Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "abokin haɗin gwiwa" wani nau'i ne na digiri na farko da aka ba da kyauta daga kwalejojin al'umma, kwalejojin fasaha, da wasu jami'o'i bayan kammala shirin karatu wanda yawanci yana ɗaukar shekaru biyu don kammalawa. Gabaɗaya ana ɗaukar digirin haɗin gwiwa a matsayin ƙasa da digiri na farko amma sun fi takaddun shaida ko difloma. Dangane da fannin karatu, digiri na abokin tarayya na iya shirya ɗalibai don shiga matakin shiga a wata masana'anta ko samar da tushe don ƙarin karatu zuwa digiri na farko ko mafi girma.