[General] graduate from university or graduate from the university

[maoyueh]

If we do not refer to or mention any specific university, do we have to put the definite article 'the' before 'university'?
Please take a look at the following sentences.

1. He graduated from (A. X B. the) university in 1980.
2. He will graduate from (A. X B. the) university three years later.

ps. 'X' means zero-article.

Which is correct, A or B? Thanks a lot.

 

[MikeNewYork]

If we do not refer to or mention any specific university, do we have to put the definite article 'the' before 'university'?
Please take a look at the following sentences.

1. He graduated from (A. X B. the) university in 1980.
2. He will graduate from (A. X B. the) university three years later.

ps. 'X' means zero-article.

Which is correct, A or B? Thanks a lot.

In AmE, either a definite or indefinite article would be correct. I believe it is different in BrE.

 

[Rover_KE]

If we had to mention 'university' at all, I'd say no article would be most common in BrE. In fact, we'd mostly just say 'He graduated in 1980'.

#2 needs rephrasing. 'He will graduate (from university) in three years'.