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International Standard Classification of Education

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Tertiary programmes having an educational content more advanced than those offered at ISCED levels 3 and 4. These programmes may be academically based or practically oriented / occupationally specific. Entry to these programmes normally requires the successful completion of ISCED level 3A or 3B or a
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Programmes that straddle the boundary between upper- and post-secondary education from an international point of view. ISCED level 4 programmes, considering their content, cannot be regarded as tertiary programmes. They are often not significantly more advanced than programmes at ISCED level 3 but
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During the review and revision, which led to the adoption of ISCED 2011, UNESCO Member States agreed that the fields of education should be examined in a separate process. This review is now underway with the view to establishing an independent but related classification called the ISCED Fields of
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led the development of a third version, which was adopted by UNESCO's 36th General Conference in November 2011 and which will replace ISCED 1997 in international data collections in the coming years. ISCED 2011 has nine rather than seven levels, created by dividing the tertiary pre-doctorate level
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The ISCED was designed in the early 1970s to serve as an instrument suitable for assembling, compiling and presenting statistics of education both within individual countries and internationally. The first version, known as ISCED 1976, was approved by the International Conference on Education
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These programmes are therefore devoted to advanced study and original research and are not based on course-work only. It typically requires the submission of a thesis or dissertation of publishable quality which is the product of original research and represents a significant contribution to
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The second version, known as ISCED 1997, was approved by the UNESCO General Conference at its 29th session in November 1997 as part of efforts to increase the international comparability of education statistics. It covered primarily two cross-classification variables:
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Initial stage of organized instruction, designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment and to develop their cognitive, physical, social and emotional skills. Designed for children from age 3 to the start of primary education.
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Designed to complete basic education, usually on a more subject-oriented pattern. It builds upon the learning outcomes from primary education (ISCED level 1) and aims to lay the foundation for lifelong learning and human development.
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Level 5A: First stage of tertiary education: largely theoretically based programmes intended to provide qualifications for gaining entry into more advanced research programmes and professions with higher skills requirements.
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Level 5A: First stage of tertiary education: largely theoretically based programmes intended to provide qualifications for gaining entry into more advanced research programmes and professions with higher skills requirements.
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Programmes providing learning experiences that build on secondary education and prepare for labour market entry or tertiary education. The content is broader than secondary but not as complex as tertiary education.
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similar qualification at ISCED level 4A. All degrees and qualifications are cross-classified by type of programmes, position in national degree or qualification structures and cumulative duration at tertiary.
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Programmes designed primarily to lead to an advanced research qualification, usually concluding with the submission and defense of a substantive dissertation of publishable quality based on original research.
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Short first tertiary programmes that are typically practically-based, occupationally-specific and prepare for labour market entry. These programmes may also provide a pathway to other tertiary programmes.
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into three levels. It also extended the lowest level (ISCED 0) to cover a new sub-category of early childhood educational development programmes, which target children below the age of three years.
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More specialized education typically beginning at age 15 or 16 years or completes secondary education in preparation for tertiary education, or to provide skills relevant to employment, or both.
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Second/final stage of secondary education preparing for tertiary education or providing skills relevant to employment. Usually with an increased range of subject options and streams.
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Education designed to support early development in preparation for participation in school and society. Programmes designed for children from age 3 to the start of primary education.
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Normally starting between the ages of 5 – 7, designed to give a sound basic education in reading, writing and mathematics along with an elementary understanding of other subjects.
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Programmes designed to provide intermediate academic or professional knowledge, skills and competencies leading to a first tertiary degree or equivalent qualification.
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Programmes designed to provide advanced academic or professional knowledge, skills and competencies leading to a second tertiary degree or equivalent qualification.
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Level 5B: First stage of tertiary education: typically shorter, more practical/technical/occupationally specific programmes leading to professional qualifications.
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Programmes typically designed to provide students with fundamental skills in reading, writing and mathematics and to establish a solid foundation for learning.
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Education designed to support early development in preparation for participation in school and society. Programmes designed for children below the age of 3.
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provide further information and statistical guidance for the classification of sub-fields of education as a companion to ISCED.
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251 Insufficient for level completion or partial level completion, without direct access to upper secondary education
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241 Insufficient for level completion or partial level completion, without direct access to upper secondary education
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First stage of secondary education building on primary education, typically with a more subject-oriented curriculum.
