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WHAT IS ISCED?

(International Standard Classification of Education - ISCED)

The International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) is a framework developed by UNESCO to facilitate the collection, compilation, and analysis of internationally comparable education statistics. It serves as a reference classification system that organizes educational programs and related qualifications based on education fields and levels.

ISCED revisions are the result of international agreements and are officially adopted by UNESCO member states. Initially published in 1976, ISCED has undergone revisions in 1997, 2011, and 2013 to accommodate changing educational systems and policies. Today, it is widely used by various countries for purposes such as shaping education policies and collecting statistical data.

ISCED in Higher Education

In order to address issues related to inconsistent program names—which could lead to complications in employment, academic mobility, and recognition—the Turkish higher education system standardized program names by integrating similar-content programs under one unified title.

As part of this process, in 2020, the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK) classified all active, inactive, and discontinued associate and bachelor’s degree programs based on the ISCED-F 2013 classification. The programs were grouped into scientific categories, including:

• Education Sciences
• Arts and Humanities
• Social Sciences, Journalism, and Information
• Business, Administration, and Law
• Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Statistics
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction
• Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Veterinary Sciences
• Health, Welfare, and Medical Support Services
• Services
• Theology/Islamic Sciences

This classification process established a scientific and standardized framework for naming undergraduate and associate degree programs, ensuring consistency in the higher education system.

ISCED Classification Process in Türkiye

To categorize academic programs based on scientific criteria, the classification process involved:

• 17 working commissions
• 120 academic experts
• 55 universities

Following feedback from universities, the final version of the classification was adopted. As a result, the number of associate and bachelor’s degree programs was reduced from approximately 2,230 to 679, ensuring a more systematic and efficient higher education structure.

For more details, you can access the ISCED-F 2013 document and the classification lists for higher education associate and bachelor’s degree programs.

https://uluslararasi.yok.gov.tr/Documents/avrupa-yuksekogretim-alani-ile-uyumlasma-projesi/documents/isced-f-2013.pdf

https://uluslararasi.yok.gov.tr/Documents/avrupa-yuksekogretim-alani-ile-uyumlasma-projesi/documents/onlisans-programlari-isced-f-2013-siniflamasi.pdf

https://uluslararasi.yok.gov.tr/Documents/avrupa-yuksekogretim-alani-ile-uyumlasma-projesi/documents/lisans-programlari-isced-f-2013-siniflamasi.pdf