Graduate vs. Postgraduate: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A graduate is someone who has completed a degree program, while a postgraduate is an individual engaged in advanced study after obtaining a degree.
Key Differences
A graduate is an individual who has completed a bachelor's degree, the foundational level of higher education typically spanning three to four years. On the other hand, a postgraduate refers to someone who has pursued education beyond the graduate level, delving into more specialized and advanced studies. This distinction highlights the progression from a general undergraduate education to a more focused postgraduate study.
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Graduate programs provide a broad base of knowledge in a particular field, such as science, arts, or business, and are often prerequisites for entering professional fields. Postgraduate education, including master's and doctoral programs, builds upon the graduate foundation, offering deeper exploration and specialization. This progression from graduate to postgraduate studies reflects an increase in the depth and complexity of academic inquiry.
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The curriculum for graduates is designed to introduce students to a range of concepts and fundamental skills necessary in their field. In contrast, postgraduate programs are more research-oriented and specialized, often requiring a thesis or a dissertation. This signifies a shift from the more generalized learning at the graduate level to a focused and in-depth study in postgraduate programs.
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Graduates often enter the workforce upon completing their degrees, applying their broad knowledge to various professional roles. Postgraduates, however, may pursue careers in academia, research, or highly specialized industries, where advanced knowledge and research skills are essential. This delineates the career trajectories typically associated with graduate and postgraduate qualifications.
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Finally, graduate education marks the transition from secondary education to higher education, a significant step in one's academic journey. Postgraduate education, however, represents a further commitment to academic excellence and professional expertise, often driven by a desire for mastery in a specific area. This highlights the different objectives and levels of commitment inherent in graduate and postgraduate studies.
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Comparison Chart
Level of Study
Undergraduate level, leading to bachelor’s degree
Advanced study, usually after a bachelor’s degree
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Purpose
To gain fundamental knowledge in a field
To specialize or conduct research in a specific area
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Duration
Typically 3-4 years
Varies, from 1 year (master’s) to several years (PhD)
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Requirements
Completion of high school or equivalent
Completion of a bachelor’s degree
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Graduate and Postgraduate Definitions
Graduate
A person who has completed a bachelor’s or associate's degree.
After four years of hard work, she became a graduate of her university.
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Postgraduate
A student engaged in study beyond a bachelor’s degree.
She is a postgraduate researching nanotechnology.
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Graduate
To receive an academic degree or diploma.
He will graduate from college next spring.
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Postgraduate
Typically involves master’s or doctoral studies.
He is pursuing a postgraduate degree in environmental science.
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Graduate
A term for a former student of a specific school.
He is a graduate of Harvard University.
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Postgraduate
Advanced academic or professional work after graduation.
Postgraduate courses in her field were highly competitive.
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Graduate
To be granted an academic degree or diploma
Most of the entering freshmen stayed to graduate.
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Postgraduate
Aimed at specialized or research-oriented education.
Her postgraduate thesis explored groundbreaking theories.
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Graduate
To change gradually or by degrees
"The most weighty of all the arguments against treating the races of man as distinct species, is that they graduate into each other" (Charles Darwin).
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Postgraduate
Relating to studies after obtaining a college degree.
He enrolled in a postgraduate program in psychology.
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Graduate
To advance to a new level of skill, achievement, or activity
After a month of diving instruction, they all graduated to back flips.
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Postgraduate
Of, relating to, or pursuing advanced study after graduation from high school or college.
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Graduate
To grant an academic degree or diploma to
The school has graduated many gifted chemists.
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Graduate
Usage Problem To receive an academic degree from
How many chemists graduated the Institute last year?.
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Postgraduate
A person continuing to study in a field after having successfully completed a degree course.
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Graduate
To arrange or divide into categories, steps, or grades
Graduate an income tax.
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Postgraduate
Of studies which take place after having successfully completed a degree course.
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Graduate
To divide into marked intervals, especially for use in measurement
Graduate a thermometer.
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Postgraduate
Of, pertaining to, or designating, the studies pursued after graduation, esp., after receiving the bachelor's degree at a college; graduate.
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Postgraduate
Of or relating to studies beyond a bachelor's degree;
Graduate courses
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Graduate
Of, intended for, or relating to studies beyond a bachelor's degree
Graduate courses.
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Graduate
A person who is recognized by a university as having completed the requirements of a degree studied at the institution.
If the government wants graduates to stay in the country they should offer more incentives.
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Graduate
A person who is recognized by a high school as having completed the requirements of a course of study at the school.
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Graduate
(Philippines) A person who is recognized as having completed any level of education.
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Graduate
A graduated (marked) cup or other container, thus fit for measuring.
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Graduate
To be recognized by a school or university as having completed the requirements of a degree studied at the institution.
The man graduated in 1967.
Trisha graduated from college.
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Graduate
To be certified as having earned a degree from; to graduate from (an institution).
Trisha graduated college.
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Graduate
(transitive) To certify (a student) as having earned a degree
Indiana University graduated the student.
The college graduated him as soon as he was no longer eligible to play under NCAA rules.
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Graduate
(transitive) To mark (something) with degrees; to divide into regular steps or intervals, as the scale of a thermometer, a scheme of punishment or rewards, etc.
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Graduate
(intransitive) To change gradually.
