Definition · Plain-language
Higher education
Higher education is post-secondary education provided by universities, colleges and other institutions that leads to academic degrees, professional qualifications or advanced research.
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Types of higher education institution
Higher education is delivered through diverse institution types. Research universities undertake significant original research alongside teaching; in the US, the Carnegie Classification identifies R1 institutions as those with the highest research activity. Liberal arts colleges emphasise broad undergraduate education across the humanities, sciences and arts with smaller student bodies. Community colleges provide two-year associate degrees and vocational qualifications, often as a lower-cost entry point. Polytechnics and technical institutions focus on applied and professional programmes. Online institutions, now widespread, serve learners who cannot attend in person.
UK and US systems
In the United Kingdom, higher education institutions include the Russell Group (24 research-intensive universities), post-1992 universities (former polytechnics that gained university status after the Further and Higher Education Act 1992) and specialist conservatoires and colleges. In the US, the Carnegie Classification ranges from Associate's Colleges to Doctoral Universities (R1 and R2). Both systems award qualifications recognised internationally, though degree structures differ: UK bachelor's degrees typically take three years; US bachelor's degrees take four.
Global participation and UNESCO ISCED classification
UNESCO's International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) places higher education at Levels 5 through 8: Level 5 (short-cycle tertiary, e.g. associate degrees), Level 6 (bachelor's equivalent), Level 7 (master's equivalent) and Level 8 (doctoral equivalent). Global higher education participation has grown substantially since 1970: the UNESCO Institute for Statistics reports gross enrolment ratios exceeding 50% in many OECD nations by the 2020s, though significant gaps persist between high- and lower-income countries. Completion rates vary widely by institution type and student background.
Key facts
At a glance
- Definition: post-secondary education at universities and colleges leading to degrees or professional qualifications
- UNESCO ISCED Levels 5–8: short-cycle tertiary through doctoral
- UK: Russell Group (24 research universities); post-1992 universities (former polytechnics)
- US: Carnegie Classification — R1/R2 doctoral universities, teaching colleges, associate colleges
- Degree types: associate, bachelor, master, doctorate, professional (law, medicine)
- Global trend: gross enrolment ratios exceed 50% in many OECD nations as of the 2020s
Common misconceptions
What people often get wrong
Often heard: Higher education means only traditional four-year universities.
Actually: Higher education encompasses a wide range of post-secondary institutions — community colleges, polytechnics, online universities, specialist colleges and professional schools — as well as traditional research universities. The common feature is that qualifications are awarded above the secondary level, typically at ISCED Levels 5–8.
Often heard: A Russell Group university is automatically better than other UK universities.
Actually: The Russell Group is a self-selected association of 24 research-intensive universities, not a quality guarantee. Research output is high among Russell Group members, but teaching quality, student experience and outcomes vary across all UK institutions. Post-1992 universities often excel in specific vocational and professional programmes.
Often heard: Higher education is the same as university.
Actually: University is one type of higher education institution, but the category also includes further education colleges offering higher national qualifications, online providers, community colleges (in the US) and specialist colleges (art, music, theology). Higher education is the broader category; university is a specific institutional form within it.
Common questions
FAQ
What counts as higher education?+
Higher education is any post-secondary education at ISCED Levels 5–8, ranging from short-cycle qualifications such as associate degrees and higher national certificates to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. It includes academic and professional programmes at universities, colleges, polytechnics and online institutions. The defining feature is that it comes after completion of secondary education and leads to recognised qualifications above that level.
What is the difference between the Russell Group and other UK universities?+
The Russell Group is a voluntary association of 24 UK universities that conduct high levels of research and receive a large share of research funding. Membership signals research intensity rather than a formal quality tier. Other UK universities, including post-1992 institutions formed from former polytechnics, can and do achieve excellent outcomes in teaching, student satisfaction and graduate employment in specific disciplines.
What are the ISCED levels for higher education?+
UNESCO's ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education) designates Levels 5 through 8 as higher education: Level 5 covers short-cycle tertiary programmes (associate degrees, HNDs), Level 6 corresponds to bachelor's or equivalent first degrees, Level 7 to master's or equivalent, and Level 8 to doctoral or equivalent qualifications. The classification allows international comparison of qualifications across very different national systems.
