postgraduate

American  

[pohst-graj-oo-it, -eyt] / poʊstˈgrædʒ u ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or consisting of post-graduates.

   a postgraduate seminar.

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noun

1. a student who is taking advanced work after graduation, as from a high school or college.

postgraduate British  

/ pəʊstˈɡrædjʊɪt /

noun

1. a student who has obtained a degree from a university, etc, and is pursuing studies for a more advanced qualification

2. (modifier) of or relating to such a student or to his studies

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Etymology

Origin of postgraduate

First recorded in 1855–60; post- + graduate

Compare meaning

How does postgraduate compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• undergraduate vs. postgraduate

Example Sentences

Oliver Contreras, a 22-year-old postgraduate law student from Brighton, East Sussex, was the first to have the vaccination.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

A person familiar with the matter said Stern had completed a three-year Law BA there in 2000, but withdrew from a postgraduate research programme in 2003.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

He spent two further years at the university in postgraduate study of philosophy before entering the real world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

With insufficient challenges, many students coast near the bottom of their potential without experiencing the adversity that would best prepare them for postgraduate success.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

It seemed to, quite quickly as Emenike sent news only of progress: his postgraduate work completed, his job at the housing authority his marriage to an Englishwoman who was a solicitor in the city.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• alum
• graduate