# undergraduate

/ˌəndɝˈɡɹædʒəwət/ (US) · /ˌʌndəɡɹˈædjuːət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/undergraduate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. university student

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a student who is studying for their first university degree.

For teachers: a student at a higher education institution who is pursuing a first degree, typically a Bachelor's degree.

- The university has over twenty thousand undergraduates studying everything from art to science.
- As an undergraduate, she spent most of her time in the library researching historical linguistics for her final dissertation.

Usage: Often shortened to 'undergrad' in informal speech.

Teaching tip: In American English, students are often called 'freshmen', 'sophomores', 'juniors', or 'seniors' depending on their year of undergraduate study.

### 2. relating to first degrees

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

describing things related to students who are studying for their first degree.

For teachers: relating to or being an undergraduate student or the level of study leading to a first degree.

- He is currently taking an undergraduate course in psychology.
- The department offers several undergraduate programmes, though the most competitive is the dual-degree in law and economics.

Usage: Usually placed before a noun.

## Examples

- The university has over ten thousand undergraduates.
- Most undergraduates spend their first year living in student housing before moving into private apartments.
- The curriculum is designed to challenge undergraduates by introducing complex theoretical frameworks while providing the foundational skills necessary for advanced postgraduate research.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.