Result fiddled by graduate to obtain post (8)
I believe the answer is:
baluster
'post' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'result fiddled by graduate' is the wordplay.
'fiddled' indicates anagramming the letters.
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'graduate' becomes 'ba'.
'result' anagrammed gives 'luster'.
'luster' after 'ba' is 'BALUSTER'.
'to obtain' is the link.
(Other definitions for baluster that I've seen before include "Pillar supporting staircase rail" , "Set of posts supporting a rail" , "Type of decorative support for a rail" , "One of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing" , "post" .)