TVETipedia Glossary

Further education (FE)

Post-secondary education, including higher education, adult education, and vocational education and training (also called: Tertiary education).

Source:
NCVER (Australia), VOCEDplus: Glossary of VET, (accessed 05/2026)
NCVER (Australia), VOCEDplus: Glossary of VET, (accessed 05/2026)
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This glossary is a compilation of Australian vocational education and training (VET) terms and acronyms. It includes both current and historical terms, concepts, acronyms and other abbreviations found in Australian VET research, policy and data.

(as defined in UK)

Further education (FE) includes any study after secondary education that’s not part of higher education (that is, not taken as part of an undergraduate or graduate degree).

Courses range from basic English and maths to Higher National Diplomas (HNDs).

FE also includes 3 types of technical and applied qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds:

level 3 tech levels to specialise in a specific technical job
level 2 technical certificates help get employment or progress to another tech level
applied general qualifications to continue general education at advanced level through applied learning.

Source:
UK Government website (accessed 03/2023)