Teaching graduate encountering surprise fundamental stuff (7)
I believe the answer is:
bedrock
'fundamental stuff' is the definition.
'teaching graduate encountering surprise' is the wordplay.
'teaching graduate' becomes 'bed' (bachelor of education).
'encountering' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'surprise' becomes 'rock'.
'bed'+'rock'='BEDROCK'
(Other definitions for bedrock that I've seen before include "Solid foundation" , "Fundamental principle" , "Fundamental principles" , "Basis" .)