University & college merchandise

Freshers’ fair to graduation, and every open day in between.

Hoodies for the welcome team, tote bags for the freshers’ fair, lanyards for open days and gifts for graduation and alumni events, for universities, FE colleges, students’ unions and apprenticeship providers in all four nations. For students aged 16 and over. From UK-based and European suppliers, delivered to UK addresses.

Choose your sector

  • Quoted in pounds, VAT at 20%
  • A proof before production
  • Delivered to UK addresses

Tap a moment to turn the year.

Kit forUniversities

Welcome packs, open days and the campus shop.

  • Hoodies
  • Tote bags
  • Lanyards
  • Water bottles

Popular for Open days, Freshers’ Week, graduation

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Government & Public Sector

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  • Fire and police authorities
  • Port and harbour authorities
  • Regulators and ombudsmen
  • Public health teams
  • Housing associations
  • Crematoria and bereavement services
  • Trading standards
  • Coroners’ services
  • Planning inspectorates
  • Public bodies and arm’s-length bodies
  • Cadet forces
  • Twinning associations

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    University & education merchandise

    From freshers’ week to graduation day, kit students actually keep.

    Branded merchandise for UK universities, students’ unions, clubs and societies, colleges, language schools, adult education and training providers. Pick a part of the sector below to see what it does, what it usually orders and when, from freshers’ tote bags and society hoodies to open-day pens, graduation gifts and lanyards for every campus. Every order comes with a free mock-up, a proof before production and one quote in pounds, ex VAT.

    Tap a sector to see what it needs

    Also for

    • Medical and nursing schools
    • Law schools
    • Drama and dance schools
    • Agricultural colleges
    • Summer schools
    • Online and distance learning
    • Coding bootcamps
    • Driving and flying schools
    • Music services
    • Professional training bodies
    • Tutoring companies
    • Independent schools’ sixth forms
    • Student radio and media
    • Students’ union shops

    Universities

    Research universities

    What they do

    Research-intensive universities, including the 24 members of the Russell Group such as the University of Edinburgh, Cardiff University and Queen’s University Belfast, run huge events, labs and alumni networks that all carry the crest.

    What they order

      When they order

      Freshers’ week, graduation, open days, alumni events.

      Universities

      Modern and campus universities

      What they do

      Modern, post-1992 and campus universities welcome large first-year intakes, commuter students and mature learners, and use merchandise to build belonging from the first day.

      What they order

        When they order

        Welcome week, open days, graduation.

        Universities

        Specialist institutions

        What they do

        Art schools, conservatoires such as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and agricultural and specialist colleges have small, proud communities and distinctive brands.

        What they order

          When they order

          Degree shows, concerts, open days.

          Student life

          Students’ unions

          What they do

          Students’ unions run freshers’ fairs, welcome weeks, bars, shops and elections, and need branded giveaways, staff T-shirts and ID lanyards in bulk.

          What they order

            When they order

            Freshers’ fair, refreshers in January, elections.

            Student life

            Clubs and societies

            What they do

            Sports clubs, societies and course groups, from rowing and rugby to drama, debating and medicine, order hoodies, team kit and drawstring bags, often paid for by members.

            What they order

              When they order

              Freshers’ fair, varsity season, end-of-year awards.

              Student life

              Halls and student living

              What they do

              University halls and student accommodation providers welcome thousands of new residents each September with welcome packs, mugs and lanyards for reception and resident assistants.

              What they order

                When they order

                Arrivals in September, January starts.

                Student life

                Graduation and alumni

                What they do

                Graduation is one of the proudest days in a family’s year. Alumni teams thank graduates and donors with hoodies, glassware and gifts that last.

                What they order

                  When they order

                  Summer and winter graduations, alumni weekends.

                  Departments and services

                  Admissions, open days and international offices

                  What they do

                  Recruitment and international teams travel to fairs at home and abroad and host open days on campus, so they need tote bags, pens, notebooks and umbrellas for visitors.

                  What they order

                    When they order

                    Summer and autumn open days, recruitment fairs, Clearing.

                    Departments and services

                    Careers and employability

                    What they do

                    Careers services and employability teams run fairs, mock interviews and employer events, where a branded notebook or a pen goes home with every student.

