International Standard Classification of Education
Level Description Principal characteristics
0 Pre-primary education 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
1 Primary education or first stage of basic education 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
2 Lower secondary education or second stage of basic education 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
3 Upper secondary education More specialized education typically beginning at age 15 or 16 years and/or completes secondary education in preparation for tertiary education , or to provide skills relevant to employment , or both
4 Post-secondary non-tertiary education Programmes that straddle the boundary between upper- and post-secondary education from an international point of view . ISCED level 4 programmes , considering their content , can not be regarded as tertiary programmes . They are often not significantly more advanced than programmes at ISCED level 3 but they serve to broaden the knowledge of participants who have already completed a programme at level 3
5 First stage of tertiary education 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 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
6 Second stage of tertiary education Tertiary programmes leading to the award of an advanced research qualification , e.g . Ph.D . 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 knowledge
1997 version -- ISCED 1997 levels of education
The International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) is a statistical framework for organizing information on education maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It is a member of the international family of economic and social classifications of the United Nations.