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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).
936: 126: 1073: 1279: 1004: 210: 52:(Geneva, 1975), and was subsequently endorsed by UNESCO's 19th General Conference in 1976. 39:. It is a member of the international family of economic and social classifications of the 8: 1226:"Annex III in the English ISCED 2011, International Standard Classification of Education" 1054: 981: 180: 419:
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.
1282:: ISCED 1997 education levels required for EU Blue Card Visa. 762: 1106:"UNESCO, International Standard Classification of Education" 1194:"Eurostat, 1999. Manual: Fields of education and training" 78:
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
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International Standard Classification of Occupations
21:International Standard Classification of Education 772: 252:ISCED 2011 levels, categories, and sub-categories 1287: 1051:(EQF) for a similar European-based level system 987:Level 4: Post-secondary non-tertiary education 904: 846:5 Engineering, manufacturing and construction 708:Lower secondary education or second stage of 927:(01 Early childhood educational development) 117:(01 Early childhood educational development) 326:010 Early childhood educational development 323:01 Early childhood educational development 1163:"CEDEFOR, Manual: Fields of training 1999" 796:14 Teacher training and education science 538:666 Long first degree (more than 4 years) 521:656 Long first degree (more than 4 years) 504:646 Long first degree (more than 4 years) 303:Learn how and when to remove this message 1220: 1218: 1216: 1214: 1212: 1210: 1208: 1206: 591:766 Long first degree (at least 5 years) 574:756 Long first degree (at least 5 years) 557:746 Long first degree (at least 5 years) 432:4 POST-SECONDARY NON-TERTIARY EDUCATION 31:framework for organizing information on 935:Level 0: Early childhood education (02 1288: 734:Post-secondary non-tertiary education 635:864 Sufficient for completion of level 624:854 Sufficient for completion of level 613:844 Sufficient for completion of level 1203: 849:52 Engineering and engineering trades 632:861 Insufficient for level completion 621:851 Insufficient for level completion 610:841 Insufficient for level completion 588:761 Insufficient for level completion 571:751 Insufficient for level completion 554:741 Insufficient for level completion 532:661 Insufficient for level completion 515:651 Insufficient for level completion 498:641 Insufficient for level completion 482:551 Insufficient for level completion 471:541 Insufficient for level completion 1274:Roadmap to compare education systems 1057:for fields of science and technology 863:62 Agriculture, forestry and fishery 812:3 Social sciences, business and law 694:Primary education or first stage of 485:554 Sufficient for level completion 255: 975:Level 3: Upper secondary education 758:Second stage of tertiary education 474:544 Sufficient for level completion 13: 1306:Educational classification systems 746:First stage of tertiary education 14: 1332: 1253: 1049:European Qualifications Framework 815:31 Social and behavioural science 492:6 BACHELOR'S OR EQUIVALENT LEVEL 465:5 SHORT-CYCLE TERTIARY EDUCATION 1112:from the original on 5 June 2022 942:Level 0: Pre-primary education. 260: 1280:EU Council Directive 2009/50/EC 1175:from the original on 2020-02-06 1087:from the original on 2022-06-11 852:54 Manufacturing and processing 663:ISCED 1997 levels of education 657: 604:8 DOCTORAL OR EQUIVALENT LEVEL 548:7 MASTER'S OR EQUIVALENT LEVEL 95:ISCED 2011 levels of education 87: 66:UNESCO Institute for Statistics 1124: 821:34 Business and administration 773:ISCED 1997 fields of education 125:Early childhood education (02 1: 1066: 838:46 Mathematics and statistics 818:32 Journalism and information 1231:. 2013-01-24. Archived from 1137:. 2013-01-24. Archived from 855:58 Architecture and building 648:999 Not elsewhere classified 645:99 Not elsewhere classified 585:76 Orientation unspecified1 535:665 First degree (3–4 years) 529:66 Orientation unspecified1 518:655 First degree (3–4 years) 501:645 First degree (3–4 years) 393:3 UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION 354:2 LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION 320:0 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 285:Knowledge's inclusion policy 7: 1042: 905:Comparison between versions 891:85 Environmental protection 642:9 NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED 629:86 Orientation unspecified 76:Related materials from the 10: 1337: 723:Upper secondary education 46: 1269:ISCED 2011 classification 1108:. UNESCO. 