Higher education

Higher education is after secondary education. Through attending college a higher degree (or title) can be gained. Generally, people must be 18 years old or over to enter higher education. They also need to have completed primary school and secondary education. Usually some kind of selection is used. Exams can be of state, local or university level. Sometimes no selection exists. Some open universities encourage older adults to apply, whether they were good at school or not.

Preparation

University of Cambridge

Higher education is either professional or academic. You can study for a diploma or a degree. Graduates can study for a or doctorate. Places of higher education were traditionally called universities, but there are other names like institute, teaching training college, academy, conservatory, and polytechnic. (The names depend on the country).

Other functions

Research work is done at this level. Colleges often also reach out to employers and offer cultural or sporting events open to the local community.

Role in society

The importance of higher education in society changes according to the country; for example, in many countries a student goes to university to obtain a diploma for work, but university is also often a time during which the student learns to be independent. Students also learn to mix with people of different origins, and to grow as people.^[1] Richer students can study in a place far from their hometown, but kids from poor neighbourhoods may be unable to afford college at all without a scholarship of some kind.

Higher Education Media

Students attend a linear algebra lecture at a tertiary institution: Helsinki University of Technology in Finland.
A student learning about automotive repair at the Chawama Youth Resource Centre in Lusaka, Zambia
A post-secondary graduate receives a diploma during a graduation ceremony at Germanna Community College in Virginia.
Bologna University in Italy, established in 1088 A.D., is the world's oldest university in continuous operation.
Established in 1224 by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, University of Naples Federico II in Italy is the world's oldest state-funded university in continuous operation.
Percentage of 25–29-year-olds who have completed at least four years of tertiary education, by wealth, selected countries, 2008-2014
Alma Mater by Daniel Chester French, Columbia University. The alma mater, meaning "nourishing mother" in Latin, is one of the most enduring symbols of the university. The phrase was first used to describe the University of Bologna, Italy, founded in 1088.
Deakin University, one of Australia's 43 universities
Sapienza University of Rome. It was founded in 1303 and is as such one of the world's oldest universities, and with 122,000 students, it is the largest university in Europe.
The Polytechnic University of Milan is the city's oldest university, founded in 1863. It is the best university in Italy.