Graduation gift ideas
11 November 2026
A good graduation gift marks the achievement and the date, and travels light to wherever they go next. On this page: a real star named for the graduate, with their qualification and the date on a certificate to hang beside the degree.
Why is a named star a good graduation present?
Graduation gifts have an awkward brief. They need to mark years of work, survive a move out of student housing, and not take up space in a car already full of saucepans. A named star is a few sheets of paper and a page online: it weighs nothing and it moves with them. It suits a degree, a doctorate, A-levels, an apprenticeship or any long course finished.
It also keeps the date. A real, catalogued star is recorded in a register under the name you choose, with the day of the registration on the certificate and, if you like, the graduation date and subject in the message. We run two star naming brands, each with its own register, documents and website.
The Star Naming Co.
The Star Naming Co. dedicates a real, catalogued star to the graduate, with your message and the date. Its page on naming a star as a graduation gift has ideas and the full contents.
- Physical Gift Pack. Five A4 documents printed on fine cream stock and posted free in the UK within 24 hours: a name certificate, a welcome letter, a coordinates sheet with a sky chart, the story of the constellation and a sealed extract from the register.
- Digital Gift Pack. The same five to print at home, emailed within minutes, with a live star page and an e-gift reveal, so it works on the day of the ceremony.
- Twin Star Gift Pack. Two neighbouring stars in the same constellation on one landscape certificate, for twins or best friends graduating together.
- For a science graduate. The catalogue reference and coordinates are genuine, so an astronomy or physics graduate can look the star up properly.
Reprint at home, free, for life: if the certificate is lost in a house move, the documents can be printed again.
Intergalactic Star Database
Intergalactic Star Database registers a real star under the name you type, up to 60 characters, printed exactly as written, so letters after their name fit easily. From November 2026 each new star comes from the Hipparcos catalogue with its own Database Number, which brings up the star's page on the star finder, where the certificate and co-ordinates sheet can be printed again. The posted pack holds a Certificate of Registry, a Star Area Co-ordinates Sheet, a welcome letter and a fold-out star chart in a full-colour gift envelope; the print-at-home star is ready as soon as you have paid. Its guide to a star for a graduate includes a house-share idea: up to ten stars in one order, registered side by side.
What should I name a star for a graduate?
- Formal, with letters. Their full name and qualification, or "Dr" for the one who has waited years to use it. Check the exact qualification before anything is printed.
- With the year. Their name and "Class of 2027".
- From the family. A line from parents or grandparents in the message.
- First in the family. A name that says so.
A simple, formal name looks best next to a degree certificate. A funny one goes down better on results day.
Who is a graduation gift for?
- University graduates, from a first degree to a PhD.
- School leavers finishing A-levels or Highers.
- Apprentices and professional qualifications, such as nursing.
- Housemates scattering across the country, with a star each, side by side, as a parting gift.
- A teacher who made a difference, thanked at the end of a course.
When are graduation ceremonies, and when should I order?
Most UK university graduation ceremonies fall in June, July, November and December. Aim to have a posted pack in your hands the week before the ceremony.
| Gift | Timing |
|---|---|
| The Star Naming Co. Physical Gift Pack or Twin Star Gift Pack | Printed and posted within 24 hours, free in the UK |
| Intergalactic Star Database posted gift pack | Usually sent within 24 hours by Royal Mail; allow a few working days, longer around bank holidays |
| The Star Naming Co. Digital Gift Pack | Within minutes, so it works on the day |
| Intergalactic Star Database print-at-home star | Ready as soon as you have paid |
More ideas: birthday gift ideas, gifts for someone who has everything and last-minute gift ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good personal graduation gift?
Something that carries their name and the date of what they achieved, and is easy to take with them when they move. A star named for the graduate, with the qualification in the name or message, does both.
Can I put the graduation date or qualification on the certificate?
Yes. With The Star Naming Co., add the date and degree in the message for the certificate; the registration date is printed too. With Intergalactic Star Database, the name is printed exactly as you type it, up to 60 characters, so letters such as BSc can go in the name.
Will they be able to see the star?
They will be able to find the constellation, but the star itself is too faint for the naked eye and needs binoculars or a telescope and a properly dark sky. The coordinates work in stargazing apps and GoTo telescopes.
Is the star name official?
No. Star naming is a symbolic gift: only the International Astronomical Union assigns official star names, and it does not recognise commercial names. The star is real and catalogued, and the name you choose is recorded in the brand's own register.