phd student gift

25 Practical Gifts for Grad & PhD Students in 2022

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You’re proud of your graduate and PhD students. Show them just how much you care, with gifts that are a bit fun and a bit practical. Whether they’re working on their dissertation or your doctoral students are simply elbows deep in research, you are sure to find just the right gift on a list that’s almost as smart as they are.

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Top 15 Best PhD Graduation Gifts in 2024

I found the very best PhD graduation gifts. Below, I’ll discuss each. This article includes specific PhD graduation gift recommendations. I did my best to include a little bit about why new doctors appreciate each, and I link to where you can find them.

Note that The Grad Cafe is supported by our audience, I regularly use affiliate links throughout. That means I could get a small commission when you order something on this list. Thanks for your support!

Ready to discuss PhD graduation gifts? Read on.

Table of Contents

You Can’t Go Wrong With…

If you’re at a loss thinking about what to buy a Ph.D. graduate as a present, you can’t go wrong with cash, checks, and gift cards.

There’s no denying that PhDs can be incredibly expensive. Just look at the data from EducationData.org , which states that federal graduate student borrowers have $91,148 average loan balances. It doesn’t matter if they earned their degree in person or online — debt is debt. Cutting a check for any amount can help a PhD graduate buy what they need (or want). They can also choose to pay the amount toward their debt.

Of course, giving cash or a check isn’t everyone’s idea of a good present. In that case, you can always give a gift card .

Amazon Gift Cards come in nice packaging, like this graduation gift box.

Amazon allows you to choose your gift card amount,  starting from $25 and going all the way up to $2,000. You can also send your gift card digitally if you’d rather skip the box altogether.

On Amazon, you can also choose gift cards from specific brands. For example, if you’d like to give the gift of tech, you can opt for an Apple gift card between $25-$500. And if you’re looking for PhD graduation gifts for her , try a Sephora gift card  between $25-$250.

Buy a Graduation-Themed Amazon Gift Card

Buy an Apple Gift Card

Buy a Sephora Gift Card

15 Best PhD Graduation Gifts [2024]

Check out these unique, fun gift ideas for a doctoral graduate near and dear to your heart!

1. A Care Package – CRAVEBOX Gourmet Specialty Snack Box

Care packages are an excellent yet practical way to show you care. The CRAVEBOX Gourmet Specialty Snack Box is a 50-piece collection of gourmet snack samplers.

Why a PhD Graduate Would Like It:

Unless your recipient is a picky eater, they’re bound to like something in this package. After all, who wouldn’t want to try new types of snacks? They might even find their new favorite snack in this box!

Of course, you may want to ask about food sensitivities and preferences before choosing a box like this.

Buy the CRAVEBOX Gourmet Specialty Snack Box

2. Presentation Clicker and Pointer – Logitech R500s

The Logitech R500s is a presentation pointer and clicker that works from a 65ft range(20m). It has a red laser and customizable buttons. The R500s connects via a USB dongle/receiver, but it’s also universally compatible, including with Bluetooth.

PhD graduates, especially ones going into an academic or research-based career , will have to give a lot of presentations. A good clicker like this can make their presentations go more smoothly.

Buy the Logitech R500s

3. RocketBook Smart Reusable Notebook Set

The RocketBook has been around for a while, but it’s still a pretty cool product all around. RocketBooks are essentially notebooks with special pages that let you scan and digitally convert notes. They come in various sizes and have reusable pages if you use the Pilot Frixion pen. That’s a win for the planet!

PhD graduates will likely write a lot  of notes in their lifetime. The RocketBook blends old-school handwritten notes with technology, allowing easily scannable and text-convertible notes with the app’s OCR (optical character recognition) feature. Some may find this gift a novelty, but it’s a great way to help the environment!

Buy the RocketBook Smart Reusable Notebook Set

4. Boogie Board Basics Reusable Writing Pad

The Boogie Board is a reusable writing pad for quick notes and reminders at work or home. You can use anything to write on it, as long as it has a dull pointy end. This board is good for 50,000 resets (board clears) — endless use!

This is one of the coolest gift ideas for PhD graduates because it reduces desk clutter and wasted paper.

Buy the Boogie Board Basics Reusable Writing Pad

5 . Mechanical Pencil + Stylus: rOtring 800+

This rOtring mechanical pencil and stylus hybrid lets you switch seamlessly from paper to screen. It’s a well-designed writing instrument that prevents writing fatigue thanks to its hexagonal barrel.

This mechanical pen and stylus combo is one of the best PhD graduation gifts for students . For many, pencils are the writing instrument of choice. rOtring is a known and reliable pencil brand, so there’s no doubt it will provide an enjoyable writing experience — and it’s a breeze to use!

Buy the rOtring 800+ Mechanical Pencil and Stylus

6. Hobonichi Techo 5-Year Diary

The Hobonichi Techo is a well-known planner/diary loved for its sheer quality and flexibility. The Hobonichi Techo 5-Year Diary allows the user to plan and organize up to five years of their lives.

The Hobonichi Techo 5-Year Diary offers PhD graduates an easy way to keep track of their appointments and events — especially if they prefer pen and paper to phone apps.

Buy the Hobonichi Techo 5-Year Diary

7. HidrateSpark PRO Smart Steel Water Bottle

The HidrateSpark PRO Smart Steel Water Bottle keeps you hydrated with its reminder glow. You can even track your water intake through its free app and customize the bottle’s glow lights and light patterns. The best part? It keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours!

The HidrateSpark PRO bottle makes a great gift for a PhD graduate, especially if they are so busy that they forget to take care of themselves. Dehydration is no joke!

Buy the HidrateSpark PRO Smart Steel Water Bottle

8. Leather Briefcase and Laptop Bag by KomalC

This leather briefcase and laptop bag uses buffalo leather and durable YKK zippers to ensure years and years of use. It fits laptops without being too bulky while still having plenty of room for files, folders, and notebooks.

This KomalC leather briefcase is a high-quality bag a PhD graduate can take with them anywhere. It’s roomy and protects their laptops and important items without being too bulky or uncomfortable.

Buy the Leather Briefcase and Laptop Bag by KomalC

9. Custom Engraved Steel Business Card Case

This beautiful two-tone business card case holds up to 15 business cards. It comes with free personalization, allowing three text lines with up to 25 characters for each line.

PhD graduates often carry business cards. So why not have a nice, engraved case to keep them all in great condition until it’s time to hand them out?

Buy the Custom Engraved Steel Business Card Case

10. Mechanical Retro Style Flip Clock

This retro-style flip clock has a minimalistic design while still displaying the time down to the minute. It has a durable stainless steel frame and ABS plastic cards to ensure longevity. However, it has delicate inner mechanisms, so it’s not the best gift for someone with cats or young children.

This gift is a great conversation starter for your PhD recipient!

Buy the Mechanical Retro Style Flip Clock

11. Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker

This alarm clock was made for those who sleep through just about any other alarm. It comes with a shaker that users can put underneath their pillow (or anywhere else where it would make a racket) so the vibrations will wake them up when the alarm rings.

This Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker is one of the best PhD graduation gifts for students who sleep like the dead. This alarm clock might help the recipient avoid tardiness, though their sleeping partner might not appreciate it so much!

Buy the Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker

12. FlexiSpot Laptop Desk Riser

This laptop desk riser is 27×19 inches — a relatively large desk surface when raised. It has five adjustment settings from 1.8 to 15.9 inches. This Flexispot product allows the user to turn any surface into a standing desk. Make sure you also check the Best Desks for Students .

Sitting all day while working is detrimental to your health. This laptop desk riser is an excellent choice for PhD graduates who spend way too much time at their workstations. And if they don’t want to stand, even the slight elevation of gaze reduces neck strain and back pain.

Buy the FlexiSpot Laptop Desk Riser .

*You can also add the FlexiSpot Anti-Fatigue Mat .

13. FlexiSpot EN1 Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk

The En1 electric height adjustable desk has a 55×28 inch table top for a spacious work area. It runs quietly while adjusting height smoothly. Users can set the table’s height between 28-47.6 inches. It supports up to 154 lbs, which accommodates even the heaviest workloads.

The EN1 makes is a great PhD graduation gift for the same reason a laptop riser would — it helps your PhD graduate to stand more often, minimizing stress and back pain. This fully electric desk is also quite convenient, without requiring manual adjustments. What better way to kick off your graduate’s high-paying PhD job  than a fabulous new desk?

Buy the FlexiSpot EN1 Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk

14. Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are legendary for great audio quality, comfort, and portability (they fold up to a smaller profile when not in use). It offers ANC (active noise cancellation) and even has built-in Alexa voice control.

If you want to give the gift of peace and focus, this pair of headphones is an incredible choice. While this one’s pricey, you can find other ANC headphones that are more affordable. The XM4s also have a newer version, the XM5 (but these don’t fold up into a smaller profile).

Buy the Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Headphones

15. Microsoft Surface Go 3

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is a tablet that can replace a laptop. It runs on Windows, has a touch screen and decent battery life, and works with a stylus. You can also charge it with a power bank if you run out of juice.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is an excellent and pragmatic PhD graduation gift for students because of its productivity capabilities, including responding to emails and word processing. And, of course, it also works well for entertainment purposes. Save this for a loved one — it’s pricy!

Buy the Microsoft Surface Go 3

How Much Should You Spend on PhD Graduation Gifts?

The cost of your PhD gift depends on your relationship with the graduate. It can be anywhere from $10-$300, or maybe even more if you wish — but never spend more than you can afford. Here’s a general guide for how much you might want to spend:

• Acquaintances : <$30
• Friends : $25-$50
• Closest friends and relatives: $50-$100
• Significant others, children, and close loved ones: $100-$300+

Avoid superfluously expensive gifts for people you aren’t close with — that’ll just make them uncomfortable!

Finishing a doctorate is no easy feat — even the online PhDs  take endless hours to complete. Bottom line? Graduating with a PhD is a cause for celebration! And what better way to celebrate your new PhD-holder loved one than with a thoughtful present ?

PhD graduation gifts don’t have to be expensive or luxurious. They can be something as simple as a mug or a shirt with a witty PhD-related message. Doctorate graduation gifts can even be sentimental, like an engraved business card case.

If someone you know recently achieved a PhD (or even an MBA ), this list of the best graduation gifts for PhD students might offer some gift inspiration.

It can be challenging to come up with ideas for PhD graduation gifts, but there’s always a fantastic option out there waiting for you. But remember: if you can’t come up with any ideas that feel right, everyone loves cash or gift cards!

Do you have any other PhD graduation gift suggestions? Leave them in a comment below!

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you give a phd graduate.

The perfect PhD graduation gifts for doctoral graduates depend on your preference — unless the recipient specifically requests something. Cash, checks, and gift cards are popular options but may seem impersonal. Instead, you might give the graduate something pragmatic, like food, or something heartfelt, like a craft. Of course, the 15 suggestions on this list are also great PhD gifts.

What Are Good PhD Graduation Gifts for a University Graduate?

