Definition

Framework adopted by the UNESCO in 2011 to classify educational activities as defined in programmes and the resulting qualifications into internationally agreed categories (levels and fields of education).

Comment:

ISCED 2011 (levels of education) has been implemented in all EU data collections since 2014. ISCED levels are defined as follows:

• Level 0 – Early childhood education
• Level 1 – Primary education
• Level 2 – Lower secondary education
• Level 3 – Upper secondary education
• Level 4 – Post-secondary non-tertiary education

Tertiary education:

• Level 5 – Short-cycle tertiary education
• Level 6 – Bachelor or equivalent level
• Level 7 – Master or equivalent level
• Level 8 – Doctoral or equivalent level

Source: Cedefop (2023) "Terminology of European education and training policy: A selection of key terms"