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351 Insufficient for level completion or partial level completion, without direct access to tertiary education
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341 Insufficient for level completion or partial level completion, without direct access to tertiary education
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they serve to broaden the knowledge of participants who have already completed a programme at level 3.
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may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience
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252 Sufficient for partial level completion, without direct access to upper secondary education
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242 Sufficient for partial level completion, without direct access to upper secondary education
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Level 6: Second stage of tertiary education (leading to an advanced research qualification).
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352 Sufficient for partial level completion, without direct access to tertiary education
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342 Sufficient for partial level completion, without direct access to tertiary education
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253 Sufficient for level completion, without direct access to upper secondary education
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243 Sufficient for level completion, without direct access to upper secondary education
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Tertiary programmes leading to the award of an advanced research qualification, e.g.
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254 Sufficient for level completion, with direct access to upper secondary education
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244 Sufficient for level completion, with direct access to upper secondary education
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451 Insufficient for level completion, without direct access to tertiary education
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441 Insufficient for level completion, without direct access to tertiary education
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453 Sufficient for level completion, without direct access to tertiary education
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443 Sufficient for level completion, without direct access to tertiary education
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353 Sufficient for level completion, without direct access to tertiary education
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343 Sufficient for level completion, without direct access to tertiary education
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767 Second or further degree (following a bachelor's or equivalent programme)
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757 Second or further degree (following a bachelor's or equivalent programme)
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747 Second or further degree (following a bachelor's or equivalent programme)
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667 Second or further degree (following a bachelor's or equivalent programme)
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657 Second or further degree (following a bachelor's or equivalent programme)
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647 Second or further degree (following a bachelor's or equivalent programme)
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454 Sufficient for level completion, with direct access to tertiary education
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444 Sufficient for level completion, with direct access to tertiary education
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354 Sufficient for level completion, with direct access to tertiary education
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344 Sufficient for level completion, with direct access to tertiary education
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any relevant information, and removing excessive detail that may be against
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768 Second or further degree (following a master's or equivalent programme)
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758 Second or further degree (following a master's or equivalent programme)
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748 Second or further degree (following a master's or equivalent programme)
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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
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Level 2: Lower secondary education or second stage of basic education