It truly depends — you can give something generic like a mug or shirt with a witty PhD-related saying or something more aligned with your recipient’s interest if you know them well.

What Is the Going Rate for PhD Graduation Gifts?

It really depends on your relationship with the recipient. Gifts can cost anywhere from $10-$300 and sometimes even more. If you’re more an acquaintance than a loved one, choose something on the lower price end to avoid making the recipient uncomfortable.

Is it OK to Give a Check as a PhD Graduation Gift?

Absolutely! Although some people may find checks or cash impersonal, a PhD graduate could probably use the money. After all, they can put it toward student loans or buy something they really need.

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Chriselle Sy

Chriselle has been a passionate professional content writer for over 10 years. She writes educational content for The Grad Cafe, Productivity Spot, The College Monk, and other digital publications.  When she isn't busy writing, she spends her time streaming video games and learning new skills.

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7 Best Gifts for PhD Students (By a PhD Student!)

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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My Top Pick: Care Package

Hi! I’m Chris. I’ve got a PhD, so I know allll about what it feels like to be going through the PhD process. I’ve listed some gift ideas I think would be great for a male or female PhD student. Here’s my list.

The best gift ideas for PhD students are:

• Care Package
• Messenger Bag
• PowerPoint Presentation Clicker & Laser Pointer
• Academic Career Guide Book
• Leather Bound Notebook

Looking for a Graduation Gift?

Best Gifts for PhD Students

1. care package.

Quick Review: A care package is best for a PhD student living away from home for college. Let them know you’re thinking about them and give them a bunch of study snacks!

Why a PhD Student would Like it:

A care package lets someone know you are thinking about them. It doesn’t have to be a special occasion for you to gift a care package – it’s great for a mid-winter pick-me-up. But, of course it’d also be a fitting gift for a birthday or Christmas, too. Care packages that have a range of snacks are great for students because we all like to snack while we study. I particularly like this CraveBox package as it’s much healthier than competitor. They have carefully picked out a diverse range of snacks that won’t show on the hips!

See my Full List of College Care Packages Here

2. Book Ends

Quick Review: PhD students read a lot of books. Brighten up their bookshelf with these classy bookends.

PhD students read books . A lot of books. When I was a PhD student I was going through about 3 books a week – philosophy, social sciences, methodologies, theories … books, books and more books. So bookends is a relevant and classy gift. They will also brighten up a doctoral student’s office or bookshelf. Do they seem like they need a little more decoration in their office? If so, here is the gift you’ll want to get!

3. Messenger Bag

Quick Review: PhD students are always carrying documents and textbooks around. Get them a classy messenger bag to brighten up their wardrobe.

A messenger bag is a popular style of bag for college students and professors (vis-a-vis Ted Moseby of  How I met your Mother ). Perhaps this is because college students and teachers are always carrying documents and textbooks around. If they’re also a teaching assistant, chances are they’ll be carrying around stacks of undergrad papers, too. If you like the idea of a messenger bag but want to shop different styles, check my full list of my favorite messenger bags for college students .

Related Post: Best Headphones for Studying at College

4. PowerPoint Presentation Clicker & Lader Pointer

Quick Review: PhD students give a lot of presentations. They present their research – but also give many lectures to undergrads. Get them a practical presentation clicker with laser pointer.

PhD students need to give presentations – and a lot of them. We have to give presentations about the progress of our research. Plus, we’re constantly asked to give guest lectures on our work to undergraduate students. Then, we go to conferences – where we do even more presentations.

A clicker helps you give your presentation as you can switch slides while walking around the stage. With this one, you can also use the lazer pointer to point out aspects of your presentation or slides that you want to highlight. It’s a great gadget for any PhD student (or professor, for that matter!).

5. Academic Career Guide Book

Quick Review: Getting an academic job after completing your PhD is incredibly difficult. There is 1 job for every 7 graduates. Give them a leg up with an advice book.

In the final year of my PhD, I spent a lot of time stressing about how I would get a job. This book helped me out hugely with tips on how to network and get a job. This book will help a PhD student fund out how to get a tenure-track position or a postdoc that will pay their way. It’s a book that can sit on the bookshelf and be browsed when needed.

6. Leather Bound Notebook

Quick Review: We’re always taking notes at meetings and conferences So get that PhD student a lovely leather bound notebook!

To be honest, I am always carrying around scruffy-looking $1.50 notebooks. I’d love a nice looking notebook like this instead. The great thing about this specific notebook is that it’s refillable – so I can fit those ugly $1.50 notebooks inside the leather binding and keep burning through them – while still having a classy looking notebook instead of my usual dog-eared notepads.

7. Funny Mug

Quick Review: There are tons of mugs out there with PhD themed quotes and images you can browse for, especially on Amazon. One example is below.

Let’s face it, most of us get through our PhD on a very healthy dose of coffee. Grab the PhD student a themed mug for them to place by their desk or in the office. And while you’re at it, why not head to your local coffee roaster and pair this mug gift with a bag of high-quality grinds.

Final Thoughts

I hope this list of the best gifts for PhD students has given you some inspiration! If you feel you’ve still not found quite the right gift, consider checking out my list of gift ideas for undergraduates . You could also consider a college board game .

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• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 15 Montessori Values for your Classroom
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30 Gift Ideas for a PhD Graduation

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PhD students – how long have they been at school?  Too long to count.  During those final formative years, PhD students basically live and breathe their dissertation .  It’s a long slog and when they’re finally done – they deserve a celebration! That’s why we put together this list for gift ideas for a phd graduation. Celebrate their hard work in style with a gift that says congrats. 

Gifts Fit For a PhD Grad

Not just anything will do, this person is a doctor now! Going through a PhD program is a huge endeavor, and definitely an occasion that should be celebrated. These gifts for a PhD graduate are perfect pick-me-ups after stressful school days and dissertation writing and perfect accessories to help them get started in their new career, whatever that will be. 

It’s Dr. Actually Personalized Mug

This personalized mug says “It’s Dr. Actually” on one side and the PhD graduate’s name and title (Dr. Name) on the back. Perfect for that first morning coffee after graduation! You can customize the interior color, too, to match their preferences.

PhD Wine Label

A PhD graduation is definitely the right occasion to break out a great bottle of wine or champagne. Make it even more celebratory by adding a custom wine label like this one; because this wine definitely pairs well with a PhD.

Nespresso Coffee Machine

Now I know the PhD graduate will probably be wondering why you didn’t get this during the program to help with the long nights. That’s valid, but at least now that they’ve graduated they can afford to buy the pods, so… Anyway, if you want a big graduation gift for someone moving into a career, anything to make mornings easier is a win.

Dangerously Overeducated T-Shirt

A hilarious t-shirt fit for a dangerously overeducated PhD graduate! What better way to show off all those painful years of higher education?

High Quality Diploma Frame

Not all frames are created equal when protecting important documents like diplomas. Especially if you want to hang them on the wall! This one has a business-style matting and frame style, plus preservation features like UV protection so the degree inside won’t fade over time.

Personalized Acrylic Sign

The PhD graduate you gift this to could display it at home, in their home office, or at work. Customize it with their name, specialization, and best of all, silhouette. This one has masculine figures, but the seller also offers a female version.

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Scratch Off Bucket List

It’s well known that undergoing a PhD program is pretty much all encompassing. Chances are, a new doctor hasn’t had the time or spare cash to go on too many adventures. If your PhD grad loves to travel, help them start this new chapter with something to look forward to like this scratch off bucket list poster that features popular tourist stops.

The Power of a PhD Career Book

Not everyone who graduates with a PhD knows exactly how they’ll be using it in their future career. If you’re shopping for a doctor who’s still unsure about career goals, this book can help them find meaningful work by utilizing their in creative ways.

Spa Supplies or Spa Day

Now that they finally have some time to rest, help the recent grad relax by gifting some spa or relaxation related gifts. You can’t go wrong with a foot bath, or go bigger and purchase a day at the spa gift certificate for some real R&R.

PHinally Done Mug

The huge relief someone feels when they finish their PhD dissertation?  This mug exclaims it.  

Personalised Silver Star Paperweight

For a fun and unique gift, this silver star paperweight can be personalised with a congratulatory message.  

Business Card Holder Gift Set

They’re a doctor now –  they’re going to need a business card holder.  This genuine leather gift set also comes with a fancy pen and a key chain.  

Deluxe Lavender Spa Gift Set

The feminine PhD graduate will love a long session of relaxation or two with this fragrant lavender spa gift set.  They just might never get out of the bath. And even if their not a mom, this list of gifts that promote relaxation has something on it for everyone.   

PhD Definition Picture Frame  

Here’s something for their mantle.  A definition of PhD that will resonate with someone defending their dissertation.  

Funny Badge Button

There’s nothing like a pun to make people laugh – this funny ‘She wants the PhD’ button will do just that.  

‘Not That Kind of Doctor’ Shirt

Yes, once you get your PhD you become a doctor, but let’s be clear on what kind.   Funny t-shirts are cute gift ideas for a PhD graduation to lighten the mood. 

PhD Cufflinks  

For something a bit more subtle and elegant, these stainless steel cufflinks are a perfect little reminder of all the hard work they’ve gone through.  

Folded Book Art Sculpture  

This unique art sculpture will be a neat addition to their bookshelf.  We guarantee that they’ll have nothing quite like this.  

‘Achieve Your Dreams’ Engraved Gift Pen with Light and Stylus Tip

This stylish pen comes in a keepsake presentation case and makes a great graduation gift.  It is engraved with the words ‘Achieve Your Dreams’ as a gentle reminder of never giving up.  

Going Places Compass Necklace

This delicate necklace makes a nice gift for a girly PhD graduate – a reminder that there are so many places and so many possibilities to go from here. If you’re shopping for someone close to you high end jewellery that they can wear to a new job or enjoy as a keepsake also make great gift ideas for a PhD graduation.

One Line a Day: Five-Year Memory Book  

Yes we remember the big events, but it’s the little things that make a life.  This five-year memory book is a great gift to encourage record keeping and revisiting previous thoughts and memories.  

Wine Gift Set

After a few long years (or sometimes more) of a PhD, the graduate deserves a good hard drink after their graduation.  This wine gift set coupled with a bottle of their favourite will definitely be appreciated.  

Chocolate Fondue and Treat Maker

Fondues are something that people love, but that they rarely purchase for themselves.  Satisfy their sweet tooth with this chocolate fondue and treat maker set.  

Funny Doctor Graduation Candle

Sometimes you just have to commensurate a big moment with a funny gift. Becoming a doctor is no easy feat; remind them with this funny candle gift set.

Indoor Water Lily Fountain

Indoor water fountains are a great gift for any occasion, but especially for a graduate.  It is something special that they will treasure in their home for years to come.  

Tabletop Zen Garden  

PhD’s are stressful but once done it’s time for some in-home relaxation with this tabletop zen garden.  

Celebratory Gourmet Gift Basket  

No one in their right mind would scoff at a gift basket, and since this graduation is a big deal – gift them a big one!  

PhD Ceramic Tile  

For someone who likes to decorate their home with memories of their life, this ceramic tile is ideal and clearly states that a PhD was accomplished.  

