Graduan

Graduan is a Malay-language term used to denote a person who has completed a program of study and earned an official credential such as a degree, diploma, or certificate. The term is widely used in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, appearing in education materials, media reports, and government communications to identify graduates. It can refer to graduates from universities, polytechnics, and other higher education institutions.

Etymology and usage context: graduan is a direct adaptation of the English word graduate, with the Malay suffix -an forming a noun. In everyday use, people may say seorang graduan to describe an individual who has completed their studies. The term often appears in phrases such as senarai graduan (list of graduates) or in coverage of graduation ceremonies.

Scope and nuance: The word covers graduates across levels, including bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral degrees, as well as diploma and certificate awards. While related English terms exist—graduate for someone who has completed, and graduand for someone about to graduate—the Malay term graduan generally conveys the completed-status sense.

Indonesian use and equivalents: In Indonesia, the closest common equivalent is lulusan, used in similar contexts to mean someone who has graduated. See also related terms such as Ijazah (degree), Diploma, and Degree for broader educational credentials.