noun

tertiary education

TUR-shuh-ree ed-yoo-KAY-shuhn

Tertiary education (noun) means All formal education taken after leaving secondary school, including universities, colleges, polytechnics and vocational or technical training. Example: “Around half of school leavers go on to tertiary education of some kind.”

noun

All formal education taken after leaving secondary school, including universities, colleges, polytechnics and vocational or technical training.

"Around half of school leavers go on to tertiary education of some kind."

"The scholarship covers the first two years of tertiary education."

How to Use Tertiary education

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishStudy you do after finishing school.

When to use it

Formal; common in policy documents and international statistics.

Easily confused with

further education higher education

Common pairings

access to tertiary education tertiary education sector tertiary qualification enrol in tertiary education

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Around half of school leavers go on to _____ of some kind.

Etymology

From Latin tertiarius, 'of the third part', from tertius 'third'; it is the third stage after primary and secondary.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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higher education post-secondary education further education

Antonyms

primary education secondary education

Rhymes for tertiary education

region ablation allusion emulsion ideation novation abortion abrasion diffusion elocution extension oxidation

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between tertiary education and higher education?

Tertiary education is the wider term and covers everything after school, including trade and technical qualifications. Higher education is the degree-awarding part of it, so every degree course is higher education, but an apprenticeship or a diploma at a technical institute is tertiary without being higher education.

Which countries use the term?

It is standard in Australia, New Zealand, parts of Asia and in international bodies such as UNESCO and the World Bank. British English usually says 'higher' or 'further' education, and American English says 'college' or 'post-secondary'.