PhD Funny Graduation Card  

Know someone who graduated in English Literature? Get them this card, but only if you are familiar with their sense of humour!  

Graduation Cap ‘Big Shot’ Glass  

As previously mentioned, a PhD graduate needs a stiff drink at the end of their dissertation.  Help them out with this nifty ‘Big Shot’ glass!

Hopefully you found the perfect gift ideas for the next PhD graduation you go to! Whether you’re shopping for a friend or family member there are so many fun ways to celebrate this amazing achievement in someone’s life. Don’t forget to address all cards to “Dr. Name” to acknowledge this new chapter (and title) in their life.

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The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

Gifts for a PhD Student

Wondering what could be the perfect present for a friend, family member or colleague who are working towards a PhD? Choosing gifts for a PhD student can be tricky, we’re often living in shared houses with limited personal space and there are only so many novelty mugs a person can store!

Whether it’s to celebrate passing their viva, a special occasion or simply to show that you care, here are a few of my favourite suggestions.

Experience Gifts

I’m a big fan of gifting experiences rather than ‘things’ and I believe they are particularly well suited to those early on in their PhD, as a lot of students may be fairly new to the place they’re now studying. PhD stipends only stretch so far, so gifting experiences can be a great way to build memories for those with limited disposable income.

When I lived in London during my PhD I always asked my family for gift vouchers for experiences. This allowed me to visit escape rooms, walk over the O2, go for afternoon tea and see some fantastic West End shows (courtesy of Love Theatre vouchers).

Experiences can be varied to fit every personality type and some may also allow you to support great causes at the same time, such as Migrateful cooking classes for those in London, Bristol or Brighton.

Tripadvisor is a great place for finding ideas for activities. Groupon can also be handy place to check for deals, just make sure that any restrictions on dates/times won’t be an issue.

Subscription Gifts

Lots of us sign up for subscriptions these days, whether for the obligatory Netflix or for various apps. If you’re stuck for a gift for a PhD student why not offer to pay for a few months of a subscription to their favourite apps?

Some ideas for app subscriptions:

• Super Duolingo for language learners
• Headspace or other mindfulness and meditation apps which could come in handy with managing stress during a PhD

Relaxing Gifts

It’s always nice to have a break from work and a voucher for a massage or spa day could provide much needed relaxation. I’d again suggest using Tripadvisor to find recommendations and try to find a deal through Groupon.

Check with the giftee whether they’d be able to attend mid-week. If so you may be able to get more for your money with an off-peak rate and they’ll find it easier to relax with fewer people around.

A PhD student can never have too much food, particularly if it’s quick to prepare or readily available for snacking. Food gifts are brilliant for every budget and here are a few of my favourite suggestions.

Brownies by Post

My partner recently went on the hunt for the best vegan brownies and came across the Best Ever Brownie Company. I can attest that their brownies are absolutely delicious and everyone I’ve sent them to has loved them.

If you know your PhD student well then a gift hamper can be a lovely way to show that you care.

Hampers put together by someone you know can be a fun way to try out things you wouldn’t normally have seen. For Christmas/birthdays by Dad has started giving a selection of new vegan foods he finds and they’re always appreciated. If in doubt pick a theme and roll with it. For my sister’s birthday I recently made up a shoe-box sized hamper with American treats all themed around rainbow sprinkles!

If you don’t live nearby you can also find some lovely hampers online from companies such as:

• Social Supermarket
• Fortnum & Mason

Whether homemade or shop bought I think hampers make great gifts for a PhD student.

Healthy Ready Meals

If you’re keen to gift more substantial meals then COOK and Mindful Chef are two options. Both allow you to buy gift vouchers which your recipient can use to buy whatever they fancy.

I’ve gifted COOK vouchers to several friends and family members and the meals feel home cooked and are very tasty. Do check whether your giftee lives near a store, as if not they’ll probably want to order several items in one go and as such will need a fair bit of freezer space. Therefore COOK vouchers may not as suitable for those living in house shares.

I haven’t personally tried Mindful Chef ready meals, although I have tried several of the recipe boxes, but they look like a fantastic choice for anyone looking for quick and healthy meals.

Takeaway Voucher

If you’re keen to get a food gift but not sure what’s best then a takeaway gift voucher could be the perfect solution. Just Eat do gift vouchers and they’re sure to go down well.

Educational Gifts

PhD students are by nature very curious and plenty will be keen to expand their knowledge beyond their particular field. I’m personally always keen to learn more about the world so anything which helps me expand my horizons goes down favourably.

Subscription to a Learning Platform

Brilliant – Provides interactive courses to help people expand their knowledge of concepts within Maths, Computer Science, Data Analysis, Programming, Science and Engineering. Subscriptions start from a three month period.

Nebula – Nebula has advert-free educational videos and podcasts from over 150 Youtube content creators. Some of the videos on the platform are also available to watch on Youtube with ads, but there are around 60 original shows on the platform as well.

Subscription to Kiwi Crate

If you’re keen to gift a physical present then a subscription to Kiwi Crate could be a lovely idea.

For those who like working with their hands the Eureka Crate is a great way to build skills and explore engineering in a fun and immersive way. Who wouldn’t want to build their own desk lamp? They also do Maker crates for those with an artistic side.

Practical Gifts

So far nearly everything on our list has involved either experiences or consumables, but there are a few practical gifts which could be of great benefit to a PhD student and not take up too much space.

Whether it’s for keeping water cool or keeping coffee hot, a drink container will always come in handy. It could also help with minimising costs if drinks are prepared at home and then taken into uni.

Macbook Air Laptop

A recommendation of a £1000 laptop probably isn’t going to be applicable for most readers. However, if you’re a family member looking to spend money on a computer for someone starting a PhD I can highly recommend MacBook Airs. These days almost all software can run on both PC and Mac and even the M1 MacBook Air which is now several years old is more than powerful enough for most people.

Be sure to make use of Apple’s educational discount for up to 10% off.

Moleskine Notebook & Fisher Space Pen

Notebooks always come in handy, so why not gift your PhD student one at the top of the range. Combine a moleskine notebook with a fisher space pen and you’ve got the perfect way to keep experiment notes orderly and neat.

Moleskine notebooks are vegan, come in a range of colours and you can even pay extra for personalisation. Fisher space pens were originally designed for use in zero gravity and can be used upside down, underwater and at extreme temperatures. Perfect for all kinds of science-ing!

For those who don’t own one already an e-reader is a great way to get back into reading. I personally found reading to be a great way to take a break from my PhD . E-readers such as a Kindle are light and easy to pop in a bag!

Through Project Gutenberg you can access loads of classic books for free and if you opt for a Kindle there are often Amazon offers available for 99p books.

Novelty Gifts

If you are keen to get your PhD student a novelty gift I’d recommend buying a handmade item from a small business on Etsy. I’m a big fan of getting something practical such as a notebook, mug, keyring, chopping board etc.

Just make sure to check where it ships from – I typically filter so that only businesses in the UK are shown.

Here are a few of the potential gifts for a PhD student that I found in just a few minutes of browsing:

• Atoms to Astronauts – STEM mugs and notebooks
• Science Scribbles – Enamel pins and stickers
• My Mini Laboratory – Microscope keyrings and virus planters
• Chemistree Crafts – Wide selection of scientific jewellery, including conical flask earrings
• Bakerology – Science themed cookie cutters – who wouldn’t want to eat a neuron shaped cookie?!

Charitable Donations

Q: What do you get for the person who has everything?

A: A gift for someone else!

It can be hard to know what to get someone when they say there’s nothing that they want, but if your giftee would truly prefer to not receive a gift then make a charitable donation on their behalf.

Choose a charity or cause which is close to their heart and you’ll have a meaningful gift which provides benefit to others as well.

Top Tips on Buying Gifts for a PhD Student

• If your PhD student is short on space stick to gifting an experience or a consumable item
• Everyone needs to eat, so food gifts can be a great safe choice for PhD students
• Feeling stuck for what to buy? Ask! Some people enjoy surprises and others will prefer to set strict guidelines for present buying. I’m very frank and honest with my own family now around receiving gifts as I’m fairly minimalist and don’t like receiving anything I won’t use.
• Short on money? Why not make something homemade. Cupcakes in particular can be a quick and easy gift and are always sure to go down well.

Do you have any other suggestions for gifts for a PhD student or graduate? Are there any gifts you received during your own PhD which you really valued? Let me know in the comments!

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The 21 Best Graduation Gifts for Doctoral Students

Surprise your graduating loved one with a star map blanket. This graduation gift is perfect for the Ph.D. graduate in your life, as it features a custom star map that marks the night sky on their graduation day. With this graduation gift, they can remember this special milestone for years. Not only will the blanket provide comfort and warmth, but it will also be a reminder of their success.

Why I like it 

Customize to their style

Write a special message

A memorable keepsake

Create a personalized PhD graduation gift for the new or soon-to-be doctor in your life! Compile their favorite photos, unique quotes, and other special memories into a graduation photo book. Pictures from their other graduation ceremonies , images of them teaching and fulfilling their other PhD requirements, and messages of congratulations . Play with various designs. Choose a paper type and unique cover image!

Professionally designed templates

Five different dimensions

Ships in 1-2 days

The graduation milestone is a big one, and it deserves to be celebrated with the perfect gift. The Boogie Board Basics Reusable Writing Pad is an ideal present for any student embarking on the next chapter of their life. With its lightweight design, digital pen and paper technology, and ability to erase content with a button, this graduation gift allows the recipient to easily jot down notes, take sketches, and capture ideas on the go. It’s a great graduation present for anyone who needs to stay organized but also wants to keep their creative ideas in one place — perfect for research projects or any other undertaking. And with its compact size, it can easily.

If you’re looking for gifts for women in their 20s , then look no further than Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebooks. This amazing product combines a traditional writing experience with modern technology to create an innovative and efficient way to take notes and stay organized. With its unique design, it can be reused over and over again, making it a great long-term gift. The Rocketbook Smart Notebook utilizes a unique cloud storage system, allowing you to store your work and access it anywhere easily.

Are you looking for the perfect PhD graduation present for your favorite graduate student? The Rotring 1900181 800+ Mechanical Pencil Stylus is an excellent choice. This multi-functional tool is designed to help budding professionals reach their full potential in school and out. With a combination of traditional mechanical pencil functions and modern stylus technology, this gift is sure to help the newest PhD reach their dreams and earn actual money. Crafted with an ergonomic design, it's both comfortable and stylish, providing a great gift lasting for years.

Graduation is an exciting time for the grad and their loved ones, and it’s only fitting to celebrate this special milestone with a Phd gift. The KomalC 16 Inch Leather Briefcase offers a timeless, classic look that makes it the perfect graduation present for any student looking to make a professional impression in their new career. This briefcase features an adjustable and removable shoulder strap, two main zip compartments, and several pockets for extra storage. It's made of full-grain buffalo hide leather, which is strong and durable while maintaining a stylish look.

