A student who is about to graduate or is in the process of completing their degree; someone eligible or ready to receive a degree.
From Latin 'graduandus' (one about to step forward), from 'graduare' (to graduate) and the future participle suffix '-andus'. This formal term is particularly common in British English.
The word 'graduand' literally means 'one who is about to step' in Latin—it's a perfect example of how academic language freezes old terminology, since almost no one uses 'graduand' except universities trying to sound formal!
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