Graduand vs. Undergraduate: Key Differences Explained
Graduand is the label for someone who has completed all degree requirements but has not yet attended the graduation ceremony; an undergraduate is any student pursuing a first bachelor-level degree.
People swap the terms because both groups are “almost finished.” Picture a final-year student posting “graduand” on LinkedIn after submitting the last paper—friends assume they’ve already graduated, while others think “undergraduate” covers anyone still enrolled. The confusion lives in the overlap between “done with classes” and “officially degreed.”
Key Differences
Graduand status lasts only from final results release to ceremony day; undergraduate status spans the entire bachelor program. One word signals a brief transition, the other an ongoing journey.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you’re waiting to walk across the stage, call yourself a graduand. If you’re still taking courses, exams, or internships, stick with undergraduate.
Examples and Daily Life
Campus email invites “graduands” to robe fittings; the same inbox labels course-registration reminders for “undergraduates.” One hat fits for a week, the other for years.
Can you be both at once?
No. The moment your final grades are confirmed, you move from undergraduate to graduand until you graduate.
Is “graduand” used outside universities?
Rarely. It’s almost exclusive to academic settings and formal announcements.
Does “undergraduate” include postgraduate students?
No. Once you start a master’s or PhD, you’re a postgraduate, no longer an undergraduate.