Graduation is an important milestone that deserves to be celebrated! Show your support for the special graduate in your life with a great gift that will stand out from the rest. The FITUEYES Height Adjustable Standing Desk is the perfect gift for anyone looking to improve their work-from-home setup. This innovative desk adjusts height and angle to provide users with a comfortable, ergonomic working posture. The desk also has a USB port and cup holder for added convenience.

Treat the special graduate in your life to the ultimate gift with FLEXISPOT Ergonomic Office Standing Desk Mat. This ergonomic desk mat is designed to provide a comfortable, anti-fatigue workspace that helps encourage healthy posture and proper body alignment while standing. Its non-skid surface ensures the mat stays securely in place, while its durable construction holds up to everyday use. The gift includes an adjustable footrest that can be adjusted to fit any desk height and a separate storage pocket for holding small items like pens, paperclips, and journals.

Graduating with a PhD is an incredible milestone, and what better way to celebrate than with the perfect gift? The Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless ANC Headphones are an excellent choice for any graduate looking to take their music listening experience to the next level. These headphones offer superior sound quality, noise cancellation capabilities, and advanced features, making them the ideal gift. With long-lasting battery life and superior comfort, these headphones will surely be your grad's go-to music companion in the coming years. So purchase the special graduate in your life the gift of quality sound: get them Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless ANC Headphones today!

This funny present celebrates the struggles and hard work of phd students and those who have graduated. The uplifting illustrations bring a lighthearted spin to the journey of earning a PhD, with whimsical drawings that make for an enjoyable coloring experience. There’s also plenty of humor throughout, providing some much-needed comic relief during this stressful time. Get your graduate a copy of this graduation gift and help them relax and de-stress after their long journey to graduation. It’s sure to bring a smile to any recent grad's face!

Are you looking for the perfect gift for your favorite PhD graduate? Show them you appreciate their hard work and dedication to academia with this witty shirt—the “Not That Kind Of Doctor” Shirt. Featuring a clever play on words, these fashionable t-shirts will bring smiles all around. Made of high-quality materials, these t-shirts are great celebration gifts. Show your support for their graduation success with this fun and stylish gift!

Are you looking for a grad gift for your friend or family member who has just achieved their PhD? Look no further than the MaxGear Business Card Holder! This sleek, stylish card holder is perfect for carrying essential business cards and identifying documents. The holder is made of premium quality stainless steel, providing a luxurious feel while protecting important items.

The PhD graduation season is upon us, so it's time to think of the perfect gift. If you're looking for something truly special, then the Nordgreen Native Scandinavian Silver Watch makes an ideal choice! This stylish watch's sophisticated design will remind you of your graduate's hard work and accomplishments. With premium materials and a beautiful finish, this watch is the perfect graduation gift that will last for years. Whether you're looking for an impressive gift or a timeless addition to your graduate wardrobe, the Nordgreen Native Scandinavian Silver Watch will make any special occasion even more memorable.

Gunnar - Gaming and Computer Glasses are an ideal gift for the gamers and tech-savvy individuals you love. These glasses provide distinctive style, comfort, and protection from eye strain while gaming or working on digital devices. With its adjustable frame design, advanced lens technology, and ergonomic fit, Gunnar makes a great present for the tech-savvy PhD graduate. The glasses come in various styles and colors to suit the recipient’s look. Not only will your present keep their eyes safe, but it will also make them feel stylish simultaneously!

The Onebttl Cap Mug is the perfect gift for those with a discerning taste and an appreciation for quality. This stainless steel mug features a unique lid design that helps keep your beverage hot or cold, while providing additional insulation to reduce condensation. Its sleek and stylish look makes it great for any occasion, making it the ideal gift idea for the discerning PhD graduate. The mug is available in multiple colors and can be personalized to match graduation or school colors. It's also dishwasher-safe and easy to clean, making it a great choice for a gift that will last.

Book Darts Line Markers are a perfect gift for the PhD graduate in you love. Whether they’re on their way to PhD graduation or freshly graduated, these line markers are the perfect way to show that you appreciate all the hard work they have put into completing their degree. With Book Darts Line Markers, graduates can quickly mark and review their texts, papers, and other materials. Their unique triangular shape allows for easy navigation through text and the thin lines they create won't obscure important information. They are also perfect for bookmarking multiple pages or bookmarks at once, helping to keep all of the graduation recipient’s notes organized.

Looking for Japanese gifts for a PhD graduate? Look no further than this Japanese Tabletop Meditation Zen Garden Gift. This beautiful and unique gift is perfect for anyone who loves to relax and meditate. The garden includes stones, sand, plants, and a candle, providing a peaceful ambiance to create an atmosphere of meditation and relaxation. It also comes with a brush and rake so the recipient can arrange and rearrange the pieces as they please. It’s a great way to show your appreciation for the grad's hard work, and it will be something that they can use in their new life after graduation. Show your support with this thoughtful gift!

When it comes to graduation gifts, there’s nothing like an inspirational book that will help guide a soon-to-be-PhD through the next big step in their life. The Big Leap is a book about overcoming fear and self-doubt so you can achieve success and live a fulfilling life. It’s filled with stories and insights from thought leaders like Oprah Winfrey, Arianna Huffington, and Tony Robbins that will help motivate your grad to take on life’s biggest challenges. It’s the perfect gift for any new PhD looking to make their mark in the world!

This grad season, PhD graduation gifts have never been more thoughtful and meaningful than this Handmade Graduation Cap Pop Up Card. This unique card is the perfect way to send your best wishes to the PhD graduate in your life and give them a keepsake they can cherish for years to come. The intricate design of this pop-up card features an adorable graduation cap with delicate tassels and a graduation gown, along with a congratulatory message inside. The recipient of this card can add their grad photos, notes, or messages to make it even more special. The bright colors and intricate details make this the perfect card for any PhD graduation celebration.

Are you looking for the perfect present for the recent PhD graduate? Look no further than the SimpleHouseware Mesh Desk Organizer! This desk organizer is a great gift that will help your PhD graduate stay organized and focused as they embark on their next journey. It provides multiple compartments of varying sizes to store all of their essential items, such as pencils, pens, markers, paperclips, and whatever else they need. The desk organizer is made from durable mesh metal construction that will last years.

This graduation season, give your PhD student a unique gift that shows you know their hardcore gaming interests! The PhD Level Gamer T-Shirt is perfect for the grad celebration. This comfortable shirt features an elegant grad cap logo and a witty quote from Plato: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Show your grad that you recognize the hard work they’ve done and reward them with this stylish graduation gift! Available in sizes S-XL, this graduation shirt is sure to please. Get your grad the graduation gift they deserve with this PhD Level Gamer T-Shirt! Shop for more from our gift ideas for gamers guide!

The product experts at Printed Memories have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Printed Memories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

Product prices were accurate at the time of publishing. However, they may change over time.

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14 Best Gifts for Professors or PhD Advisors (in 2024)

A search for “PhD Advisor Gifts” on Amazon will give you about 45 mugs and 3 t-shirts. Not a strong start. I’ve been through grad school, worked with many professors, and have a good idea of what they would truly appreciate as a thank-you gift. Here’s my hand-picked list below. 

This list is a compilation of my favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for scientists on the planet!

1. Academia Word Magnets

Academia is chock full of inside jokes, mannerisms, and cringeworthy habits that professors love to laugh about. These word magnets are designed specifically to let academics rant about their hardships, relish their big wins, and have a good laugh. These are perfect for the office refrigerator or the magnetic whiteboard, where sneaky students can leave passive-aggressive phrases for the advisor to find later. Get them on our site here and bundle them with other field-specific sets based on the professor’s field of study.

Also now available on Amazon .

2. The Pocket Scientist pocket ruler and equation reference

Your favorite PhD adviser will use this unique gift daily (and hopefully always remember you for it)! They can carry this credit card-sized ruler and scientific reference every day in the classroom or lab and use it for sketches in their office. We even laser-engraved the backside full of basic science equations and physical constants. See the product page for a full list of features we've packed in!

Available with free shipping from our website or from Amazon .

The Pocket Scientist at Genius Lab Gear

The Pocket Scientist on Amazon

How to use The Pocket Scientist – Full Feature Guide

P.S. We also have versions specifically for Chemists , Physicists, and Engineers if those are a better fit for the person you have in mind!

3. Rocketbook Beacons to digitize their white board

How many times has your college professor scribbled an amazing brainstorm on a whiteboard and then lost it forever once the next student comes in to talk? 

Rocketbook is well-known for their reusable notebooks which have grids and QR codes built-in to quickly snap photos of and organize hand-written notes digitally. They recently added this GENIUS product to do the same thing with white boards. You put a triangle at each corner, then use their app to snap a photo, and it can flatten the image, enhance the contrast and automatically send it to your favorite note-saving app. Keep those moments of brilliance safe!

4. Funny Coaster Set for Teachers and Professors

Professors and students love to have a good laugh at each others’ expense. Give them the upper hand for once with some funny professor coasters . It’ll protect their desk while they put down their drink between sips, giving them plenty of time to admonish the lab work you didn’t get done this week. 

5. Wireless Laser Pointer and PowerPoint Presenter

Laser pointers are one thing you never think about until the moment you don’t have one that works. I personally own this one because it’s got everything you need, from the pen clip to volume buttons and slide control buttons. DinoFire has several tiers with different features, but you can’t go wrong with any of them. 

6. Smart Coffee Mug Warmer

For the advisor who always has a cup of coffee in-hand but doesn’t have a microwave in their office, this desktop mug warmer will save them time running back and forth several times a day. The best feature is that it turns on and off automatically when a mug is on top so it doesn’t waste energy! 

7. Kensington Ergonomic Vertical Wireless Mouse

Let’s be honest. Most college professors barely make it into the lab now, spending all of their time making presentations and writing grants at their computer. This new vertical mouse design is starting to catch on because it’s more ergonomic for people spending hours upon hours at the computer each day. They’ll thank you for finding such a unique solution that they probably didn’t know existed (and were too frugal to get for themselves). It’s “Treat yo’self” day for your professor. They deserve it. 

8. Lab Coat Pocket Protector

A gift of nostalgic charm that is sure to resonate with their professionalism and accomplished academic life! The venerable Pocket Protector became a cultural icon in the 1960's and 1970's, but somewhere along the way the newer generation of STEM researchers forgot about them. Scientists need these back in their labs to stay organized, stay efficient, protect their lab coats, and finish their experiments without being late to lunch. So we researched and tested every type ever made to methodically solve each problem and come up with this refreshed design . Available in spruce green, sapphire blue, and faded pink - the top 3 colors voted on by our fans! You can even get it from our Amazon page if that's easier.

9. Novium Hoverpen 2.0

If your PhD advisor loves physics, astronomy, space, or technology then they will definitely appreciate having this on their desk. It’s a high-end refillable magnetic pen that hovers perfectly at an angle using magnets on all sides. The Novium Hoverpen 2.0 even spins in place for a mesmerizing power move when a student comes to office hours. 

