The structure of the European education systems 2013/14 : schematic diagrams.
Date: 2015-02-23
Institutions: European Education and Culture Executive Agency
Subjects: European Union, education policy, educational system, teaching curriculum

What is Eurydice 

The  Eurydice  Network  provides  infor-

mation  on  and  analyses  of  European 

education  systems  and  policies.  It 

consists of 40 national units based in 

all  36  countries  participating  in  the 

EU's  Lifelong  Learning  programme 

and  is  coordinated  and  managed  by 

the  EU  Education,  Audiovisual  and 

Culture Executive Agency in Brussels, 

which  drafts 

its  publications  and 

databases.  

The structure of the 

European education systems 

2013/14:  

schematic diagrams 

The online version of the 
leaflet  

The structure of the European 
education systems 2013/14: 
schematic diagrams can be found at: 

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/
eurydice/facts_and_figures_en.php#d
iagrams  

Contact 

Wim Vansteenkiste,  
Communication and Publications:  
+32 2 299 50 58 

These  diagrams  represent  the  structure  of  mainstream  education 

from pre-primary to tertiary level for the 2013/14 academic year.  

Thirty-nine education systems are included covering 33 countries 

of  the  Eurydice  Network:  the  28  EU  Member  States,  the  EFTA 

countries  (Liechtenstein,  Norway  and  Switzerland)  as  well  as  the 

candidate countries (Iceland and Turkey). 

Education 
and Training 

25 November 2013 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 

Guide to reading the diagrams 

These explanatory notes are intended to help readers 

the  additional  information  necessary  to  allow  readers 

explore  the  full  potential  of  the  information  provided 

to  understand  and  correctly  interpret  the  content  of 

in the diagrams. The key explains the meaning of the 

the diagrams. 

symbols  and  colours  used,  and  these  notes  provide 

Structure of the national educational programmes and ISCED levels 

The  diagrams  show  the  mainstream  educational 

programmes considered to be the most representative 

in  each  country.  This  encompasses  early  childhood 

education  provided 

in  publicly  subsidised  and 

accredited centre-based settings for children from the 

youngest  age.  Primary  and  secondary  education 

programmes  follow  and  these  largely  comprise  the 

period  of  compulsory  education  in  all  countries. 

Finally,  the  diagrams  show  post-secondary  non-

tertiary programmes as well as the main programmes 

offered at tertiary level.  

The  main  bar  of  the  diagrams  shows  each  national 

educational  system;  different  colours  represent  the 

different  levels  and  types  of  education.  The  small 

vertical  lines  within  the  levels  represent  the  division 

into  cycles  or  key  stages  for  primary  and  secondary 

Early childhood education and care  
(for which the Ministry of Education is not responsible)  

Early childhood education and care  
(for which the Ministry of Education is responsible) 

Primary education 

Single structure 

Secondary general education 

Secondary vocational education 

Post-secondary non-tertiary education 

Tertiary education (full-time) 

education,  as  well  as  the  duration  of  qualifying 

Allocation to the ISCED levels 

programmes 

in 

post-secondary 

and 

tertiary 

education.  

ISCED 0 

ISCED 1 

ISCED 2 

ISCED 3 

ISCED 4 

ISCED 5A 

ISCED 5B 

Separate  provision  outside  mainstream  education  for 

children  and  young  people  with  special  educational 

needs  is  not  included.  At  tertiary  level,  doctoral 

studies  as  well  as  the  specialised  studies  for  the 

regulated  professions 

such  as  medicine  and 

architecture are excluded. 

A  second  thin  bar  with  coloured  stripes  indicates  the 

corresponding  levels  of  education  as  defined  by  the 

1997  International  Standard  Classification  of  Educa-

tion  (ISCED).  This  classification  is  used  for  collecting 

statistical data for international comparisons.  

Compulsory full-time education 

Compulsory part-time education 

Combined school and workplace courses 

Additional year 

Study abroad 

year 

Programme being phased out during (year)  

Compulsory work experience + its duration 

Please  see  definitions  of  the  ISCED  levels  at  the  end  of 
this document 

Terms 

The  diagram  also  shows  current  and/or  forthcoming 

For  the  vast  majority  of  countries,  the  term  relating 

changes in the structure of the education and training 

to  the  type  of  institution  is  shown  on  the  diagram. 

systems.  In  a  few  countries  (the  Czech  republic, 

However,  the  type  of  education  or  programme  is 

Greece,  Austria,  Poland  and  Portugal),  programmes 

considered  to  be  more  important  in  some  countries, 

are being phased out in 2013/14. This is shown in the 

and  so  these  terms  are  given  where  appropriate.  All 

main bar of the countries concerned. 

terms are provided in the official national language(s) 

of the country.  

