Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner1]

Hello,

1.He will go abroad for further study.

2.He will go abroad for further studies.

3.He will go abroad for advanced study.

4.He will go abroad for advanced studies.

Are 'further study', 'further studies', 'advanced study' and 'advanced studies' all correct expressions and interchangeable?

Thank you very much.

[2006]

The singular forms are more common, but the plural forms can be correct too. Further study is not necessarily advanced study.

[learner1]

Hello 2006,

What do you mean by 'Further study is not necessarily advanced study.'? Could you please explain the difference to me? Thank you very much for replying to my question.

[2006]

"advanced study" means a high level of study. "further study" just means more study, but not necessarily at a high level.

[learner1]

Hello 2006,

Thank you very much for your answer again. Could you please give me examples of 'further study' and 'advanced study'? I don't know when to use each of them.

Thank you very much.

[2006]

I explained them to you. Now you should try to make sentences with them.

[learner1]

Hello,

Thank you very much, 2006.
They have the same meaning in my native language, so I thought they were the same thing. And I can't find their exact definitions from dictionary. The only thing I can do is just guess.
For example, if one will go to graduate school in order to get his master's degree or Ph.D, which is appropriate to use here? e.g.

'He will go abroad for further/advanced study to get his Ph.D.'

Thank you very much.

[2006]

They both are appropriate in your last sentence. Any "additional study" is "further study" by definition, and attending graduate school to get a Ph.D would qualify as "advanced study".

He only attended a one-month course, so he certainly needs further study to improve his knowledge and skill. ("advanced" would not be appropriate in this sentence)

[learner1]

Hello 2006,

Thank you very much for your kind help.