10. Personal Aeropress or Pour-Over Coffeemaker

If the office coffee is notoriously bad, the professor would definitely enjoy having a private stash and means to make single cups. I own both of these and use them all the time. The Aeropress makes the quickest, easiest single-cup you’ll find. You just need a way to heat up the water and a stash of their small round filters. There’s even a whole ecosystem of organizers for the Aeropress like this little bamboo desktop cabinet .  A Chemex Pour-over is good for 2-3 cup batches but takes a little more time and effort. 

11. Canvas Reusable Lunch Bag

For the professor who cares about conservation and sustainability, a top-notch reusable lunch bag will be a perfect fit . It’s double-stitched for strength, waterproof, and has no tiny pieces that could break off. Simple, casual, and sustainable. It’s always going to be appreciated. 

12. Scientist Quote Desktop Canvas

We're super proud of our little series of famous scientist quotes on canvas prints . These are 5"x7" and sit up easily on their own or can be mounted to a wall. This one sits next to me as I write, and helps me keep a sense of humility as I explore the unknown! 

13. Rat mood chart canvas print

Anyone who works with "rodent models" knows the struggle. Our Rat Mood Chart canvas print is a funny-but-sad-but-true representation of the what these little heroes go through in the name of science. 

14. Professor Gift Bundle

If you can't decide by now, I can still help! Consider this decision made. I put together a Professor/PhD Advisor Gift Bundle just to make it easy for you. The gift set includes the Pocket tool and Word Magnets from above, plus a few fun science stickers. You'll save over 20% by bundling them together, so consider this decision made!

• The Pocket Scientist ruler and equation reference
• Academia Word Magnets
• Science Basics Word Magnets
• Starter Word Magnets (144 tiles of connector words)
• Marie Curie sticker
• Science is for Everyone sticker
• Einstein quote sticker

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS):

What is the best gift for professors and phd advisors.

It can be quite a daunting task to find one in this vast sea of products where there’s just no shortage of options. However, you’re in for a treat as we’ve handpicked them for you:

• The Pocket Scientist pocket ruler and equation reference
• Physics Word Magnets for the fridge or office decor
• Rocketbook Beacons to digitize their white board
• Funny Coaster set for Teachers and Professors
• Wireless Laser pointer and Powerpoint presenter
• Smart Coffee Mug Warmer
• Kensington Ergonomic Vertical Wireless Mouse
• Pocket Protector for lab coats
• Novium Hoverpen 2.0
• Personal Aeropress or Pour-over Coffee Maker
• Canvas Reusable Lunch Bag
• Scientist Quote Desktop Canvas
• Rat Mood Chart Canvas Print
• Professor Gift Bundle

Derek Miller

Gifts Lists by Major

Scientist Gifts

Astrophysics Gifts

Biology Gifts

Biochemistry Gifts

Chemistry Gifts

Ecology Gifts

Geology Gifts

Genetics Gifts

Immunology Gifts

Mathematics Gifts

Marine Biology Gifts

Neuroscience Gifts

Microbiology Gifts

Pharmacy Student Gifts

Physics Teacher Gifts

Physicist Gifts

Chemistry Teacher Gifts

Professor and PhD Advisor Gifts

Graduate and PhD Student Gifts

Women in Science Gifts

Science Teacher Gifts

Biology Teacher Gifts

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• Graduation gifts

The 34 Best Gifts for College Graduates

By Samantha Schoech and Mari Uyehara

Off comes the cap and gown and on comes the daunting task of being an adult. For the college graduate, that usually entails starting a job and moving into their own place. But it can also mean traveling or moving home to figure out next steps. Whatever their path, help them celebrate this next stage and set them up for success with gifts that are both fun and useful.

An illustrated campus

GArtgraphy Custom University Campus Illustration

Printed on museum-grade paper with archival ink, this nostalgic illustration is available for more than 300 colleges and universities.

Buying Options

Saying goodbye to college can be tough, but you can memorialize your grad’s time there with a GArtgraphy Custom University Campus Illustration , available on Etsy. The vendor offers designs, created by artist Joshua Grey, for more than 300 colleges and universities of a smattering of iconic campus buildings with the name of the school at the bottom. Just ping the seller to find out if the school you want illustrated is available. The two-tone artwork is printed with archival ink on museum-grade, semigloss paper in your choice of four sizes and either framed or loose.

Travel inspo

Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When

This visual travel guide suggests events and destinations for every month of the year. It’s as much an inspiration as it is a planner.

If the grad in your life is chomping at the bit to see the world, help them out with Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When . While the internet is teeming with all kinds of travel advice, it’s often unwieldy and overwhelming. This book is tidily organized by month, so your grad can just flip to their intended travel month to figure out what destinations might be best—such as wandering through Iran’s ancient ruins in June or trekking through Montenegro in July. Each month also categorizes potential trips by budget (vital for many young travelers), lists major cultural events around the world, and includes fun travel flow charts of possible itineraries.

Party plates

Poketo Bamboo Salad Plate Set

Available in beautiful abstract shapes and rotating patterns, these nonplastic, durable dishes do scratch easily.

Sure, the grad may do a boring stock-up trip to IKEA for their first apartment, but that doesn’t mean they have to be bound to all-white plates. One of our favorite outdoor dinner sets , the Poketo Bamboo Plates (Set of Four) come in five cheery and colorful designs, with fun graphic shapes and lovely, modern colors. They’re made from certified organic bamboo fiber and cornstarch and printed with food-grade ink. Best of all: Unlike some other bamboo plates, these are dishwasher-safe.

A bracelet with meaning

GracePersonalized Hammered Handwriting Cuff Bracelet

A high-res scan of a handwritten message is engraved on the inside of a dainty cuff, available in a range of affordable metals.

It can be tough to find the right moment to communicate sentimental thoughts with young adults. The GracePersonalized Hammered Handwriting Cuff Bracelet will do the job for you in your own handwriting. Choose from sterling silver, 18-karat rose or yellow gold vermeil and send along a photo of your handwritten message (up to seven words). The company will engrave your message as you’ve written it onto the inner or outer side of the bracelet.

A tough luggage tag

Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag

Rugged silicone and a metal cable mean this tag (which comes two to a pack) may well outlive your luggage. The brightly colored case displays its owner’s name but keeps other personal information out of sight.

Cash or travel gift cards (those from Delta and Hilton don’t expire) might be the most helpful gesture for a young adult. But you can gift yours with a small token, too, namely our pick for best luggage tag for a grad with wanderlust. The Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag has a sturdy silicone body outfitted with a metal grommet and cable to prevent any ripping. And its narrow window only makes the name visible, so your young adult won’t be flashing their contact information to any strangers on the go.

A TikTok-famous tote

Longchamp Le Pliage Original L Tote Bag

This roomy, lightweight bag packs up small when not in use, and the tough nylon is easy to clean and protects its contents from most scuffs.

This preppy cult classic is undergoing a youth revival on TikTok . And why not? The Longchamp Le Pliage Original Tote Bag is lightweight, roomy, and supremely versatile—useful for a new job, weekend errands, or the beach. It’s also one of our top picks for personal-item carry-ons . Created in 1993 by the luxury French brand, its origami-like design can be packed into a neat square (pliage translates to “fold”), barely taking up any space in the cramped closet of a new studio apartment. Made of recycled polyamide canvas coated on the inside for extra protection, its sturdy nylon body easily wipes clean, and its rolled leather straps sit comfortably, without cutting, on shoulders. Though the Le Pliage tote has only one small interior pocket for keys and lip balm, it has a zippered top with a foldover leather snap enclosure, which keeps wallets safe while bopping around cities, near and far.

Portable drinks

RTIC Soft Pack Cooler 20 Can

This simple lunch-box-style cooler, made from a durable coated nylon, is insulated with thick closed-cell foam.

For a future of newfound freedom and responsibility (hopefully), the RTIC Soft Pack Cooler 20 Can — our favorite soft cooler —has grads covered for beach days, road trips, park hangs, and tailgates. With thick walls and a lid constructed with more than 2 inches of closed-cell foam (an efficient but more-expensive insulator), this cooler can keep drinks and other items cold for up to 24 hours. From an earthy brown to a dusty pink, it has 11 colors to suit a variety of styles, and the cooler’s tough, thickly coated nylon is waterproof.

A glittery coin purse

Rose and Rose Boutique Metallic Leather Coin Pouch

About the size of a deck of cards, this affordable, soft leather pouch has three compartments, and it’s handmade in Italy in more than 20 sparkly colors.

Entry into adulthood doesn’t mean living in shades of gray. Handmade in Italy, the Rose and Rose Boutique Metallic Leather Coin Pouch comes in more than 20 glittery hues: hot pink, denim blue, and emerald green, among them. The 4-by-3-inch coin purse has three compartments, and its leather is supremely soft. It’s also available in a larger size measuring 6 by 4 inches, which can hold unfolded bills. Staff writer Samantha Schoech has one for herself and uses it every day; her high school teenage twins approve.

Expanding horizons

Penny Bee Art World Push Pin Map

Printed on unbleached cotton canvas with a foam-board backing, this handsome, hand-drawn, personalized world map comes with your choice of pins (gold, wood, or multicolor).

Before they’re (likely) yoked with pets, house upkeep, or kids of their own, young adults have more flexibility to see the world. Encourage them to look beyond their borders with this World Push Pin Map , available on Etsy, a hand-drawn black sketch of the world printed on unbleached cotton canvas. You can select the size, MDF wood frame, and one of eight pin options (gold, wooden, multicolored). There’s also a personalization box in the upper right corner, in which you can send text via Etsy and the maker will respond with a proof for approval before printing.

Easier packing

State Bags Bensen Toiletry Kit

This bag opens flat and offers organizational options (including a detachable pouch, handy for quick trips) that should work for light and heavy packers alike.

The proud owner of a college diploma should also be the proud owner of an actual toiletries bag—not a grimy ziplock bag. This hangable canvas State Bags Bensen Toiletry Kit is one of our picks for a host of functional reasons, and it looks great, particularly in the metallic pink . The two roomy mesh pouches (big enough for a regular bottle of shampoo or a canister of shaving cream) make it easy to see what they have inside, and the small snap-off pouch allows them to take necessities on the go.

A forever tool

Leatherman Skeletool CX

Even the repair-impaired need a good basic tool. Smaller and lighter than the original Leatherman multi-tool, our favorite version has a sharp knife, a few other necessities, and a 25-year warranty.

Set them up for a life of self-sufficiency with our pick for best multi-tool . The Leatherman Skeletool CX is a classic, worn on the belts of many a handy person. This lighter model is a fantastic starter tool, with a sharp knife, needle-nose pliers, a wire cutter, a bottle opener, two Phillips screwdrivers, two flat screwdrivers, and a carabiner clip—and it fits comfortably in your pocket. It’s backed by a 25-year warranty, and our testers have been using theirs for a decade with no sign of breakdown.

Vegan messenger bag

Matt & Nat Martel Vegan Messenger Bag

This sleek and simple vegan messenger bag is roomy and professional without being stodgy.

