN MCCAW

Community Assistant and Juris Doctor from Australia

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