吉林大学研究生院建于1984年6月，是经国务院批准的全国22所重点大学首批试办的研究生院之一。吉林大学研究生教育起步较早，1949年开始招收研究生班，1952年开始招收三年制研究生，1978年开始培养学位研究生。1985年10月，经国务院批准，吉林大学成为首批建立博士后科研流动站的单位之一。1996年3月，经原国家教委批准又成为首批正式建院的研究生院之一。其研究生教育的学科门类更加齐全，覆盖了哲学、经济学、法学、教育学、文学、历史学、理学、工学、农学、医学、军事学、管理学全部十二大学科门类。

The Graduate School of Jilin University, founded in June 1984, is one of the first pilot graduate schools of 22 key universities in China approved by the State Council. The graduate education of Jilin University started earlier. It began to enroll graduate students in 1949, three-year graduate students in 1952, and degree graduate students in 1978. In October 1985, with the approval of the State Council, Jilin University became one of the first units to establish a post-doctoral research station. In March 1996, with the approval of the former State Education Commission, it became one of the first graduate schools to be officially established. The graduate education is more complete, covering 12 disciplines including philosophy, economics, law, pedagogy, literature, history, science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, military science and management science.