So, it’s been a couple of months since you settled into university, made friends with your flatmates and maybe some coursemates, and you’ve decided to help everyone settle further. Why not host a Secret Santa? Sounds great, but what if you don’t know everyone all too well… Don’t stress, I’ve rounded up some of the best gift ideas for students from a student, which have all been tried and tested, with budget-friendly options to more luxurious ones too!
Start by setting the tone
Great! By now, you have probably gathered a group of friends or individuals who are happy to participate. Start by discussing what theme everyone has settled on, something funny and quirky, or more practical things that will last throughout university. Another thing that would be really helpful to decide is the overall budget; you don’t want one person cheaping out while another splurges way too much.
An easy way to know what everybody would like to make sure money doesn’t go to waste is by making a wishlist. To make things even easier and accessible across the Christmas period, I highly recommend gathering your friends and making them sign up for a free wishlist app. Even better, the one that my group of friends used also randomly allocated every person in the group someone to ensure there’s no mix-up!
Funny and quirky gifts
Gag gifts are always a classic, and they never fail to make people laugh, which is perfect for any group’s first Christmas together away from home. On the other hand, these are also perfect if you have maybe pulled a coursemate or somebody that you barely know and have no idea what to get.
Low tier (£5 and under)
On a smaller budget, there are still a lot of things that you can purchase. Make sure to take advantage of any holiday sales and student discounts! Gift ideas such as joke props or mugs for all those late-night caffeine-induced sessions, a pair of novelty socks, or even a small toy as a joke to brighten up their study space. You could also consider buying some novelty accessories such as bag charms, gloves, hair-clips, or more.
It might be discouraging looking in shops with a small budget when the cost-of-living crisis is so prevalent now, but rest assured, there are still many places you could consider. Shops such as Poundland, Typo (20% student discount by the way!), and Flying Tiger are goldmines for these typical gag presents. However, if nothing tickles your fancy, there are some online shops such as Shein, Temu, and Aliexpress that are also great for cheap gifts with a wide variety, too. As always with these sites, make sure you leave an adequate amount of time for the gifts to arrive, and maybe even a little more, since it’s busier throughout the holiday periods!
Middle tier (£10-15)
If your group has set the budget a little bit higher, some card games might be appealing as a gift. These are always reusable and can be a great bonding activity for a group of friends or as a drinking activity once in a while! Other than that, other options that are great could be a customised tote bag with a quote everyone can relate to, or one that describes university life. Some more popular gifts might also include a blanket shaped as a burrito or other various foods, which are also practical for cosying up throughout those study sessions as winter approaches.
High tier (£15+)
For those groups that have set their budgets a little higher, some great gifts could include something personalised. For example, an image of the group on a fun night out or even a funny picture (if you know the person quite well, that is). Other options could also be a mini karaoke machine with distorted voice effects, or a larger board and card game such as Cards Against Humanity.
Cosy and comforting gifts
Perfect for the flatmates and coursemates who might not typically enjoy a night out as much, love a night in, or you all just gather up together to hang out in the evenings. I want to say that these gifts are quite versatile and unisex, so you can’t go wrong with these classic presents!
Low tier (£5 and under)
Don’t be fooled, you can still purchase a very thoughtful gift with a small budget, such as a mug with a hot chocolate sachet set. You could also try grabbing a pair of fluffy socks, which are cosy and perfect for any evenings spent inside. Candles also make an amazing present, as they last so long and perfectly set the scene for a lazy evening spent relaxing in bed.
Middle tier (£10-15)
The same things could also apply to the middle tier; these extra few pounds might allow you to stretch out to buy a nicer fleece blanket or throw. Some other things you could make might be a ‘winter survival kit’ or, in simpler terms, a nice basket full of little snacks, skincare essentials, and maybe a candle set. All these things are perfect for making a uni room feel more homely and preparing for the upcoming winter seasons as well.
High tier (£15+)
As always, you could use the increase in budget to purchase some of the previously mentioned items, but of a higher quality. If you’re not feeling those, here are some other options you might want to consider. Something more popular among university students might include an electric heated blanket in the university rooms or something more eccentric, such as a hot chocolate maker! Keep an eye out as well as some high-quality ones often go on sale around the wintertime.
Practical and useful gifts
You also can’t go wrong with any practical and useful gifts, especially with students; there’s never a shortage of things that you wish you had but slipped your mind. That being said, students are also typically quite forgetful and appreciate the care and thoughtfulness of those who notice their needs.
Low tier (£5 and under)
On the lower end of the scale, you could find something such as a reusable coffee cup or a glass bottle, which can be used to take to classes in the morning. These gifts also prove quite useful for any students who are on placements and work long hours, and I’m sure they would appreciate the gesture! Other cheap items that are useful include any form of stationery, ideally highlighters, whiteboard pens (surprisingly very useful at university), or sticky notes!