May be out of stock

It’s time to chuck the worn-out college backpack for something a little sleeker. This canvas Matt & Nat Martel Vegan Messenger Bag is low profile and professional but not briefcase-level stuffy. It’s one of our favorite messenger bags , and our testers noted a roomy interior with space for a laptop plus the collection of other daily essentials like water bottles and lunch bags. Note that taller or broader grads might not find the 50-inch strap long enough to wear crossbody comfortably; it is removable, though, and the bag has a handle.

A lifetime of learning

MasterClass

With more than 180 classes to choose from, topics ranging from business to screenwriting, and instructors such as Amy Poehler and Tony Hawk, this is the best online platform for a lifetime of continuing ed.

Your recent college grad most likely needs a break from macroeconomics and the 18th-century novel, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to learn songwriting from Alicia Keys or study photography with Annie Leibovitz. A year’s subscription to the online learning platform MasterClass is about $120 and will enable your grad to explore new subjects and learn from the best. It offers filmmaking with Martin Scorsese, beat making with Timbaland, philosophy with Cornel West, and 180 other classes to choose from.

The gift of good advice

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice from Dear Sugar

A collection of smart, funny, and deeply compassionate advice columns from best-selling author Cheryl Strayed.

Before Cheryl Strayed became famous for her memoir, Wild , she wrote an advice column on the website The Rumpus using the pseudonym Dear Sugar that quickly became a full-blown phenomenon. Tiny Beautiful Things , a collection of the best Dear Sugar columns, was first published 10 years ago and recently reissued as a special edition with additional columns. What makes this book so beloved is Strayed’s heartfelt, honest, and compassionate advice on everything from art and self-discovery to sex and relationships. A TV show based on the book is on Hulu, too.

Endless dumplings

MìLà VIP Soup Dumpling Club

This subscription delivers two bags of delectable frozen Chinese soup dumplings and a jar of sauce every two months and comes out to about $5 per meal.

As graduates wean themselves off the dining-hall meal plan and late night takeout, a subscription to MìLà’s VIP Soup Dumpling Club would be welcome. The Seattle-based company ships two bags of frozen soup dumplings plus sauce in dry ice every two months. The resulting 100 dumplings are juicy, pillowy, and flavorful, and nothing like grocery store options. You have the choice to add a bamboo steamer included in the first shipment; it makes steaming them up easier, but each bag also contains paper liners that will prevent the dumplings from sticking to metal steamer baskets, too.

The best travel backpack

REI Co-op Ruckpack 60+ Recycled Travel Pack (Men’s)

Our favorite travel backpack is roomy, comfortable, and rugged. With its removable daypack, it’s the only luggage your new grad will need for wandering the world.

REI Co-op Ruckpack 60+ Recycled Travel Pack (Women’s)

Our runner-up travel backpack is perfect for the graduate planning a grand tour after matriculating. The REI Co-op Ruckpack 60+ Recycled Travel Pack has a spacious interior, a tough exterior, a removable daypack, comfortable, adjustable straps and a hip belt, and even a laptop sleeve (which could alternately be used as a hydration reservoir). It’s too big for carrying-on, especially with strict European airlines, but with the zip-off daypack it’s pretty much all you need for a longer journey. Note that the men’s and women’s versions have the same capacity but are built for different torso lengths.

Tools for adulting

Anvil Homeowner’s Tool Set

This set has all the essentials in a small package at a reasonable price, making it the best choice for common home repairs and upgrades.

You’re not really a grown-up until you have the tools (and bare-minimum skills) to put together your own furniture and hang your own art. Buy your grad a toolkit and save them the stress: The basic Anvil Homeowner’s Tool Set has all the essentials in a small package and at a great price, which is why it’s been our favorite for years. Not only is the set particularly compact—excellent for small new digs—but it has a wide range of bits and handy clamps, and each tool has a steady, solid handfeel.

Give them a charge

TravelCard Plus

This 2.7-ounce power bank has a powerful USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C, and Lightning cables; it charges a little more slowly than bulkier power banks, but it’s portable and light.

Since we rely on our phones for nearly everything these days, being caught with a dead battery is a real bummer. Make sure the grad in your life has a little extra power in their pocket. We picked this charger , the TravelCard Plus , because it’s compact and lightweight, so it’s easier to actually carry around every day. Plus it comes in a variety of colors.

Alma mater medallion

Kyle Cavan College Sunburst Necklace

These school-specific sunburst medallion charms are available in three metals, but not every college is represented.

If your grad loved college, the Kyle Cavan College Sunburst Necklace would be a welcome and sentimental gift. At the time of publication, the jeweler offers over 120 school seals—the list skews a little East Coast—engraved in three finishes including sterling silver, Cavan gold (gold-plated sterling silver), and 14k gold. The charms look expensive and hold up well, even with daily wear.

Our favorite mental health app offers guided meditations aimed at relieving stress, insomnia, and even trauma.

Moving on from their comfortable campus, established friends, and familiar routine, some grads may find themselves a little more stressed than usual. Help them find a little calm with a year-long membership to our top-pick meditation app , Headspace . It has a wonderful selection of courses that aim to combat stress and insomnia, as well as several meditations with goals especially useful for grads, like managing work stress and improving creativity.

Chic luggage

Away The Carry-On

This chic-looking and resilient piece of hard-sided luggage has top-of-the-line components, including shockingly smooth-rolling wheels.

For academic conferences, business trips, or leisure travel, your graduate will need proper luggage. We have many great picks for carry-on backpacks , carry-on suitcases , and duffles . But our travel team deems this sleek Away The Carry-On well worth the hype . The durable polycarbonate hardshell case weighs only 7.6 pounds and has the best 360-degree rollers of any suitcase we tested. The 40-liter carry-on (enough room for three to five days away) comes with an ejectable, TSA-approved USB charger that can charge your phone up to four times, a laundry bag, a built-in combination lock (also TSA approved), and, best of all, a lifetime warranty. Away suitcases are available in four sizes for those taking longer trips.

A gentle alarm clock

Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520

A kinder, gentler alarm clock that starts with a sunrise-like glow before emitting one of five non-jarring sound options.

Everyone knows it’s hard to get up early and head to work. Ease your grad’s morning struggle with a sunrise alarm clock . In contrast to the soul-crushing buzz of a regular alarm clock, this Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520 wakes your grad up with an ersatz sunrise designed to resemble a bright day. When the Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light reaches the zenith of its brightness, it emits one of five nonaggressive alarm options, such as chirping birds or gentle piano music. And in the evening, it creates a faux sunset to help your graduate wind down.

Espresso at home

Nespresso Essenza Mini

The Essenza Mini makes the same espresso as more-expensive Nespresso machines but has a smaller footprint and no unnecessary features.

Our coffee-obsessed testers concluded that the Nespresso Essenza Mini  is the simplest and most affordable way to make ristrettos, espressos, and lungos at home. The lack of bells and whistles is a big part of its charm and makes the learning curve next to nothing. We also love its small footprint. It uses Nespresso coffee pods, but if your grad wants to branch out and explore the world of coffee, it’s also compatible with pods from brands like Lavazza and Starbucks.

Grown-up sheets

Brooklinen Classic Percale Core Sheet Set

Crisp and cool, these percale sheets feel lovely against the skin. The sharp prints change every few months and suit a range of styles.

It’s time to graduate out of those dorm-room twin XLs and into a proper adult bed with proper adult sheets. If they prefer soft, cool, crisp sheets, the Brooklinen Classic Percale Core Sheet Set , one of our top printed-sheet picks , are a great bet. The set comes with a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. You can also upgrade to the Classic Percale Hardcore Sheet Bundle , which adds a duvet cover and two extra pillowcases to the mix. Another bonus: Brooklinen sheets are Oeko-Tex certified to be free of harmful substances.

Roommate-proof drinking glasses

Duralex Multicolor Picardie Tumblers

We love the refined look and feel of these classic French bistro-style glasses. They occasionally stick together when stacked, but the colors are a joy.

Yes, your graduate can continue drinking from the assorted mugs and Mason jars they’ve spent years accumulating. However, the more adult option is to use a proper set of glasses. A bistro classic, the stackable Duralex Multicolor Picardie Tumblers (our upgrade pick in our drinking glass guide ) now come in six fun colors. Made by the French manufacturing company that actually invented the glass tempering process, they’re dishwasher safe, can hold warm and cold drinks, and they’re durable enough to hold up against careless roommates.

Smoothie maker

NutriBullet Pro 900

Powerful, easy to use, and convenient, this personal blender encourages nutrition and saves time.

For a quick, delicious breakfast that can be consumed on the go, it’s hard to beat making your own smoothie. The NutriBullet Pro 900 can turn fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables into a smooth, blended treat, and its travel lid lets you easily take your breakfast with you. Even after testing the many NutriBullet models available, we determined that the Pro 900 should remain our top pick as the best personal blender for its powerful motor, convenient design, and low price. And compared with a full-size blender , it is much easier to clean and doesn’t take up nearly as much space in a shared kitchen.

A grown-up wallet

Leatherology Thin Bifold Wallet

A good wallet is a grown-up essential, and this one is classic, well made, and constructed from nice, pliable leather. You can even get it engraved.

It’s not a cashless society yet. With a slim wallet , your grad won’t have to sacrifice precious space in their bag or pocket. We suggest many excellent picks in our guide, but for a classic look that matches most styles, the Leatherology Thin Bifold Wallet is easy to slide cards in and out of, it features pliable leather, and you can even get it monogrammed.

Noise-cancelling headphones

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

The Bose 700 over-ear headphones deliver excellent noise cancellation in a comfortable, lightweight design that’s traveler friendly—but they carry a high price.

Plucked from the idyllic woods of their sprawling campus and thrust into the chaos of city life, your graduate will be grateful to receive a pair of top-of-the-line headphones. Our top pick , the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 , is a wireless pair that gets 20 hours of use on a single charge and lets your giftee enjoy music and movies without disturbing a roommate.

A bento lunch box

Takenaka Bento Bite Dual

This adaptable, multi-compartment bento box makes packing a lunch easy (and, weirdly, more fun). They are microwave- and dishwasher-safe and come in many adorable colors, but they are not for liquids.

Without their dining-hall meal plan, your college grad is in for a rude awakening if they try to eat lunch out every day. Save them the struggle by encouraging packed lunches in an adorable bento box . The Takenaka Bento Bite Dual ’s microwave- and dishwasher-safe compartments offer infinite snack storage options. And its geometric shape and poppy colors are so cute that your grad might even look forward to using it. But be warned: Staff writer Dorie Chevlen has used hers for about three years and learned the hard way that it’s no good for transporting liquids. Think sandwiches, not saucy dishes.

A backpack upgrade

Everlane The ReNew Transit Backpack

A sleek and secure laptop backpack that’s high on style. For its relatively low price, we were impressed by its quality build.

A laptop backpack is the best bet for a grad who needs to look professional but prefers toting their stuff hands free. Everlane’s The ReNew Transit Backpack has sleek lines and a low-profile shape, so it won’t be bulky on a rush-hour train. We also love that it’s water resistant, has all-metal hardware, and keeps their computer in a pocket right up against their back for extra security. This option is perhaps less durable than some of our other heavy-duty laptop backpack picks, but for price and style, it’s a clear winner.

