By which to graduate? (7)

I believe the answer is:

degrees

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'to graduate?' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for degrees that I've seen before include "Educational qualifications" , "Units for angles" , "Measures for arcs and angles" , "distinctions that are academic" , "Measure for arcs and angles" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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