Graduate vs. Graduand: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 12, 2023
A graduate is someone who has completed a degree program, while a graduand is someone about to receive a degree.
Difference Between Graduate and Graduand
A graduate is an individual who has successfully finished a course of study or training, typically at a university, college, or school. This term is used widely to denote someone who has met all the requirements set by an educational institution and has been awarded a degree. The title "graduate" remains with the individual even years after they have left the educational establishment, symbolizing their achievement and the knowledge or skills they possess.
Muazma Batool
Sep 12, 2023
Conversely, a graduand is a person who is eligible to graduate but has not yet received their formal degree or diploma. This is a transitional phase. They have completed all necessary academic requirements and are awaiting the official graduation ceremony. The term "graduand" captures that brief period between completion and conferment, a time of anticipation before one becomes a graduate.
Muazma Batool
Sep 12, 2023
In many institutions, the journey from being a student to a graduate involves this short-lived status of a graduand. It's a term that specifically pinpoints the period of awaiting the official graduation ceremony. Once the ceremony is over and the degree or diploma is conferred, the title "graduand" no longer applies, and the individual becomes a graduate.
Muazma Batool
Sep 12, 2023
To put it in simpler terms, while both graduate and graduand pertain to the completion of an academic program, they represent different stages. A graduate has crossed the finish line, while a graduand is just about to.
Jonathan
Sep 12, 2023
Graduate vs. Graduand Comparison Chart
Definition
An individual who has completed a degree program.
An individual about to receive a degree.
Muazma Batool
Sep 12, 2023
Status
Has already received the degree.
Awaiting the official graduation ceremony.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 12, 2023
Duration of Term's Relevance
Long-term, remains valid for life.
Short-term, only valid until the graduation ceremony.
Muazma Batool
Sep 12, 2023
Academic Requirements
All requirements completed and degree conferred.
All requirements completed, but degree not yet conferred.
William
Sep 12, 2023
Common Usage
Refers to alumni and those who finished their studies.
Refers to final-year students awaiting their graduation.
Nolan
Sep 12, 2023
Graduate vs. Graduand Definitions
◉Graduate
Someone who has finished a course of study or training.
After rigorous training, he's now a graduate pilot.
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Sep 12, 2023
◉Graduand
A student about to graduate.
As a graduand, Lucy is preparing for her graduation ceremony.
Muazma Batool
Sep 12, 2023
◉Graduate
To be granted an academic degree or diploma
Most of the entering freshmen stayed to graduate.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Graduand
Individual who has finished studies but not yet attended the graduation ceremony.
The university will host a special dinner for its graduands.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 12, 2023
◉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).
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Graduand
Someone who has met academic requirements but awaits degree conferment.
The graduand list is posted outside the dean's office.
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Sep 12, 2023
◉Graduate
To advance to a new level of skill, achievement, or activity
After a month of diving instruction, they all graduated to back flips.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Graduand
A term denoting the period between course completion and graduation.
Every graduand is expected to attend a rehearsal.
Muazma Batool
Sep 12, 2023
◉Graduate
To grant an academic degree or diploma to
The school has graduated many gifted chemists.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Graduand
Transitional status before becoming a graduate.
Though a graduand now, tomorrow he'll be a graduate.
Nolan
Sep 12, 2023
◉Graduate
Usage Problem To receive an academic degree from
How many chemists graduated the Institute last year?.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Graduand
A student who has completed the requirements for, but has not yet been awarded, a particular degree.
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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
To arrange or divide into categories, steps, or grades
graduate an income tax.
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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
To divide into marked intervals, especially for use in measurement
graduate a thermometer.
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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
Of, intended for, or relating to studies beyond a bachelor's degree
graduate courses.
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May 03, 2023
◉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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May 03, 2023
◉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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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
(Philippines) A person who is recognized as having completed any level of education.
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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
A graduated (marked) cup or other container, thus fit for measuring.
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May 03, 2023
◉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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
To be certified as having earned a degree from; to graduate from (an institution).
Trisha graduated college.
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May 03, 2023
◉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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉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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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
(intransitive) To change gradually.
sandstone which graduates into gneiss; carnelian sometimes graduates into quartz
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May 03, 2023
◉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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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
(chemistry) To bring to a certain degree of consistency, by evaporation, as a fluid.
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May 03, 2023
◉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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
To bring to a certain degree of consistency, by evaporation, as a fluid.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
To pass by degrees; to change gradually; to shade off; as, sandstone which graduates into gneiss; carnelian sometimes graduates into quartz.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
A graduated cup, tube, flask, or cylinder; a glass measuring container used by apothecaries and chemists. See under Graduated.
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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
Arranged by successive steps or degrees; graduated.
Beginning with the genus, passing through all the graduateand subordinate stages.
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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
a person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉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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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
receive an academic degree upon completion of one's studies;
She graduated in 1990
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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
confer an academic degree upon;
This school graduates 2,000 students each year
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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
make fine adjustments or divide into marked intervals for optimal measuring;
calibrate an instrument
graduate a cylinder
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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
of or relating to studies beyond a bachelor's degree;
graduate courses
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May 03, 2023
◉Graduate
An individual who has completed an academic degree.
Jane is a graduate of Harvard University.
Muazma Batool
Sep 12, 2023
◉Graduate
A term for a person post-completion of an educational program.
The conference is for graduate engineers.
Olivia
Sep 12, 2023
◉Graduate
Alumni of a particular institution or program.
As a graduate of that school, he often revisits.
Olivia
Sep 12, 2023
◉Graduate
Holder of an academic degree conferred by a college or university.
She's a proud graduate with a Master's in Arts.
Lucas
Sep 12, 2023
Graduate vs. Graduand Frequently Asked Questions
Can a person call themselves a graduate before the graduation ceremony?
Technically, they are a graduand until the ceremony is completed.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 12, 2023
Why is the term "graduand" less commonly known than "graduate"?
The status of a graduand is brief, while the title of graduate lasts a lifetime.
Olivia
Sep 12, 2023
Is it correct to use "graduand" for someone awaiting a postgraduate degree?
Yes, the term applies regardless of the level of the degree.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 12, 2023
When does one stop being a graduand?
After the official graduation ceremony when the degree is conferred.
Muazma Batool
Sep 12, 2023
What is the main difference between a graduate and a graduand?
A graduate has completed and received a degree, while a graduand is awaiting the official graduation ceremony.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 12, 2023
Do all universities and colleges use the term "graduand"?
While the concept is universal, not all institutions may use this specific term.
Kaitlyn
Sep 12, 2023
Are graduate students and graduate the same?
No, graduate students are those pursuing post-baccalaureate degrees, while a graduate has completed a degree.
Henry
Sep 12, 2023
Can a graduand attend alumni events?
Typically, alumni events are for graduates, but some institutions might allow it.
Muazma Batool
Sep 12, 2023
How long is the status of a graduand typically?
It's usually from the time of meeting academic requirements until the graduation ceremony.
Lucas
Sep 12, 2023
Is it possible to be a graduand multiple times?
Yes, each time an individual completes a new degree and awaits its conferment, they are a graduand.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 12, 2023
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