                    What they order

                      When they order

                      Autumn and spring careers fairs.

                      Departments and services

                      Research institutes and business schools

                      What they do

                      Research institutes, doctoral schools and business schools host conferences and executive education, where smart notebooks, travel mugs and power banks suit delegates.

                      What they order

                        When they order

                        Conferences, executive programmes.

                        Colleges and adult learning

                        FE and sixth-form colleges

                        What they do

                        Further education and sixth-form colleges teach academic, technical and vocational courses to school leavers and adults, with enrolment, open evenings and awards through the year.

                        What they order

                          When they order

                          Enrolment in September, open evenings, awards.

                          Colleges and adult learning

                          English language schools

                          What they do

                          English language schools, including centres accredited through Accreditation UK, welcome international students for courses that can last a week or a year, with welcome packs and summer activity kit.

                          What they order

                            When they order

                            Summer courses, new intakes all year.

                            Colleges and adult learning

                            Adult education and short courses

                            What they do

                            Adult education services, community learning, evening classes, online and distance learners and short-course providers, from the Open University to local colleges, need kit that works for every age.

                            What they order

                              When they order

                              September and January starts, summer short courses.

                              Colleges and adult learning

                              Apprenticeship and training providers

                              What they do

                              Apprenticeship and training providers, from construction academies to digital bootcamps, give new learners a starter pack that feels like the real job.

                              What they order

                                When they order

                                September starts, National Apprenticeship Week in February.

                                At a glance

                                • 2.9mstudents in UK higher education in 2023/24Source: HESA Higher Education Student Statistics, 2023/24
                                • 24universities in the Russell GroupSource: Russell Group
                                • Mid-AugustA-level results day, when Clearing gets busySource: Joint Council for Qualifications calendar
                                • Septemberfreshers’ week at most UK universities, the year’s key merchandise momentSource: University calendars

                                Organisations named on this page are examples that describe the sector. They are not our clients, and naming them doesn’t mean they endorse us.

                                Quick answers

                                What merchandise do universities order?
                                Tote bags, hoodies, T-shirts, lanyards, notebooks, pens, water bottles and power banks lead the list, plus glassware and gifts for graduation and alumni. The sector explorer shows what each part of the sector usually orders.
                                Is this page only for universities?
                                No. It’s for universities, students’ unions, clubs and societies, colleges, English language schools, adult education, short-course and training providers across the UK. The organisations named on this page are examples, not our clients.

                                Campus kit builder

                                Build the welcome pack, then multiply it by your intake.

                                Start from a ready-made kit for freshers, an open day, a club or society or an alumni and staff gift, or tap items to build your own. Set how many people it’s for and we’ll do the maths, then copy the list into your quote request.

                                Start from a kit
                                Pick the items

                                Your campus kit

                                Items per person: 6Total pieces: 150

                                Paste the list into your quote request and we’ll price every item, with branding.

                                Quick answers

                                What should go in a freshers’ welcome pack?
                                A tote bag, a notebook, a pen, a lanyard and a water bottle make a pack students will use. Add a drawstring bag for sports clubs. The campus kit builder adds it up.
                                How many tote bags do we need for a freshers’ fair?
                                Start from your expected new intake and the share who usually attend, then add spares for staff and late arrivals. Many unions order one bag per new student and fill it with partner offers.

                                The academic year

                                Freshers, finals and graduation, ready before the queues start.

                                Education runs to the academic calendar, and some moments only happen once a year. Pick a month to see what’s coming, with an order-by date for each, so the kit is on campus before the day.

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                                Next up

                                1. January

                                  • Jan

                                    Refreshers and January starts

                                    Second-semester welcome events and January intakes give students’ unions a second freshers’ fair.

                                  • February

                                    • Feb

                                      National Apprenticeship Week

                                      Each February the week celebrates apprentices, a good moment for training providers and colleges to hand out starter packs.

                                    • March

                                      • Mar

                                        Varsity season

                                        Spring brings varsity matches between rival universities, with team kit, supporters’ T-shirts and hoodies.

                                      • April

                                        No fixed dates this month. It’s a good time to reorder the basics, check sizes for new starters and plan the next campaign.