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Source:International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED).
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Comparison of levels between ISCED 2011 and ISCED 1997 versions
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Level 1: Primary education or first stage of basic education.
1293:: ISCED 1997 education levels required for EU Blue Card Visa. 773: 1117:"UNESCO, International Standard Classification of Education" 1205:"Eurostat, 1999. Manual: Fields of education and training" 89:
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
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International Standard Classification of Occupations
32:International Standard Classification of Education 783: 263:ISCED 2011 levels, categories, and sub-categories 1298: 1062:(EQF) for a similar European-based level system 998:Level 4: Post-secondary non-tertiary education 915: 857:5 Engineering, manufacturing and construction 719:Lower secondary education or second stage of 938:(01 Early childhood educational development) 128:(01 Early childhood educational development) 337:010 Early childhood educational development 334:01 Early childhood educational development 1174:"CEDEFOR, Manual: Fields of training 1999" 807:14 Teacher training and education science 549:666 Long first degree (more than 4 years) 532:656 Long first degree (more than 4 years) 515:646 Long first degree (more than 4 years) 314:Learn how and when to remove this message 1231: 1229: 1227: 1225: 1223: 1221: 1219: 1217: 602:766 Long first degree (at least 5 years) 585:756 Long first degree (at least 5 years) 568:746 Long first degree (at least 5 years) 443:4 POST-SECONDARY NON-TERTIARY EDUCATION 42:framework for organizing information on 946:Level 0: Early childhood education (02 14: 1299: 745:Post-secondary non-tertiary education 646:864 Sufficient for completion of level 635:854 Sufficient for completion of level 624:844 Sufficient for completion of level 1214: 860:52 Engineering and engineering trades 643:861 Insufficient for level completion 632:851 Insufficient for level completion 621:841 Insufficient for level completion 599:761 Insufficient for level completion 582:751 Insufficient for level completion 565:741 Insufficient for level completion 543:661 Insufficient for level completion 526:651 Insufficient for level completion 509:641 Insufficient for level completion 493:551 Insufficient for level completion 482:541 Insufficient for level completion 1285:Roadmap to compare education systems 1068:for fields of science and technology 874:62 Agriculture, forestry and fishery 823:3 Social sciences, business and law 705:Primary education or first stage of 496:554 Sufficient for level completion 266: 986:Level 3: Upper secondary education 769:Second stage of tertiary education 485:544 Sufficient for level completion 24: 1317:Educational classification systems 757:First stage of tertiary education 25: 1343: 1264: 1060:European Qualifications Framework 826:31 Social and behavioural science 503:6 BACHELOR'S OR EQUIVALENT LEVEL 476:5 SHORT-CYCLE TERTIARY EDUCATION 1123:from the original on 5 June 2022 953:Level 0: Pre-primary education. 271: 1291:EU Council Directive 2009/50/EC 1186:from the original on 2020-02-06 1098:from the original on 2022-06-11 863:54 Manufacturing and processing 674:ISCED 1997 levels of education 668: 615:8 DOCTORAL OR EQUIVALENT LEVEL 559:7 MASTER'S OR EQUIVALENT LEVEL 106:ISCED 2011 levels of education 98: 77:UNESCO Institute for Statistics 1135: 832:34 Business and administration 784:ISCED 1997 fields of education 136:Early childhood education (02 13: 1: 1077: 849:46 Mathematics and statistics 829:32 Journalism and information 1242:. 2013-01-24. Archived from 1148:. 2013-01-24. Archived from 866:58 Architecture and building 659:999 Not elsewhere classified 656:99 Not elsewhere classified 596:76 Orientation unspecified1 546:665 First degree (3–4 years) 540:66 Orientation unspecified1 529:655 First degree (3–4 years) 512:645 First degree (3–4 years) 404:3 UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION 365:2 LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION 331:0 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 296:Knowledge's inclusion policy 7: 1053: 916:Comparison between versions 902:85 Environmental protection 653:9 NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED 640:86 Orientation unspecified 87:Related materials from the 10: 1348: 734:Upper secondary education 57: 1280:ISCED 2011 classification 1119:. UNESCO. 16 March 2017. 982:Upper secondary education 971:Lower secondary education 936:Early childhood education 345:020 Pre-primary education 342:02 Pre-primary education 178:Upper secondary education 165:Lower secondary education 126:Early childhood education 121: 910:Not known or unspecified 796:08 Literacy and numeracy 84:Education and Training. 