More than a timekeeper

Apple Watch Series 9

The Apple Watch Series 9 has a large, bright screen, it’s plenty fast for apps, and it includes some health-related features that the less expensive models don’t.

Free Target Circle membership required

Giving someone a watch for graduation is a classic idea for a reason: It’s a sophisticated accessory they can wear to work, and the relentless passage of time is now vital for them to track. The smartwatch has gone from futuristic to omnipresent, and one that syncs to their phone is an even more useful gift for this brave new world. It can show the wearer who’s calling or texting, track their fitness, and control their other smart-home devices. For iPhone owners, we recommend the Apple Watch Series 9 ; for Android owners, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 .

All the news that’s fit to print

The New York Times Gift Subscription

The best way to stay informed is with a paper of record. We like the New York Times, but a subscription to any reputable paper is a great gift.

Part of being a real adult is being informed on what’s going on in the world: Your graduate needs a subscription to a reputable daily paper (a paper of record, if you will). You can’t go wrong with a New York Times Gift Subscription ; The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post would also be great bets.

Weighted comfort

Baloo Weighted Blanket

At a comfortable 12 pounds, this weighted blanket feels calming and soothing and is supremely soft. Plus the cushy cover is machine washable.

As your graduate leaps from the comforts of their campus into the cold reality of the working world, they need all the coziness and comfort they can get. We love the 12-pound Baloo Weighted Blanket , one of our favorites out of the 19 we tested . Soft and sturdy, it feels like a combination of a quilt and a comforter. It’s one of the only machine-washable blankets we recommend, and it comes with a lifetime guarantee on materials and workmanship.

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend .

This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.

Meet your guides

Samantha Schoech

Except for the time she gave a boyfriend her mother’s old toaster for Christmas, staff writer Samantha Schoech has a reputation as an excellent gift giver. She lives in San Francisco with two teens, two cats, a geriatric betta fish, and a bookseller husband. Her first book of short stories, My Mother’s Boyfriends, is coming out in 2024.

Mari Uyehara

Mari Uyehara is a staff writer for Wirecutter’s gifts team. She was previously an editor at GQ, Saveur, and Vice, and she won a 2019 James Beard Award for her column on American cooking in Taste. The daughter of a potter, she has long been a believer in the power of a well-made thing.

Mentioned above

• From festive melamine and bamboo plates to classic enamelware, our favorite outdoor tableware pieces are perfect for outdoor dining. The Best Outdoor Dinnerware  
• We chose five luggage tags that will help you identify your belongings in a sea of similar suitcases. The Best Luggage Tags  
• There’s more to a great in-flight personal item than being small enough to stuff under a plane seat. Here’s how to choose the right one for your travel needs. The Best Underseat Luggage and Personal-Item Bags  
• After years of research and gallons upon gallons of melted ice, we have picks for hard and soft coolers, plus backpack and high-end roto-molded options. The Best Coolers  
• After stuffing, shaking, and dunking 23 toiletry bags, we chose six that can serve as your bathroom-in-a-bag in many travel scenarios. Here's what we recommend. The Best Toiletry Bags  
• Here’s our advice on multi-tools, the all-in-one problem-solvers. The Best Multi-Tool  

Further reading

The 27 Best High School Graduation Gifts

by Samantha Schoech

And just like that, the kid you love is all grown up! Honor your beloved high school graduate with our favorite practical, special, and, yes, cool gifts.

The 57 Best Gifts Under $50

The very best of our favorite finds under $50, all in one place.

The 55 Best Gifts Under $25

We firmly believe gifts don’t have to be pricey to be stylish, useful, surprising, and delightful.

The 20 Best Gifts for Bridesmaids

by Hannah Morrill and Mari Uyehara

They’ve given you a lifetime of companionship, love, and support. Thank your ladies with these thoughtful and useful gifts.

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Credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins community celebrates transformative financial aid gift for medical and graduate students

Hopkins faculty and students share their excitement about bloomberg philanthropies' landmark $1 billion investment in future generations of doctors, nurses, and research pioneers.

By Hub staff report

This story will be updated throughout the day as members of the Hopkins community share additional reactions to the momentous gift.

The $1 billion gift announced today from Bloomberg Philanthropies to support medical and graduate education at Johns Hopkins University is eliciting great joy and deep appreciation from faculty, students, and alumni.

The transformative gift will make the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine tuition-free for medical students from families that earn up to $300,000 and will cover living expenses and fees for medical students from families that earn up to $175,000, a threshold that includes the vast majority of families in the U.S. Nearly two-thirds of current and entering medical students at Johns Hopkins will immediately qualify for either free tuition or free tuition plus living expenses.

In addition to investing in future generations of doctors, the $1 billion endowment from Bloomberg Philanthropies will support leaders in other critical health-related fields through increased graduate financial aid in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Nursing , and it will expand aid for graduate degrees offered by the Johns Hopkins schools of Education , Engineering , Business , Arts and Sciences , and Advanced International Studies ; the Peabody Institute ; and the newly announced School of Government and Policy . The gift also will support the development of a new program to draw impact-focused interdisciplinary leaders into the worlds of research, industry, and government through innovations in PhD education and training.

In a message sent to the Hopkins community, JHU President Ron Daniels celebrated the gift's impact on reducing financial barriers to advanced degrees.

"Extraordinary talent resides in every community and with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, yet the destructive burden of debt has long been a barrier to pursuing a medical education," Daniels wrote. "This barrier is particularly daunting for students from low-income and middle-class families, who are too often dissuaded from even considering a career in medicine or research. By reducing financial obstacles to individual opportunity, we can open our doors more widely than ever and fuel the excellence, innovation, and discoveries that redound to the benefit not only of the students but of society as a whole."

Below are additional reactions from around Johns Hopkins.

A true gift to support the future of medicine

Katherine Chretien , associate dean for medical student affairs and director of medical student wellness, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

The impact that this tremendous gift will have on our medical students and their trajectories cannot be understated. Financial strain is a huge stressor for students, and we know from studies that medical students who are financially underresourced experience greater rates of burnout and loneliness and are both academically and socially disadvantaged compared to those with greater financial resources. As we have worked steadfastly as a school to improve equity and resources to support socioeconomic diversity over the past years, this gift will propel us toward reaching that goal. Our students are incredible! In my role, I have the immense privilege to know their inspiring stories, help them navigate challenges along their journeys, and improve their student experience, and I am overjoyed to know that we can alleviate financial burdens that weigh on so many. Financial well-being is well-being—this is!

The @WashingtonPost shows how @BloombergDotOrg 's newest gift to reduce student debt for @JohnsHopkins medical students will help ensure better health outcomes - and that future doctors reflect the diversity of patients they treat. https://t.co/UUwohEKkbH — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) July 8, 2024

New opportunities for future leaders

Joshua Sharfstein , vice dean for public health practice and communication engagement at the Bloomberg School of Public Health

This gift will have an enormous impact at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, supporting students pursuing the Master of Science in Public Health. By offering new need-based scholarships, the school can broaden opportunities for future leaders who want to improve life expectancy and health in the U.S. and around the world.

Image caption: Albert Holler

Image credit : Mike Ciesielski for Johns Hopkins University

Relief from the burden of student loans

Albert Holler, BSPH '22 (MPH), Med '24 (MD), internal medicine resident at the Osler Medical Residency

I got an incredible full cost-of-attendance scholarship [Holler received a full cost-of-attendance scholarship thanks to another donor]. It allowed me to choose the best school, purely on its merit alone. I think it's really important to have socioeconomic diversity in medical schools. I don't have anyone in my family who is a physician, and my family doesn't have a lot of money, which is not a typical case in terms of medical students. Recruiting students who don't have those kinds of typical advantages is extremely important for patient care. Especially training in Baltimore, I've been able to be a big asset to patients who are undocumented. Just this morning I was able to speak to a patient in my clinic face to face, without a translator or interruptions. It's important for the patient-provider connection. Speaking in their native language seems to let them take a deep breath and relax, removing one of the many barriers that already exist for these patients.

Freedom for grad students to concentrate on their studies

Jennifer Lee-Summers , senior associate dean for Women in Science and Medicine in the Office of Faculty at the School of Medicine

I worked extra jobs while I was a medical student at Johns Hopkins to help pay for expenses. When my clinical rotation schedule became too demanding, I had to sign out additional loans to pay my rent and buy groceries. I remember the stress of knowing I would have to somehow pay these loans back. I wanted to be a pediatrician for low-income families, but I knew that I would struggle for decades to pay back these loans unless I instead took a job with higher salary. This gift will take these worries away for our future Johns Hopkins medical students. We become physicians and scientists to serve society and make people's lives better. With this incredible gift, students will be able to concentrate on their studies. They can choose their jobs based on their desire and motivation to care for specific patient populations. This gift will move us toward equity in medicine and support students from all socioeconomic backgrounds in reaching their full potential.

To recap some of the recent gifts made to Johns Hopkins University by Bloomberg Philanthropies: $1.8B to make Hopkins undergrad education loan-free $1.0B to make Hopkins medical education debt-free $150M to support PhD students in STEM from HBCUs and minority-serving unis. pic.twitter.com/0tUmniKcO0 — Denis Wirtz (@deniswirtz) July 8, 2024

A boost for classrooms around the world

Christopher Morphew , dean of the School of Education

This gift is a game-changer for the School of Education and our flagship Doctor of Education (EdD) program. It will enable more of our students to benefit from our unique curriculum, to graduate with less debt, and to move more quickly into impactful roles in learning environments across the country and around the world.

Opening doors for a new generation of business leaders

Alexander Triantis , dean of the Carey Business School

At Carey Business School, we train our graduates to build for what's next whether it is transforming the business of health or converting discoveries into innovative products and services. The generosity of Bloomberg Philanthropies will help us make business education even more accessible to a new generation of bold leaders.

Making dreams come true for first-gen students

Mohammad E. Allaf, Med '00 (MD) , director of the Department of Urology and the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins

As a first-generation American and the first in my family to attend medical school, I know firsthand the immense financial burden that medical education can place on families. Without the financial aid I received at Johns Hopkins, pursuing my dream of becoming a physician would have been impossible. This transformational gift will ease this burden for many families and empower future medical students to reach their full potential. Freed from resource insecurity, students can now focus on their education and go on to advance medical science, education, and patient care, just as I have been able to do in my role as director of Urology here at Johns Hopkins.

Wow! Maybe my daughter can be there in 4 years! 🤔She participated in a #premed camp for high schoolers in 2022. pic.twitter.com/r0tXNOPrNY — Bridget Lewis (@bridgetsl) July 8, 2024

An appreciation for diverse perspectives

Risha Irvin , director of the Health Equity Program at Johns Hopkins Health System and an associate professor, in the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine

This gift is not only transformative for the student but also transformative in our pursuit of health equity. It will allow students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to choose Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for their medical training without worrying about how they will finance their education. Enriching our class further with a full spectrum of socioeconomic backgrounds provides a space where diverse perspectives can be shared and appreciated. This translates into empathy for the lived experiences of both colleagues and patients. When we can increase our empathy for the lived experience of others, we can create solutions to improve barriers to care.

