Translation guide
In Japanese, the term for graduate school is 大学院 (daigakuin). This entry explains how to talk about graduate school, including common expressions for attending, applying, and studying at the graduate level.
graduate school
Referring to the institution or concept of graduate school in general.
The standard term for graduate school. Can refer to both master's and doctoral programs.
He went on to graduate school.
I'm majoring in physics in graduate school.
Short for 大学院, used in casual conversation or compound words.
I'm not sure whether to go to grad school.
Referring to a person who is a graduate student.
Specifically referring to a master's course or degree.
Specifically referring to a doctoral course or degree.
Expressing the action of entering or advancing to graduate school.
Expressing the process of applying to a graduate program.
Talking about daily life, research, or activities in graduate school.
大学 (daigaku) means university or college (undergraduate). 大学院 specifically refers to graduate school. Do not confuse them.
I graduated from university and went on to graduate school.
In casual speech, 院 (in) is often used as shorthand for 大学院. For example, 院に行く (in ni iku) means 'to go to grad school'. However, in formal writing or speech, use the full term 大学院.
彼女は院生で、研究に忙しい。
She's a grad student and busy with research.
博士号を取得するのは大変だ。
Getting a Ph.D. is tough.
He took the entrance exam for the University of Tokyo graduate school.