1332:Statistics of education 799:09 Personal development 75:of education (25). The 995:non-tertiary education 812:2 Humanities and arts 693:Pre-primary education 194:non-tertiary education 1003:Level 5: Short-cycle 948:Pre-primary education 899:84 Transport services 882:7 Health and welfare 790:0 General programmes 358:100 Primary education 355:10 Primary education 138:Pre-primary education 1307:Works about academia 905:86 Security services 896:81 Personal services 846:44 Physical sciences 352:1 PRIMARY EDUCATION 1066:UNESCO nomenclature 922: 793:01 Basic programmes 675: 107: 1322:Educational stages 1094:. United Nations. 1005:tertiary education 920: 888:76 Social services 673: 208:tertiary education 105: 46:maintained by the 1051: 1050: 960:Primary education 781: 780: 324: 323: 316: 260: 259: 152:Primary education 16:(Redirected from 1339: 1276: 1275: 1273:Official website 1258: 1257: 1255: 1254: 1248: 1241: 1233: 1212: 1211: 1209: 1201: 1195: 1194: 1192: 1191: 1185: 1178: 1170: 1164: 1163: 1161: 1160: 1154: 1147: 1139: 1133: 1132: 1130: 1128: 1113: 1107: 1106: 1104: 1103: 1088: 923: 919: 843:42 Life sciences 676: 672: 629:85 Professional 579:75 Professional 523:65 Professional 319: 312: 308: 305: 299: 275: 274: 267: 108: 104: 27:Education levels 21: 1347: 1346: 1342: 1341: 1340: 1338: 1337: 1336: 1297: 1296: 1271: 1270: 1267: 1262: 1261: 1252: 1250: 1246: 1239: 1235: 1234: 1215: 1207: 1203: 1202: 1198: 1189: 1187: 1183: 1176: 1172: 1171: 1167: 1158: 1156: 1152: 1145: 1141: 1140: 1136: 1126: 1124: 1115: 1114: 1110: 1101: 1099: 1090: 1089: 1085: 1080: 1056: 918: 913: 786: 721:basic education 707:basic education 671: 666: 320: 309: 303: 300: 286:Please help by 285: 276: 272: 265: 101: 60: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1345: 1335: 1334: 1329: 1327:School systems 1324: 1319: 1314: 1309: 1295: 1294: 1288: 1282: 1277: 1266: 1265:External links 1263: 1260: 1259: 1213: 1196: 1165: 1134: 1108: 1082: 1081: 1079: 1076: 1075: 1074: 1069: 1063: 1055: 1052: 1049: 1048: 1045: 1037: 1036: 1032: 1024: 1023: 1019: 1011: 1010: 1007: 1000: 999: 996: 991:Level 4: Post- 988: 987: 984: 977: 976: 973: 966: 965: 962: 955: 954: 951: 943: 942: 939: 931: 930: 927: 917: 914: 912: 911: 908: 907: 906: 903: 900: 897: 891: 890: 889: 886: 880: 879: 878: 875: 871:6 Agriculture 869: 868: 867: 864: 861: 855: 854: 853: 850: 847: 844: 838: 837: 836: 833: 830: 827: 821: 820: 819: 816: 810: 809: 808: 802: 801: 800: 797: 794: 787: 785: 782: 779: 778: 770: 767: 763: 762: 758: 755: 751: 750: 746: 743: 739: 738: 735: 732: 728: 727: 723: 717: 713: 712: 709: 703: 699: 698: 694: 691: 687: 686: 683: 680: 670: 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Retrieved 1244:the original 1199: 1188:. Retrieved 1168: 1157:. Retrieved 1150:the original 1137: 1125:. Retrieved 1111: 1100:. Retrieved 1086: 852:48 Computing 804:1 Education 685:Description 669:1997 version 618:84 Academic 562:74 Academic 506:64 Academic 325: 310: 301: 288:spinning off 281: 206:Short-cycle 117:Description 102: 99:2011 version 86: 82: 72: 68: 65: 61: 35: 31: 29: 1210:. Eurostat. 1179:. CEDEFOR. 929:ISCED 1997 893:8 Services 777:knowledge. 479:54 General 446:44 General 407:34 General 368:24 General 40:statistical 1301:Categories 1253:2023-02-06 1190:2013-03-21 1159:2012-05-05 1127:1 February 1102:2020-02-01 1078:References 1016:Bachelor's 926:ISCED 2011 840:4 Science 304:March 2024 292:relocating 222:Bachelor's 1042:Doctorate 1040:Level 8: 1027:Level 7: 1014:Level 6: 993:secondary 980:Level 3: 969:Level 2: 958:Level 1: 934:Level 0: 885:72 Health 250:Doctorate 192:secondary 91:and also 44:education 1181:Archived 1121:Archived 1096:Archived 1054:See also 1029:Master's 236:Master's 93:Eurostat 71:(7) and 815:21 Arts 58:History 38:) is a 1312:UNESCO 835:38 Law 682:Label 679:Level 73:fields 69:levels 1247:(PDF) 1240:(PDF) 1208:(PDF) 1184:(PDF) 1177:(PDF) 1153:(PDF) 1146:(PDF) 941:None 774:Ph.D. 190:Post- 114:Label 111:Level 36:ISCED 18:ISCED 1129:2020 30:The 290:or 122:0 54:. 1303:: 1216:^ 766:6 754:5 742:4 731:3 716:2 702:1 690:0 246:8 232:7 218:6 203:5 187:4 174:3 161:2 148:1 1256:. 1193:. 1162:. 1131:. 1105:. 950:) 317:) 311:( 306:) 302:( 298:. 284:. 140:) 34:( 20:)

Index

ISCED
statistical
education
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
United Nations
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
Eurostat
Early childhood education
Pre-primary education
Primary education
Lower secondary education
Upper secondary education
secondary
tertiary education
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate
spinning off
relocating
Knowledge's inclusion policy
Learn how and when to remove this message
basic education
basic education
Ph.D.
Early childhood education
Pre-primary education
Primary education
Lower secondary education
Upper secondary education

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