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

The government said the cap on Plan 2 and postgraduate loans aimed to protect graduates from the risk of rising inflation due to the Iran war.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Private school associations, including New England independent schools, have different rules, and their athletes are more likely to repeat a grade of high school, including a postgraduate year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 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

Since January 2024, international postgraduate students have not been able to bring dependents unless their course is a research programme.

From BBC • Aug. 21, 2025

“Phantasms specters ghouls visitants post-terrestrials apparitions, Lidewij. How can someone pursuing a postgraduate degree in American literature display such abominable English-language skills?”

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

Related Words

• alum
• graduate