Word
postgraduate
Phoneticspost·grad·u·ate
UK/pˈəʊstɡɹɐdjˌuːeɪt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a student who has already finished their first degree and is now studying for a higher one, like a Master's or a PhD.
n. a student who has successfully completed an undergraduate degree and is pursuing further studies at a more advanced level.
Examples
“She is a postgraduate student studying history.”
“The university offers several scholarships specifically for postgraduates who are conducting original research in the sciences.”
“While undergraduates often focus on broad foundational knowledge, the postgraduate is expected to contribute original insights to their field through a thesis or a series of specialized seminars.”
Examples
simple
“She is a postgraduate student studying history.”
contextual
“The university offers several scholarships specifically for postgraduates who are conducting original research in the sciences.”
complex
“While undergraduates often focus on broad foundational knowledge, the postgraduate is expected to contribute original insights to their field through a thesis or a series of specialized seminars.”
Usage
Often used as a modifier before another noun (e.g., 'postgraduate studies').
Real-World Examples
“When I was a postgraduate student at the University of Oxford in the early 2000s, I interviewed for a major consulting firm.” “Nina, a postgraduate student, was supposed to be on holiday from her job as a live-in nanny in New York.” Etymology
From post- + graduate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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