adjective
post graduate
pohst GRAD-yoo-uht
Post graduate (adjective) means relating to academic study undertaken after completing a first degree. Example: “She is doing postgraduate research in marine biology.”
adjective
1
Relating to academic study undertaken after completing a first degree.
"She is doing postgraduate research in marine biology."
"The university offers postgraduate courses in law and finance."
noun
1
A student who has a first degree and is studying for a further qualification such as a master's or doctorate.
"The seminar is open to postgraduates only."
How to use post graduate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStudying for a higher degree after you have already finished your first one.
When to use it
Normally written as one word, postgraduate, in British usage; Americans usually say graduate study or grad school instead. "Post graduate" as two words is common in searches but is treated as a spelling error in edited writing.
Memory tip
Postdoctoral study comes after a PhD; postgraduate study leads to one.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
postgraduate degree
postgraduate study
postgraduate research
postgraduate diploma
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Etymology
From the Latin prefix post-, "after", added to graduate — that is, study after a first degree.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for post graduate
See all rhymes for post graduate →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between postgraduate and graduate?
They describe the same stage of study, but on different sides of the Atlantic. British universities say postgraduate; American ones say graduate, as in graduate school. In British English "graduate" on its own usually means someone who has finished a first degree.
Is it postgraduate or post graduate?
Postgraduate, written as one word, is the standard spelling. The hyphenated and two-word forms turn up frequently but are not used in university documents or edited prose.
What is the difference between postgraduate and postdoctoral?
Postgraduate covers everything after a bachelor's degree, including master's degrees and doctorates. Postdoctoral describes research work done after a doctorate is complete, usually as a paid academic position rather than a course of study.
What is the meaning of post graduate?
"post graduate" (adjective) means relating to academic study undertaken after completing a first degree.
