Student starter pack: 10 perfect prezzies

If you’re going to drop a new student off at university this September, here are a few prezzies that’ll tickle their fancy as they make the big transition. Whether you want a practical gift or something a bit more frivolous, here you’ll find a round-up of the top ten student presents, perfect for their big move. 

10. Supermarket gift card

Plain old money can be frittered away on new shoes and 2-4-1 pints. A supermarket gift card, however, is slightly more limiting! Give your student a gift card to a supermarket near their digs and they’ll soon be chowing down on their five a day.

Cock-a-doodle-doo! University offers plenty of opportunities for 2pm lie-ins, but there will be some occasions when a pre-lunch start is required and this is where an alarm clock comes in handy. Whilst they’ve no doubt got an alarm setting on their phone, nothing screams 'GET UP!' quite like a real retro alarm clock. 

8. Bumper pack of sweets

Look, we’re not advocating bribery, but there’s no denying that a big bowl of sweets will come in handy when it comes to making friends. Send your students off with a few bags, so they can wander the halls of their new accommodation and use their tasty treats as an icebreaker. Don’t forget to cater to everyone’s tastes with cola bottles, strawberry laces, liquorice and a few bon bons for good measure.  

7. Washing bag

The humble laundry bag is often overlooked by students, but when faced with several armfuls of dirty washing and only one set of arms, they’ll regret not having one. Give them a handy laundry bag and they’ll never have to encounter this conundrum, and it should also encourage them to wash their clothes when they see the bag getting full. 

6. Loose change

Want to show you care but need to stick to a tight budget? It might not be the first gift that comes to mind, but loose change can be invaluable to students, so offload all your coins onto them! Everything from bus fares to hall facility washing machines will guzzle plenty of change, and your student will be ever so grateful for that never-ending pot of silver!

5. Hot water bottle

Throw a load of strangers together in one place and a few new-term sniffles are, sadly, inevitable. It’s known as Fresher’s Flu, so make sure your student is prepared with a good old-fashioned hot water bottle to comfort them until they’re back to full strength again. 

In the hurry to stock up on food at the beginning of term, it’s easy to overlook toiletries, so save them some embarrassment (and money) by giving them a bag of their favourite hygiene items beforehand. Make sure all the basics are covered: they’ll need shampoo, shower gel, laundry detergent, deodorant and toothpaste. Not the most glamorous gift, sure, but undoubtedly useful! 

3. First aid kit

Plasters and paracetamol aren’t up there on most students’ lists of the most important things to take to uni. Of course, the moment they need them is the same moment a trip to their local corner shop seems unbearable, so make things easy for them by making sure they take a first aid kit.

2. Framed photo

From time to time your student is going to feel a little nostalgic for home, so as a nice reminder why not frame a sentimental snap? It could be a picture of their lazy cat, a group of their best friends from home, or a classic family holiday. Chances are they won’t display it proudly on their window ledge for all to see, but as long as it makes them smile now and again, it’s worth it. 

1. A brand new gadget

After all these practical gifts, why not indulge them a bit? New gadgets are great for keeping them organised - and they’re loads of fun too - and you can find always something to suit your budget. Think digital cameras and e-readers at the lower end of the scale, all the way up tablets, smartphones or even a new laptop! 

This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, but we reckon every little helps when it comes to making your student’s big move go that bit smoother. For even more gift ideas check out DotComGiftShop. 

Bottle image source: Yastremska