                                      • May

                                        • May

                                          Exam season

                                          May and June are exam months, when pens, water bottles and a little encouragement from the students’ union go a long way.

                                        • June

                                          • Jun

                                            Summer open days

                                            Open days from June welcome future students and their families, with tote bags, pens and maps for every visitor.

                                          • July

                                            • Jul

                                              Summer graduations

                                              Ceremonies in late June and July, when alumni teams welcome new graduates with hoodies, glassware and gifts.

                                              • Jul

                                                Summer language courses

                                                Language schools and summer schools welcome international students with T-shirts, tote bags and activity kit.

                                              • August

                                                • Aug

                                                  Results day and Clearing

                                                  A-level results day in mid-August starts Clearing, and admissions teams staff phone lines and campus events in branded kit.

                                                • September

                                                  • Sep

                                                    Freshers’ week

                                                    September is the big one: welcome packs, freshers’ fairs, society sign-ups and lanyards for every new student and volunteer.

                                                  • October

                                                    • Oct

                                                      Autumn open days

                                                      A second round of open days in October and November, often in the rain, so umbrellas and tote bags help.

                                                    • November

                                                      No fixed dates this month. It’s a good time to reorder the basics, check sizes for new starters and plan the next campaign.

                                                    • December

                                                      • Dec

                                                        Winter graduations

                                                        December ceremonies for postgraduates and winter graduates, and Christmas gifts for staff and alumni.

                                                      Dates are typical and can move from year to year, so check each organiser’s own calendar. Order-by dates allow about five weeks from brief to delivery, in line with our planner.

                                                      Quick answers

                                                      When should we order for freshers’ week?
                                                      Aim to send your brief by late July, about five weeks before arrival weekend at the latest, because September is the busiest month of the year. The academic year gives an order-by date for each moment.
                                                      When are graduation seasons in the UK?
                                                      Most UK universities hold summer graduations in late June and July and winter ceremonies in December or January. Dates vary by university, so check your own calendar.

                                                      Buyer’s guide

                                                      Merchandise students keep, and a brand that grows with them.

                                                      Education merchandise has to work for a huge, varied audience, often on a tight budget and a fixed date. Here’s what UK universities, students’ unions and colleges check before they order, plus a brief builder that turns your answers into a request we can quote.

                                                      What to check before you order

                                                      01Order for freshers early
                                                      September is the busiest month for education merchandise. Aim to send your freshers’ brief by late July so stock, proofs and delivery all fit before arrival weekend.
                                                      02Choose items students actually use
                                                      Students keep useful things: tote bags, water bottles, hoodies, notebooks and power banks get used all year, which keeps your name in lectures, libraries and on the bus.
                                                      03Follow your brand and crest rules
                                                      Universities often control how the crest and name are used, and students’ unions and societies may need approval before printing them. Check your brand guidelines and send us the approved logo files.
                                                      04Take sizes and pre-orders for hoodies
                                                      For club and society hoodies, collect sizes and payments first, then order the exact quantities plus a couple of spares. The campus kit builder multiplies the kit by your numbers.
                                                      05Plan for open days and visitors
                                                      Open days, recruitment fairs and Clearing events need giveaways in larger numbers, so lighter items such as pens, tote bags and drawstring bags keep the cost per visitor down.
                                                      06Plan Welsh, Gaelic or bilingual kit
                                                      Universities and colleges in Wales work under the Welsh Language Standards, and many institutions in Scotland use Gaelic. We can set Welsh, Gaelic or bilingual wording on your kit and you’ll check it on the free proof.

                                                      Build your brief

                                                      Who is it for?
                                                      Languages on the kit
                                                      Delivery
                                                      Budget per person

                                                      Your brief

                                                      Paste the brief into your quote request and we’ll come back with options, a free mock-up and one quote in pounds.

