university classmates

USAGE SUMMARY

"university classmates" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are referring to people you went to university with, i.e. During university, I made some great friends who are now my lifelong university classmates.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Later he repaired watches for his university classmates and professors, a skill that helped pay tuition.

The New York Times

She graduated recently and will be a teacher for life, like most of her university classmates.

The Guardian

Shortly thereafter, with Hamdan himself in college in Egypt, the brothers decided to launch a business, recruiting Hamdan's university classmates to build the technology.

MIT Technology Review

Khan often relied on old friends and university classmates as he constructed his supply network, and from the beginning there was a haphazard, almost accidental quality about his deals.

The New Yorker

The Chinese firm's global supply-chain chief, Gerry Smith, says he has received dozens of telephone calls from former university classmates to congratulate him on the move.But reshoring amounts to much more than public relations.

The Economist

Recently, I discovered that many of my university classmates say that they watch movies on their cellphones or other handheld devices, mostly when they are bored (i.e. riding the bus, waiting in line).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Henri de Castries, boss of AXA, an insurance giant, and a former university classmate of Mr de Villepin, is scathing.

The Economist

But questions continued to swirl, and there were numerous demands for further investigation into the actions of Mr. Bastrykin, who was a university classmate of Mr. Putin.

The New York Times

Mr. Bastrykin, the chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, was a university classmate of President Vladimir V. Putin and reports directly to him.

The New York Times

He enlisted the help of a former university classmate, Boris Milgram, a theater director who left Perm for Moscow in the 1990s.

The New York Times - Arts

He enlisted the help of a university classmate, Boris Milgram, a theater director who had left Perm in the 1990s for Moscow.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about someone's connections, using "university classmates" adds a layer of specificity compared to just "friends" or "acquaintances", highlighting a shared educational background.

Common error

Avoid using "university classmates" when referring to individuals from lower educational levels like high school or college. Use "high school classmates" or "college classmates" respectively for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "university classmates" functions as a noun phrase, specifically a compound noun, acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. Ludwig examples demonstrate its role in identifying individuals sharing a common educational experience.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "university classmates" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe individuals who attended the same university classes. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, the phrase appears frequently in news articles and academic contexts, highlighting the shared educational background of individuals. While alternatives like "college classmates" or "fellow students" exist, "university classmates" provides a specific and neutral way to refer to this particular relationship. When writing, ensure you use the term accurately, especially when differentiating between various levels of education. It is also important to know which are the common and less common contexts to be more accurate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

college classmates

Uses "college" instead of "university", implying a similar but potentially less formal educational setting.

classmates from university

Reorders the phrase while maintaining the same core meaning.

university peers

Focuses on the shared status and level of education within the university environment.

fellow students

Broader term encompassing all students in the same educational institution, not necessarily in the same classes.

former classmates

Specifies that the individuals were classmates in the past, suggesting a completed educational experience.

university cohort

Refers to a group of students who progress through the university system together.

university colleagues

Suggests a professional association formed through attending the same university.

academic peers

Highlights the shared academic environment and status of the individuals.

student colleagues

Combines the concepts of students and colleagues, highlighting shared academic pursuits.

people I studied with

Informal way of expressing the same relationship, emphasizing the act of studying together.

FAQs

How can I use "university classmates" in a sentence?

"University classmates" can be used to describe people who attended the same university classes, for example: "He launched a business, recruiting his "university classmates" to build the technology."

What is a more formal way to say "university classmates"?

While "university classmates" is already fairly neutral, you could use "academic peers" in very formal contexts to emphasize the shared academic environment.

Is "college classmates" the same as "university classmates"?

While similar, "college classmates" and "university classmates" aren't always interchangeable. "College" can refer to a specific type of institution, whereas "university" is generally broader.

What's the difference between "university classmates" and "fellow students"?

"Fellow students" is a broader term referring to anyone attending the same university. "University classmates" specifies those who were in the same classes.