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Tertiary education builds on secondary education, providing learning activities in specialised fields of education. It aims at learning at a high level of complexity and specialisation. Tertiary education includes what is commonly understood as academic education but also includes advanced vocational or professional education. It comprises ISCED levels 5, 6, 7 and 8, which are labelled as short-cycle tertiary education, Bachelor’s or equivalent level, Master’s or equivalent level, and doctoral or equivalent level, respectively. The content of programmes at the tertiary level is more complex and advanced than in lower ISCED levels.

Formal education beyond secondary education, including higher education, vocational education and training, or other specialist post-secondary education or training.

The education which follows secondary education or its equivalent, and provides the learner with more advanced knowledge and skills than those gained within the secondary system.

• formal education beyond secondary education, including higher education, vocational education, and training, or other specialists post-secondary education or training; sometimes used to refer only to higher education or training.
• refers to the stage of education following the second cycle which subsumes post-secondary non-degree diploma, TVET, and higher education programs, including graduate education. (UniFAST Implementing Rules and Regulations)