Meaning & use
grad students
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“grad students” is a form of “grad student”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nouncountableinformalAmerican
Students who have finished a bachelor's degree and are studying for a higher degree.
Grammar: Countable noun; the singular is 'grad student'.
Patterns
- grad students in something
- grad students at a university
The grad students in the lab are working on a new experiment.
She teaches a seminar for grad students.
Many grad students take on teaching jobs to pay for their studies.
Word forms
| singular | grad student |
|---|
Common combinations
- grad student in biology
- He is a grad student in biology at Stanford.
- grad student union
- The grad student union is negotiating for better pay.
- grad student housing
- Grad student housing is often cheaper than off-campus apartments.
Synonyms and how they differ
- graduate students
- The full, more formal term; 'grad students' is an informal abbreviation common in American English.
- postgraduates
- Common in British English; refers to students after a first degree.
Opposites
Word family
- grad school noun
- Informal: a school or program for advanced degrees.
- graduate noun
- A person who has completed a degree.
Commonly confused: grad students or undergrads?
grad students vs undergrads
Undergrads are students studying for a bachelor's degree; grad students already have one.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'grad students' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The plural 'grad students' takes a plural verb 'are'. Option A uses 'a' with a plural noun; option C misses 'a'; option D treats it as a singular program.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “grad students”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.