To improve the basic scientific research ability of graduate students and ensure the quality of dissertation, this paper clarifies the connotation and extension of the fundamental scientific research ability from the perspective of universities and tutors. The fundamental scientific research ability of graduate students includes two aspects, which are subjective aspect and objective aspect. The subjective aspect is the subjective initiative of graduate students, while the objective aspect refers to the scientific literacy and professional technical means. The subjective and the objective aspect interact with each other. Thesis proposal, mid-term examination and defense are the three key nodes of graduate research. It is an important guarantee for the research quality of graduate thesis to effectively complete the work required by these key nodes.