Sending money for a graduation gift internationally

Graduating from school, sixth form, or university is a huge milestone – one that deserves to be celebrated. If you have a loved one who has recently graduated, you could be in the market for gift ideas. Sometimes the simplest presents are the best, and for someone facing their next steps, graduation money gifts are a welcome treat.

But there are more creative ways to do things than handing over some notes. In this guide, we look at graduation money gift ideas, covering creative presentation options, UK etiquette, and adding personal touches from overseas.

One of your options is doing things digitally. With a Wise account, you can send money internationally to 140+ countries at the mid-market exchange rate, with no foreign transaction fees if you already have the foreign currency in your account. Or for a low, transparent fee*.

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How much money to give for a UK graduation?

How much money you decide to give is up to you. There are personal factors to consider, like your budget and your relationship with the graduate. How much can you realistically afford to give, without putting yourself out of pocket? Is the person a close member of your family, or a casual friend? Consider these things before deciding the amount to give.

It might sound cliché, but as with any gift, it’s the thought that counts. However much you decide to give, it’s a kind and thoughtful gesture.

General money gifting guide by relationship

There’s no right or wrong amount of money to give. You could use the examples below as a baseline, or talk to friends and family about what to do.

• Close family (parents, grandparents): £100 - £500+
• Aunts, uncles, and close family friends: £50 - £100
• Colleagues, cousins, and casual friends: £25 - £50
• A graduation gift for a friend: £10 - £25

You may feel closer to your friends than family, or have a strong relationship with extended family – so take the guide above with a pinch of salt. Even a heartfelt card and small gesture is a worthy gift.

Alternatively, you could pool money for a joint graduation gift, to take the financial burden off individuals. With the Wise Spend with Others feature, you can all add money to a single group for a joint gift.

Creative graduation money gift ideas

Think beyond money in an envelope if you want to delight your recipient. Given the decline in cash use¹, opting for electronic ways to give money is perfectly acceptable nowadays – and potentially more appreciated. You could use Wise, PayPal, or another method for electronic transfers.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Fun and visual presentations

Take a playful approach to gifting money. Try:

• A book of banknotes: Tuck the cash into the pages of a book relevant to their studies (a cookery book for culinary students, a book of sheet music for musicians)
• A piggybank full of chocolate coins: Give the physical gift of a piggybank full of edible coins, and transfer the actual money digitally to your recipient
• A tissuebox: Instead of tissues, fill it with physical notes (or fake ones, and do a digital transfer for the actual money)
• A money pizza box: No marinara or mozzarella required, just lay out the notes in a circle inside the pizza box
• A money bouquet: Roll the notes into flowers and attach them to stems for a bouquet that won’t wilt (but will make them smile)

Practical and clever ideas

You can combine money gifts with small, practical items. Try one of these options:

• A new wallet or purse: Put cash inside, or an IOU for digital money
• A graduation survival kit: Add essentials like coffee, snacks, and cash rolled into small scrolls, or a note they can ‘cash’ with you for digital money
• An ‘In case of emergency, break glass’ frame: Pick out a picture frame, put some money inside, and provide a toy hammer for ‘emergency’ cash needs
• A rainy day fund: Gift your graduate a new umbrella with some notes tucked inside the folds – just make sure they open it at home the first time!
• A redeemable voucher: Create a voucher or purchase a customisable coupon online for money from you (offer cash or digital transfer)

The right gift depends on the person – though, if they’re living in the UK, an umbrella is guaranteed to come in handy!

Guide to gifting money from abroad as a graduation gift

Gifting cash is easy if you live close to the recipient. But further away from them, you need to give more thought to transporting the gift. And with the addition of shipping costs, and the worry that your gift may not arrive on time (or in one piece), sending money digitally could be a more secure and convenient choice.

Choosing the right way to send your graduation gift

There are plenty of fintech services to choose from if you send digital graduation gift money, such as Wise, Revolut, or Western Union. These are often the cheapest and fastest options, with instant money transfers available in some cases.

