Graduate

Graduate is a term used in education with several related meanings. As a noun, a graduate is a person who has completed a prescribed program of study and earned an academic degree or diploma. This can include those who have earned bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, or professional degrees. As a verb, to graduate means to complete such a program and to receive the credential, often accompanied by a graduation ceremony or the formal conferral of the degree.

In many education systems, undergraduate students pursue their first degree, typically a bachelor’s. Graduate or postgraduate study refers to work undertaken after that level, such as master’s or doctoral programs. In the United States and Canada, the term “graduate student” is commonly used for students beyond the bachelor’s degree, while in Britain and many Commonwealth countries the term “postgraduate” is more widely used; in everyday speech, a person who has completed a degree is often called a graduate.

Degrees and programs vary by country and field but typically include bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Professional degrees in fields such as law, medicine, and theology are also awarded. Graduation is commonly marked by a formal ceremony in which diplomas or certificates are presented, and many institutions use academic regalia during the event.

The word derives from the Latin gradus meaning “step” or “grade,” reflecting progression through an educational program. The concept of graduating influences admissions, funding structures such as scholarships and teaching or research assistantships, and outcomes in the labor market, where graduates often pursue further study or specialized professions.