Drawing bright minds and fresh perspectives to public health

David Dowdy , BSPH '02 (ScM), Med '06 (MD), BSPH '08 (PhD), executive vice dean for Academic Affairs, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The future of public health depends on our ability to recruit the brightest minds into the field, at an early stage of their careers—and give those students real-world experience in public health practice. The MSPH program at the Bloomberg School is ideally positioned to fill this need, and this forward-thinking scholarship program will enable us to recruit a diverse, talented group of scholars who can contribute to improve life expectancy trends in the United States and worldwide.

Improved health outcomes for socially marginalized groups

Lisa Cooper , Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and founder of the Center for Health Equity

The new gift to Hopkins from Bloomberg Philanthropies not only invests in the next generations of doctors, it also helps efforts to close enormous health disparities by race, income, and geography in our country. Extensive research, including my own, shows that when there is a more diverse medical workforce, patients overall, but especially those from socially marginalized groups, have better access to care and are more likely to participate in decisions about their care, take their medications as prescribed, and have lower death rates.

A student body that mirrors patient diversity

Nathan Irvin , assistant professor of emergency medicine, who was a first-generation student

This gift will be transformational in eliminating barriers to accessing a world-class education at Johns Hopkins. It will enable us to welcome students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and geographic areas, creating a student body that mirrors the diversity of the patients we serve daily. The gift will help us matriculate future leaders of medicine who will advance our health equity goals and enrich our learning community with varied perspectives and lived experiences. I hope it will inspire students to pursue a career in medicine based on their passions and aspirations, granting them the freedom to commit their talents to addressing health care needs in diverse communities across the nation and world, free from the burden of student debt that often influences career decisions.

What a generous gift from @MikeBloomberg to @JohnsHopkins , targeted to benefit all future medical students as well as graduate students across multiple programs https://t.co/crZfW0pFUl — Steven Salzberg 💙💛 (@StevenSalzberg1) July 8, 2024

New opportunities in public health for innovative thinkers

Ellen J. MacKenzie , BSPH '75 (ScM), '79 (PhD), dean, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Today's public health problems are complex, and we need ambitious, well-trained professionals who are committed to thinking big as they work to help their communities and create positive change around the world. This need-based scholarship program will expand access to the Master of Science in Public Health, broadening opportunities for students who are poised to be among the next generation of public health leaders.

A more inclusive medical workforce

Deidra C. Crews , a health equity expert and professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

In my work with students pursuing medical education who are from socioeconomically under-resourced backgrounds, I have always been struck by the tough decisions they have to make about their futures, all heavily dictated by their own and their family's financial status. These tough decisions, often to delay or forego a career in medicine due to the costs of education, undoubtedly have led us to a physician workforce that is not reflective of the socioeconomically diverse communities we serve which hinders our ability to innovate and tackle profound health inequities. This incredibly generous gift will mean that more of our students can dream bigger about their futures, unencumbered by financial burden, and we can move closer to an inclusive medical workforce.

Charting the future of the PhD

Sabine Stanley , Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Applied Physics Lab; vice provost for graduate and professional education

In addition to supporting graduate students across all our academic divisions, this gift will significantly boost PhD education at Hopkins, allowing us to recruit, support, and train interdisciplinary research leaders who can make major impacts in research, industry, and government. As the first modern American research university and one of the birthplaces of the modern PhD, Hopkins is ideally positioned to lead doctoral education for another 150 years and beyond.

Image caption: Omar Stefano Montalvo

Image credit : Larry Canner for Johns Hopkins University

Gratitude for the vision of Michael Bloomberg

Omar Stefano Montalvo, A&S '23 (Neuroscience and Spanish Language and Literature), who benefited from four years of undergraduate financial aid at Hopkins and is now starting at the School of Medicine on a full cost-of-attendance scholarship

The aid is really important in giving hope to people from backgrounds without a lot of money. Accepting those students is critical for progressing medicine and health care. Most of the patients we will see one day are not wealthy. If anything, they are middle class or lower on the economic spectrum. So having students who have themselves seen economic challenges adds to the learning environment. They can correct misconceptions and lower barriers to care. This gift will help create an environment where more physicians will mirror the type of patient they'll see one day.

I want to thank Mike Bloomberg and his foundation. I couldn't have gone to college [as a Hopkins undergraduate] without their aid. That his foundation is supporting me and my education—that's something I don't think I could ever repay, and I want to express my gratitude for that.

Posted in University News

Tagged philanthropy , michael bloomberg , financial aid , bloomberg philanthropies , graduate education

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$1 billion gift to make Johns Hopkins medical school free for most

The donation from Bloomberg Philanthropies will also expand financial aid for the school’s other graduate programs, including nursing and public health.

A $1 billion gift to Johns Hopkins University from billionaire Mike Bloomberg will make medical school free for most students and increase financial aid for those enrolled in nursing, public health and other graduate programs.

In a Monday letter in the Bloomberg Philanthropies annual report , Bloomberg addressed the dual challenges of declining health and education. The gift marks an emphatic endorsement of the value of higher learning at a time when academia increasingly has been under political attack .

“As the U.S. struggles to recover from a disturbing decline in life expectancy, our country faces a serious shortage of doctors, nurses, and public health professionals — and yet, the high cost of medical, nursing, and graduate school too often bars students from enrolling,” wrote Bloomberg, a 1964 graduate of Johns Hopkins and the founder of the Bloomberg business and financial data news company. “By reducing the financial barriers to these essential fields, we can free more students to pursue careers they’re passionate about — and enable them to serve more of the families and communities who need them the most.”

Starting this fall, Johns Hopkins will offer medical students free tuition — normally about $65,000 a year for four years — if their families earn less than $300,000 a year.

Students from families earning up to $175,000 a year will have living expenses and fees covered as well.

“It’s a full-ride scholarship,” Hopkins President Ronald J. Daniels said. “We see that as a very significant move to ensure that medical education is available to the best and brightest across the country.”

Increases in medical school tuition have outpaced inflation at both public and private institutions, said Holly J. Humphrey, president of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, a nonprofit focused on improving the education of health professionals. There has been a shift in who attends, with an increasing share of students from high-income families and dwindling numbers from lower-income homes.

The median debt from medical school for the class of 2023 was $200,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges .

Too many students don’t even consider medical school because of the cost, said Sanjay Desai, the chief academic officer at the American Medical Association.

Health outcomes are improved, he said, when physicians reflect the diversity of patients they treat. Studies also suggest that students from lower-income backgrounds are more likely to return to underserved communities as doctors.

There are other troubling gaps. The country needs more primary care doctors, Desai said, but student debt can drive people toward more lucrative specialty fields.

“I hope it inspires others to action,” said Desai, who is also a Johns Hopkins faculty member.

The donation brings total giving from Bloomberg Philanthropies to Johns Hopkins University to a staggering $4.55 billion, an infusion of cash that has allowed the school to vault its aspirations and impact in many areas. Affordability has been one major through line: In 2018, Bloomberg, a former mayor of New York and presidential candidate , announced a historic $1.8 billion gift for increased undergraduate financial aid and the promise that admissions decisions would be need-blind going forward. That gift helped spur changes in the student body , which now has more low-income students and greater racial diversity.

Stefano Montalvo benefited from that 2018 donation. He didn’t think he could afford college, but when he left track practice at his rural public high school in New Jersey to check whether he had been accepted into Hopkins, he saw the financial aid offer, with shock: It covered almost the entire cost of attendance.

“I called my mom,” he said, “and we cried on the phone.”

For medical school, which he will begin at Hopkins in the fall, he expected to take on $400,000 in debt. Instead, he learned he will have tuition and cost of living covered. And on Monday, he learned that many of his classmates will, too. “It’s incredible, really,” he said.

The aid is important in giving hope to people from lower-income backgrounds, he said, “and getting those students to school is critical for progressing medicine and health care.”

Most of the patients they will treat won’t be wealthy, he said, so having students who have seen challenges growing up can help inform others about barriers to care and other issues. “In that type of learning environment, we can thrive and create physicians better prepared to deal with the diversity of society today,” he said.

The gift announced Monday is not the first aimed at erasing medical-school tuition costs for students. Earlier this year, a billion-dollar donation to Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York from Ruth Gottesman, the chair of its board of trustees, enabled the school to announce to cheers that fourth-year students would be reimbursed for their spring tuition and that in the future, tuition would be free. New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine announced in 2018 that it would give full-tuition scholarships to all students regardless of financial need, and a $200 million donation last summer ensured that NYU’s second medical school, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, will be tuition-free in perpetuity.

At Hopkins, existing aid has diminished the debts its students carry. In the past academic year, graduates left with an average debt of $105,000, about half the national average, school officials said.

Monday’s announcement will dramatically change that.

Part of the value of the model is its simplicity, Daniels said: Applicants, or students aspiring to one day apply, can clearly see what their total costs would be based on their family’s income, rather than having to wait for acceptance and a financial-aid package from the school.

The donation also will increase graduate financial aid in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Nursing. And it will bump up graduate financial aid at the schools of arts and sciences, advanced international studies, education, engineering, and business; the Peabody Institute; and the forthcoming school of government and policy, which was announced last fall and will be housed in the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington near the Capitol.

Many students at Johns Hopkins have benefited from financial aid donations. Albert Holler, who grew up near Chicago, wanted to be a doctor ever since high school, when a classmate with leukemia died. But with a mother working variously as a hairstylist or waitress or cleaner, and a father juggling two jobs to support the family of five, he assumed he would need to take on enormous debt. After applying to medical schools, he woke up one weekend morning in his undergraduate dorm and, still groggy, opened an email from Hopkins. A dean was offering $90,000 a year in aid, a deal that included the cost of living for four years. Holler texted his dad, wondering if it could be a real offer.

That gift from a donor, he said, “has very much altered the course of my life.”

More students having their costs of medical school covered, he said, would not only help Hopkins attract the best students regardless of their means, but also would be excellent for patient care.

An internal-medicine resident working in Baltimore and planning to become an oncologist, Holler frequently uses the Spanish he learned from his mother and honed by volunteering in health clinics. Now, with a recent influx of people from Central America to Baltimore, he relies on it to understand his patients’ needs. “It also seems to just let them take a deep breath,” he said, “and then have a little more trust.”

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Johns Hopkins Medical Students to Receive Free Tuition After $1 Billion Gift From Bloomberg Philanthropies

The gift will also increase financial aid for students at the university’s nursing school and other graduate schools. Bloomberg Philanthropies announced Monday a $1 billion gift to Johns Hopkins University that will cover the tuition for most of the school’s medical students. Beginning in the fall, tuition will be paid in full for medical students whose families earn less than $300,000. In addition, living expenses and fees will be covered for those whose families earn $175,000 or less. Currently, about two-thirds of all medical students at Johns Hopkins qualify for...

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