                                                      Words you’ll hear

                                                      Freshers’ week
                                                      The welcome week at the start of the academic year, with events, fairs and society sign-ups for new students.
                                                      Students’ union
                                                      The student-led organisation at a university or college that runs clubs, societies, events and representation.
                                                      RAG
                                                      Raising and Giving: the student fundraising groups at many universities, which run charity events through the year.
                                                      Clearing
                                                      The UCAS service that matches applicants without a place, or who change their plans, with courses that still have places, busiest after results day.
                                                      Varsity
                                                      A sports fixture, or a week of them, between two rival universities, with supporters in team colours.
                                                      Open day
                                                      A day when future students and their families visit campus, meet staff and see accommodation.
                                                      Russell Group
                                                      A group of 24 research-intensive universities across the UK.
                                                      Alumni
                                                      Former students of a university or college, often kept in touch by an alumni relations team.

                                                      Quick answers

                                                      What is Clearing?
                                                      Clearing is how UCAS matches applicants without a place, or who change their plans, to courses that still have places. It runs over the summer and is busiest after A-level results day in mid-August.
                                                      Can we have bilingual merchandise for a university in Wales?
                                                      Yes. We can set English and Welsh, English and Gaelic, or all three on your merchandise, and you’ll check the wording on the free proof. If you have approved translations from your Welsh language team, send them and we’ll use them.

                                                      Ask us anything

                                                      Your questions, answered straight.

                                                      What UK universities, students’ unions, societies and colleges usually ask us, answered by the people who run the orders. Search, or tap a question and we’ll answer it.

                                                      Hello! Ask us anything about merchandise for universities, students and colleges. Here’s what UK campuses usually ask.

                                                      Can a student society order, or only the university?
                                                      Anyone can order: universities, students’ unions, clubs, societies and course groups. Check whether your students’ union needs to approve the use of the university’s name or crest before you send us the logo.
                                                      Can you add names or course details to hoodies?
                                                      Often, yes. Names, course names, years or society roles can be printed on the back or sleeve of many hoodies and T-shirts. Send us the list and you’ll check every line on the proof before production.
                                                      Can you deliver to a students’ union or a campus mailroom?
                                                      Yes. Campus mailrooms can add a day or two, so give us a department, a named contact and a phone number, and tell us if the students’ union has its own delivery times.
                                                      Can you match our university colours?
                                                      We match your brand colours as closely as each method allows, and you’ll see them on the free mock-up. Send us your colour references, such as Pantone numbers, with your logo.
                                                      Is there a minimum order?
                                                      There’s no fixed minimum: we quote small runs too. Each branding method has a practical minimum, because a set-up costs the same whether it’s spread over ten items or a thousand, so very small runs cost more per item. Tell us your numbers and we’ll suggest the method that makes them work.
                                                      Can we see a mock-up or a sample first?
                                                      Yes. A digital mock-up of your logo on each product comes free with your quote. For bigger orders we can arrange samples: a blank product to check the size and feel, or a branded pre-production sample once the artwork is agreed. Some samples are free and some carry a cost, which we tell you up front. Nothing is made until you approve the final proof in writing.
                                                      How long does it take?
                                                      Plan on around 7 to 14 working days of production once your proof is approved and payment has cleared, or your purchase order is in place. Delivery comes on top: around 3 to 5 working days from UK-based suppliers to mainland Great Britain and 5 to 8 from European suppliers, customs included, with a little longer for Northern Ireland and the Highlands and Islands. Every date is an estimate until we confirm it in writing.
                                                      How much does it cost, and how do we pay?
                                                      Every order is quoted individually: the price depends on the product, the branding method, the number of colours or positions, the quantity and the delivery. Quotes are in pounds, ex VAT, with VAT at 20% added as one line, and any set-up is shown openly. Your contract and invoice are with Swish and Click Ltd, registered in Northern Ireland (NI737465), VAT number GB 530 7553 02. Pay a pro forma invoice by bank transfer, or buy on a purchase order with a 30-day credit account.
                                                      Do you deliver to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales?
                                                      Yes. We deliver across the UK, to mainland Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Highlands and Islands, with a little longer for Northern Ireland and the islands. One order can be split across several sites, such as a head office in Cardiff and depots in Glasgow and Belfast.
                                                      Can you add Welsh, Gaelic or bilingual wording?
                                                      Yes. Welsh, Gaelic and bilingual wording is set exactly as you supply it, accents included, and you’ll check every character on the proof before anything is made. For a different name or message on each item, send a spreadsheet and we’ll suggest the method that handles it.