16 March 2017. 971:Upper secondary education 960:Lower secondary education 925:Early childhood education 334:020 Pre-primary education 331:02 Pre-primary education 167:Upper secondary education 154:Lower secondary education 115:Early childhood education 110: 899:Not known or unspecified 785:08 Literacy and numeracy 73:Education and Training. 1321:Statistics of education 788:09 Personal development 64:of education (25). The 984:non-tertiary education 801:2 Humanities and arts 682:Pre-primary education 183:non-tertiary education 992:Level 5: Short-cycle 937:Pre-primary education 888:84 Transport services 871:7 Health and welfare 779:0 General programmes 347:100 Primary education 344:10 Primary education 127:Pre-primary education 1296:Works about academia 894:86 Security services 885:81 Personal services 835:44 Physical sciences 341:1 PRIMARY EDUCATION 1055:UNESCO nomenclature 911: 782:01 Basic programmes 664: 96: 1311:Educational stages 1083:. United Nations. 994:tertiary education 909: 877:76 Social services 662: 197:tertiary education 94: 35:maintained by the 1040: 1039: 949:Primary education 770: 769: 313: 312: 305: 249: 248: 141:Primary education 1328: 1265: 1264: 1262:Official website 1247: 1246: 1244: 1243: 1237: 1230: 1222: 1201: 1200: 1198: 1190: 1184: 1183: 1181: 1180: 1174: 1167: 1159: 1153: 1152: 1150: 1149: 1143: 1136: 1128: 1122: 1121: 1119: 1117: 1102: 1096: 1095: 1093: 1092: 1077: 912: 908: 832:42 Life sciences 665: 661: 618:85 Professional 568:75 Professional 512:65 Professional 308: 301: 297: 294: 288: 264: 263: 256: 97: 93: 16:Education levels 1336: 1335: 1331: 1330: 1329: 1327: 1326: 1325: 1286: 1285: 1260: 1259: 1256: 1251: 1250: 1241: 1239: 1235: 1228: 1224: 1223: 1204: 1196: 1192: 1191: 1187: 1178: 1176: 1172: 1165: 1161: 1160: 1156: 1147: 1145: 1141: 1134: 1130: 1129: 1125: 1115: 1113: 1104: 1103: 1099: 1090: 1088: 1079: 1078: 1074: 1069: 1045: 907: 902: 775: 710:basic education 696:basic education 660: 655: 309: 298: 292: 289: 275:Please help by 274: 265: 261: 254: 90: 49: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1334: 1324: 1323: 1318: 1316:School systems 1313: 1308: 1303: 1298: 1284: 1283: 1277: 1271: 1266: 1255: 1254:External links 1252: 1249: 1248: 1202: 1185: 1154: 1123: 1097: 1071: 1070: 1068: 1065: 1064: 1063: 1058: 1052: 1044: 1041: 1038: 1037: 1034: 1026: 1025: 1021: 1013: 1012: 1008: 1000: 999: 996: 989: 988: 985: 980:Level 4: Post- 977: 976: 973: 966: 965: 962: 955: 954: 951: 944: 943: 940: 932: 931: 928: 920: 919: 916: 906: 903: 901: 900: 897: 896: 895: 892: 889: 886: 880: 879: 878: 875: 869: 868: 867: 864: 860:6 Agriculture 858: 857: 856: 853: 850: 844: 843: 842: 839: 836: 833: 827: 826: 825: 822: 819: 816: 810: 809: 808: 805: 799: 798: 797: 791: 790: 789: 786: 783: 776: 774: 771: 768: 767: 759: 756: 752: 751: 747: 744: 740: 739: 735: 732: 728: 727: 724: 721: 717: 716: 712: 706: 702: 701: 698: 692: 688: 687: 683: 680: 676: 675: 672: 669: 659: 656: 654: 653: 652: 651: 650: 649: 640: 639: 638: 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CEDEFOR. 918:ISCED 1997 882:8 Services 766:knowledge. 468:54 General 435:44 General 396:34 General 357:24 General 29:statistical 1290:Categories 1242:2023-02-06 1179:2013-03-21 1148:2012-05-05 1116:1 February 1091:2020-02-01 1067:References 1005:Bachelor's 915:ISCED 2011 829:4 Science 293:March 2024 281:relocating 211:Bachelor's 1031:Doctorate 1029:Level 8: 1016:Level 7: 1003:Level 6: 982:secondary 969:Level 3: 958:Level 2: 947:Level 1: 923:Level 0: 874:72 Health 239:Doctorate 181:secondary 80:and also 33:education 1170:Archived 1110:Archived 1085:Archived 1043:See also 1018:Master's 225:Master's 82:Eurostat 60:(7) and 804:21 Arts 47:History 27:) is a 1301:UNESCO 824:38 Law 671:Label 668:Level 62:fields 58:levels 1236:(PDF) 1229:(PDF) 1197:(PDF) 1173:(PDF) 1166:(PDF) 1142:(PDF) 1135:(PDF) 930:None 763:Ph.D. 179:Post- 103:Label 100:Level 25:ISCED 1118:2020 19:The 279:or 111:0 43:. 1292:: 1205:^ 755:6 743:5 731:4 720:3 705:2 691:1 679:0 235:8 221:7 207:6 192:5 176:4 163:3 150:2 137:1 1245:. 1182:. 1151:. 1120:. 1094:. 939:) 306:) 300:( 295:) 291:( 287:. 273:. 129:) 23:(

Index

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
secondary

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