Middle tier (£10-15)
In the middle range, any form of home organisers is highly useful, storage baskets or desk shelves. Some other thoughtful gifts might include tote bags or a study planner to help people get through those exam seasons.
High tier (£15+)
If your budget extends higher, some thoughtful gifts could also include a portable charger for any long night study session at the library. Or even a temperature-controlled travel mug, desk organiser, or cuddly companions like Jellycats (yes, I’m deeming these as an essential for uni!!).
Food and snack gifts
Everybody loves receiving snacks and food, whether it’s a tasty or a sweet treat, anything is a break from the overload of instant noodles and caffeine drinks. These are often quite popular gifts to go for, but make sure that nobody has any allergies before you go overboard with any snacks!
Low tier (£5 and under)
On the lower end of the tier, you could grab some chocolate bars and put together a little s’mores-making hamper, or even just some curated snack selection. Bonus points if you go on holiday before the present reveals or if you’re just coming back from abroad, sneak some international snacks back, perfect for a gift!
Middle tier (£10-15)
In the middle tier, you have the chance to get creative and put together something more special, and potentially pick up on a theme between each item! Things such as a ‘hangover kit’ with tea, snacks, and the typical hangover cure items.
High tier (£15+)
Okay, although food can sometimes be considered a luxury these days and age with the high-end pricing of some things… Your options are quite large! If you have any food halls nearby, there are bound to be a bounty of choices, such as cheeseboards, chocolate sets, or even something else. For any movie nights, you could consider a small popcorn maker, a pancake machine, or any gourmet hot sauce kit for those spice-loving friends.
Creative and DIY gifts
Whether it’s a gift that you make yourself or an activity for somebody to do in the winter months, these can be perfect for friends who have a touch of creativity. Creative gifts often take a lot of thoughtfulness and care, which might mean they are better suited for people you are closer to or know better.
Low tier (£5 and under)
Some activities you could do together include buying a pack of clay and recreating some figures together as a group. Any form of painting on canvases or even candle painting! Some really popular activities currently are also painting on glasses, which is super cute and practical, as you can use them throughout the year as well!
Middle tier (£10-15)
Another fun activity to do together are craft or hobby sets, of which the popular ones include paint-by-numbers, embroidery kits, make your own candle kits, or more! If your friend is more of the creative type, however, you could also consider putting together a set of supplies that they most commonly use. For instance, a set of pens or markers that they use all the time, or even a journal, if that’s an activity they consider doing often!
High tier (£15+)
On the higher end of the scale, you could consider a more personalised present, such as commissioning art or specific merchandise from artists on Etsy and Instagram. Something that might be important to them, such as a portrait of the group, their pet, or even of them.
Another fun activity that can be done together is a pottery or painting session. Although it might be on the higher end of the scale, this can be a great gift and shared memory for the group.
Technological and gadget gifts
For any student, tech or gadget-themed presents are widely popular and convenient. Most days are spent glued to phones, laptop screens, lecture halls, or a TV to watch shows on repeat. Most people might also be trying to curate the perfect study setup up and this is the perfect time to help them out! You don’t even need to spend a fortune, either, to find something that’s useful, smart, and stylish!
Low tier (£5 and under)
For under £5, there are surprisingly a lot of little tech gadgets that you can find on a budget! For instance, phone stands, pop sockets, cable organisers, or even a fun phone case. Even better, you might even consider combining a cable with its counterpart, a cable organiser case, to take on the go! I find that students tend to either misplace a lot of items on nights out or they end up damaged. You’d be surprised at how many cables some people go through!
Middle tier (£10-15)
For those who might enjoy a little bit of ambient lighting and a break from the overhead white lights, consider some alternative lighting sources. For the girls, that might be something along the lines of USB fairy lights, or even the ones intertwined with flowers and leaves for a great backdrop. On the other hand, guys might prefer some LED strip lights, which are an absolute classic for any university room.
High tier (£15+)
On the higher end of the scale, a Bluetooth mini speaker is quite an ideal gift, and there are many options on the market that have surprisingly good sound quality! Another great pick might include any Bluetooth compact keyboards or portable travel cases for those with iPads, a perfect tool for any lectures.
Final tips on buying a secret santa gift for uni students
Whether or not you have pulled the name of someone you know well or not, hopefully, the idea of an automated wishlist has helped you out somewhat. Alongside this article of suggestions, of course! Don’t underestimate the power of good wrapping paper and a heartfelt card, as even the lower budget gifts can look far more valuable. Remember to also have fun, stay within the budget, and value the time spent together with your new friends rather than stress over the actual present! If you now have your presents sorted and want to look for activities to do together, why not check out some popular activities happening in London?