Sandstone which graduates into gneiss; carnelian sometimes graduates into quartz
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Graduate
To prepare gradually; to arrange, temper, or modify by degrees or to a certain degree; to determine the degrees of.
To graduate the heat of an oven
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Graduate
(chemistry) To bring to a certain degree of consistency, by evaporation, as a fluid.
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Graduate
(Japanese entertainment) Of an idol: to exit a group; or of a virtual YouTuber, to leave a management agency; usually accompanied with "graduation ceremony" send-offs, increased focus on the leaving member, and the like.
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Graduate
To mark with degrees; to divide into regular steps, grades, or intervals, as the scale of a thermometer, a scheme of punishment or rewards, etc.
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Graduate
To admit or elevate to a certain grade or degree; esp., in a college or university, to admit, at the close of the course, to an honorable standing defined by a diploma; as, he was graduated at Yale College.
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Graduate
To prepare gradually; to arrange, temper, or modify by degrees or to a certain degree; to determine the degrees of; as, to graduate the heat of an oven.
Dyers advance and graduate their colors with salts.
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Graduate
To bring to a certain degree of consistency, by evaporation, as a fluid.
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Graduate
To pass by degrees; to change gradually; to shade off; as, sandstone which graduates into gneiss; carnelian sometimes graduates into quartz.
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Graduate
To take a degree in a college or university; to become a graduate; to receive a diploma.
He graduated at Oxford.
He was brought to their bar and asked where he had graduated.
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Graduate
One who has received an academical or professional degree; one who has completed the prescribed course of study in any school or institution of learning.
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Graduate
A graduated cup, tube, flask, or cylinder; a glass measuring container used by apothecaries and chemists. See under Graduated.
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Graduate
Arranged by successive steps or degrees; graduated.
Beginning with the genus, passing through all the graduateand subordinate stages.
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Graduate
A person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)
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Graduate
A measuring instrument for measuring fluid volume; a glass container (cup or cylinder or flask) whose sides are marked with or divided into amounts
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Graduate
Receive an academic degree upon completion of one's studies;
She graduated in 1990
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Graduate
Confer an academic degree upon;
This school graduates 2,000 students each year
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Graduate
Make fine adjustments or divide into marked intervals for optimal measuring;
Calibrate an instrument
Graduate a cylinder
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Graduate
Of or relating to studies beyond a bachelor's degree;
Graduate courses
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Graduate
Completing the requirements of a degree program.
She graduated with honors in her field of study.
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Graduate
Marking the transition from student to professional.
As a recent graduate, she is exploring various career options.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are postgraduate degrees necessary for all professions?
Not all professions require postgraduate degrees; it depends on the field and career goals.
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What does postgraduate mean?
Postgraduate refers to studies or students involved in advanced learning or research after earning a bachelor's degree.
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What is a graduate?
A graduate is someone who has completed an undergraduate degree program, typically earning a bachelor's or associate's degree.
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Can a graduate directly enroll in a postgraduate program?
Yes, graduates with a bachelor's degree can typically enroll in postgraduate programs.
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Can international students pursue graduate and postgraduate studies abroad?
Yes, international students often pursue graduate and postgraduate studies in different countries.
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Is work experience required for postgraduate programs?
Some postgraduate programs, especially professional degrees, may require prior work experience.
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Can a postgraduate student switch fields from their graduate studies?
Yes, many postgraduate programs accept students from different undergraduate backgrounds.
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What is the difference in time commitment between graduate and postgraduate studies?
Graduate studies usually take 3-4 years, while postgraduate studies vary from 1 year (master’s) to several years (PhD).
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Can graduates work while studying postgraduate courses?
Yes, many postgraduate students balance work and study, though it depends on the program's intensity.
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Are scholarships available for both graduate and postgraduate students?
Scholarships are available for both levels, though they might differ in criteria and availability.
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Can graduate students transfer credits to postgraduate programs?
In some cases, credits from graduate studies can be transferred to postgraduate programs, but it varies by institution.
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Do graduate and postgraduate degrees have different accreditation requirements?
Accreditation requirements can vary, with postgraduate programs often requiring more stringent academic standards.
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Is the application process different for graduate and postgraduate programs?
The application processes differ, with postgraduate programs often requiring more detailed documentation like research proposals.
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Do both graduate and postgraduate studies require standardized tests for admission?
This depends on the program and institution, but standardized tests are more common for postgraduate admissions.
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Do both graduate and postgraduate studies offer online options?
Yes, many universities offer both graduate and postgraduate programs in online formats.
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Are research opportunities more prevalent in postgraduate studies?
Yes, postgraduate studies often focus more on research, especially in master's and doctoral programs.
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Is a thesis required in both graduate and postgraduate studies?
A thesis is more commonly a requirement in postgraduate studies, though some graduate programs may require it.
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Do graduate degrees lead to higher starting salaries than undergraduate degrees?
Typically, graduate degrees can lead to higher starting salaries, depending on the field and location.
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Is the level of academic rigor significantly different between graduate and postgraduate studies?
Postgraduate studies typically involve a higher level of academic rigor, with a greater focus on research and specialization.
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Are internships part of both graduate and postgraduate programs?
Internships can be part of both, but they are more common and emphasized in certain postgraduate professional degrees.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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