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Gift/book idea for niece just starting University

5 replies

Coldaroo · 04/09/2023 14:33

Hello, my 19 year-old niece is starting University to study medicine (not in the UK) and I am looking to send her a gift. She is a very keen reader, and has now started reading in English (which is not her native language), so thinking a book may be best option. The book she is currently reading in English is Normal People by Sally Rooney. She used to be a massive Harry Potter fan when younger, but found those books difficult to read in English. Does anyone have any suggestions for a book that may appeal to her? Or alternatively any gift idea to wish her a good start at University? (Gift would need to be something I can post.)
Thank you!

OP posts:
Coldaroo · 04/09/2023 18:47

Any ideas anyone?

OP posts:
Britpopbaby · 04/09/2023 18:49

Amazon vouchers?

Coldaroo · 04/09/2023 19:21

Thank you, I was hoping for more an object gift, but actually, this may be a good idea. I need to check if there are delivery restrictions to her country.

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AnneButNotHathaway · 05/09/2023 09:04

You can design a printable custom calendar with quotes from her favarotie books or pictures of characters she likes. Could be a desk or a wall calendar, you can leave some space for making notes, etc. Even if she wouldn't use it as an actual calendar (though many people do), it would still be a nice decoration for her room

Dadiotri · 27/08/2026 14:31

Uni lecturer here.
There’s obviously the practical like cutlery, water bottles etc but, to be honest, that can feel a bit boring for you as the buyer.
One of the biggest issues that I see in the first few weeks is obviously “feeling homesick”. People often shrug it off but it is a real thing for students, especially if it’s their first proper time away.
To help, you could maybe get something to remind them of home, like a physical photobook. Actually printed out which feels meaningful as you had to help create it. My friends also got a journal which gets passed around family and friends. People leave notes, advice, recipes etc. They loved making it, so I’ve ordered it today funny enough-Wherever you go, take us with you, on Amazon (bit of a cheesy title). Finally, one way in which I see people cheer up is when they really start to make friends. Why not pay for membership of a society for them? There are so many and not just sport and drama like when I was an Undergraduate. There’s languages, cooking, anime, politics even things like Pokémon societies. That might really help them settle in.
Hope this helps. First time posting on here so a bit nervous about it! Perhaps there’s a Mumsnet Novice society that I could join 😉 Take care

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