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International Standard Classification for Education

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Definition

The ISCED system was first devised by UNESCO in the 1970s, and later revised in 1997. It is a tool designed to generate statistics on teaching and training which are comparable across all countries, taking into account both levels and fields of education. In France, ISCED Levels 0 and 1 correspond to nursery and primary education, and Levels 2 and 3 correspond to the first and second cycles of secondary education. ISCED Level 4 corresponds to post-secondary education which is not deemed ‘higher education’ (Basic legal qualification, DAEU etc.). Level 5 corresponds to higher education which does not lead to research (BTS, DUT, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree etc.) and Level 6 covers doctoral degrees (not including medicine). In order to refine this nomenclature, two additional dimensions have been added. The first allows for the specification of the purpose for which the programme of study was created (programme intended to lead to higher studies, programme allowing for a shorter course of study, programme intended as preparation for professional life). The second additional dimension concerns the nature of the teaching, if it is general, vocational or technical.