PayPal is another option, though currency conversion fees apply, and you may need to pay a fee if you’re transferring overseas.²

Traditional bank and wire transfers might seem like a good, reliable choice, but bear in mind that they’re often slower and could be more expensive due to poor exchange rates and high bank fees.

Opting for a provider that specialises in overseas transfers can help you keep costs down and ensure your graduate sees more of the money.

How to calculate the gift amount in a different currency

The first step is deciding how much you want to send in your currency, and what that equates to for the recipient.

You could start with a ballpark figure in your own currency, for example, $50. Then see what that converts to in GBP, and decide if you’re happy with the amount.

Alternatively, you could decide how much you want to give the recipient in their currency, say, £100, and see how much that converts to in your local currency.

When you calculate the exchange rate, make sure you factor in transfer fees for the final amount. This is why picking a provider with low fees is important. It means your recipient will receive more of the money.

Use the currency converter below to help you work it out, simply change the currency route and amount:

Adding a personal touch from miles away

If you’re concerned that gifting money lacks the personal touch, scheduling a digital card to arrive on the same day, or setting up a video call to congratulate them can help you feel more connected.

There are plenty of online services for sending digital or physical cards, where you can fully customise the design and message. You could send the card a few days in advance, to let your recipient know the gift is on its way.

UK gift etiquette: Cash, cheque, or money transfer?

Once upon a time, cash in a card was the only way to give money. Now, you can choose from digital transfers, cash, cheques, and more.

Here are your options:

• Cash: Perfect for giving in person, at a party or event
• Cheque: A traditional option, and the recipient gets to choose when they cash it
• Bank transfer: Fast, convenient, and common in the UK
• Using a money services provider like Wise: Transfers are fast, often instant (less than 20 seconds), and you can choose from multiple currencies. Great for last-minute and overseas gifts.

Note: Transaction speed claimed depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions.

How to send money as a graduation gift using Wise

Gifting money with Wise is fast and simple. There are plenty of options, and your recipient doesn’t need to have a Wise account to receive the money quickly.

Adding a new ‘send’ recipient

Go to the ‘Send’ section in your Wise account and ‘Add a new recipient’. Then:

1. Select their currency
2. Search their Wisetag, email, or phone number - or add their bank details manually
3. Fill in the details
4. Enter the transfer amount and currency
5. Choose how you’ll pay, review, and send.

Sharing with a link

Sending money can be as simple as sharing a link. Want to send money via a link with Wise? Using the Android app or Wise website, go to your balance and select ‘send’. Then:

1. Click ‘Add a recipient’
2. Select ‘Enter bank details’ after choosing their currency
3. Click ‘Payment link’
4. Choose the currencies and amounts
5. Review, select ‘Confirm and send’
6. A link is generated, ready for you to share with your recipient.

Using your Wisetag

If you set up a personal Wise account with account details, you get access to a Wisetag. This is indicated by an ‘@’ symbol, your name, and a number. Similar to a username on social media.

When you send money, you can choose to send it with someone’s Wisetag and you don’t need their banking details.

Setting up ‘Spend with Others’

In the app or web home screen, head to the ‘New’ or ‘+’ icon, and select ‘Spend with a group’. Follow the instructions, add members to the group, and pool your money for a joint gift.

A gift for their future

They say it’s the thought that counts, so however much you decide to send, and whichever way you choose to send it, your recipient is sure to appreciate the gift.

Get creative with the presentation or use money transfer services to make gifting from abroad simple and personal.

With a Wise account, you get a whole host of money sending options to choose from. Spend with Others for a joint present, use their Wisetag, or generate and send a payment link. The choice is yours!

Whatever method you choose, Wise gives you the mid-market exchange rate and low fees* or no fees if you have already converted the currency in your account and you can send to 140+ countries. So wherever they are, your graduate can keep more of the money and spend it on their future.

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Sources used in this article:

1. UKFinance.org - decline in cash use from ‘UK Cash and Cash Machines report 2024’
2. PayPal - currency conversion fees with PayPal

Sources last checked on 26-Aug-2025