                                                      Still have a question?

                                                      Email info@swishandclick.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 4652 5994. A real person replies, usually within one working day.

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                                                          Kit for the way your sector works.

                                                          Pick your sector. We will suggest the kit.

                                                          Every sector buys differently. Pick yours for kit chosen around how your teams work, then send us your sites, quantities and dates for one clear quote in pounds.

                                                          Tell us how your teams work.

                                                          Tell us the products, quantities, UK delivery addresses and date: we reply with a written quote and the timing that goes with it.

                                                          Frequently asked questions

                                                          See all FAQs
                                                          Do you have products for my sector?

                                                          Yes: we group products for twelve sectors, from charities and universities to healthcare, construction and logistics. If your sector is not listed, tell us what your teams do and we suggest a kit.

                                                          Can you work with our purchase order and procurement process?

                                                          Yes. Quotes show clear unit prices, and approved organisations can buy on a 30-day credit account with a purchase order.

                                                          Can you deliver to several sites at once?

                                                          Yes. One order can go to many UK addresses, each with its own recipient, phone number and date, from head office to depots, wards or campuses.

                                                          Can you match our uniform colours across products?

                                                          We match colours as closely as each product and branding method allows, using your Pantone references, and the proof shows the result before production.

                                                          What is Swish & Click?

                                                          We supply branded merchandise and promotional products to UK organisations. We source each order from UK-based and European suppliers, brand it with your logo and deliver it to your UK addresses, with one quote and one invoice from Swish and Click Ltd.

                                                          How do I get a quote?

                                                          Send us the products you have in mind, the quantities, your logo, the delivery addresses and the date you need them by, using our quote form or email. We reply with a written quote in pounds and the timing that goes with it.

                                                          Is there a minimum order?

                                                          There is no single minimum: it depends on the product and the branding method, because set-up costs make very small runs less practical. Your quote shows any minimum, and on some items short runs are possible.

                                                          Will I see my logo on the product before you make it?

                                                          Yes. We send a digital proof showing your logo on the product, with its position, size and colours. Nothing goes into production until you approve it in writing.

                                                          Can I get a sample first?

                                                          Often, yes: blank or branded samples can be arranged on many products. Any cost is stated up front.

                                                          How long does it take?

                                                          Standard catalogue items take about 7 to 14 working days to make after proof approval and payment, and express lines from 2 working days on selected items. UK delivery then takes about 3 to 5 working days from UK-based suppliers, or 5 to 8 from European suppliers including customs. Every date is an estimate, not a guarantee.

                                                          Where do you deliver?

                                                          Anywhere in the UK, to one address or many: offices, sites, events and home addresses. Northern Ireland is quoted per order, and the Highlands and Islands can take longer. See delivery across the UK.

                                                          Are prices shown with or without VAT?

                                                          Our quotes are in pounds and show prices without VAT, with VAT at the standard 20% added as one line. If an item carries a different rate, the quote shows it.

                                                          How do I pay?

                                                          Pay the pro forma invoice by bank transfer, and production starts once payment clears. Approved organisations can use a 30-day credit account and pay by purchase order.

                                                          Which branding methods do you offer?

                                                          Embroidery, screen printing, pad printing, transfer and full-colour printing, laser engraving and debossing, depending on the product. We suggest the method that suits your logo and the item.

                                                          What logo file should I send?

                                                          Send a vector file if you can: AI, EPS, SVG or a vector PDF. If you only have a JPG or PNG, send it anyway: we can often redraw it, and you approve the new file before it is used.

                                                          Are there import charges on goods from European suppliers?

                                                          Delivery terms are agreed before dispatch and written on your quote: DDP, where we handle the import, or DAP, where the receiver pays import VAT and any duty and needs a GB EORI number.

                                                          Do you hold stock?

                                                          No. Each order is sourced from the supplier that makes or stocks the product and delivered direct to your addresses, so the lead time runs from your proof approval.

                                                          What if something arrives damaged or wrong?

                                                          Tell us straight away with photos of the box, the items and the label. We investigate with the supplier or courier and agree the remedy with you, case by case.