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 

Age of students and programme duration 

The  ‘age  of  students’  scale  starts  on  the  left  side  of 

competence-based  qualifications  or  bridging  courses 

the diagram and shows the age of pupils and students 

that  allow  access  to  tertiary  education.  Usually  these 

when  they  start  each  level  of  education  from  pre-

are  classified  as  ISCED  level  4,  i.e.  post-secondary 

primary  onwards  (ISCED  levels  1  to  4).  These  ages 

non-tertiary education.  

are  notional  and  give  an  indication  of  the  official  age 

at  which  children  might  begin  early  childhood 

As  students  might  enrol 

in 

tertiary  education 

education and care or compulsory education.  

However,  situations  such  as  early  or  late  entry,  year 

repetition  or  other  interruptions  to  schooling  are  not 

taken into account. 

programmes  or 

in  post-secondary  education  at 

different  ages  in  some  countries,  a  ‘programme 

duration’  scale  for  these  levels  of  education  is 

provided  on  the  right  side  of  the  diagram.  Moreover, 

as students can also take different amounts of time to 

Lifelong  learning  programmes  are  gaining  more  and 

complete  the  programmes,  for  instance,  where  stu-

more  importance  across  Europe  and  adults  are  given 

dents undertake part-time studies whilst also working, 

opportunities  to  retake  courses  they  have  previously 

the  scale  refers  to  the  standard  number  of  years 

left or to undertake further educational qualifications. 

allowed for completing studies at different stages on a 

These  courses  are  covered  in  the  diagrams  by 

full-time  basis.  The  duration  of  part-time  studies  or 

educational  programmes  such  as  those  providing  

individualised study patterns are not shown. 

Connections between programmes 

The  diagrams  also  show  the  points  at  which  students 

in  some  countries  as  students  progress  through  the 

may  transfer  to  a  different  type  of  school  or  edu-

system, the pathways from secondary/post-secondary 

cation, either within a level or on completion of a level 

education  to  tertiary  education  programmes  are  not 

or  programme.  These  transition  points  are  shown  by 

represented on the diagram. Therefore, the conditions 

the vertical lines linking to the programmes. However, 

of  entry  to  tertiary  education,  even  in  the  case  of 

as  the  number  of  possible  transition  routes  increases  

automatic progression, are not shown. 

Compulsory education: organisational models 

The diagrams reveal three main models of organisa-

tion  within  compulsory  education 

in  European 

Main models of primary and  
lower secondary education (ISCED 1-2) in Europe, 2013/14 

countries: 

•  Single  structure  education.  Education  is  provided 
in  a  continuous  way  from  the  beginning  to  the 

end  of  compulsory  schooling,  with  no  transition 

between  primary  and  lower  secondary  education, 

and  with  general  education  provided  in  common 

for all pupils. 

•  Common 

core 

curriculum  provision.  After 

successful  completion  of  primary  education 

(ISCED 1),  all  students  progress  to  the  lower 

secondary  level  (ISCED 2)  where  they  follow  the 

same general common core curriculum.  

•  Differentiated  lower  secondary  education.  After 
successful completion of primary education, either 

at  the  beginning  or  during  lower  secondary  edu-

cation,  students  are  required  to  follow  distinct 

educational  pathways  or  specific 

types  of 

schooling. 

Single structure 
(ISCED1+ISCED2) 

Common core 
curriculum (ISCED 2) 

Differentiated 
branches/streams 
(ISCED 2) 

Source: Eurydice. 

In  the  Czech  Republic,  Latvia,  Hungary  and  Slovakia,  compulsory  education  is 
organised  in  a  single  structure  up  to  ages  14  to  16.  However,  from  ages  10  to  13, 
students  in  these  countries  can,  at  certain  stages  in  their  school  career,  enrol  in 
separate establishments providing both lower and upper secondary education. 

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4 

Structure of the European education systems 2013/14 

Schematic diagrams:  

Belgium – French Community 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Belgium – German-speaking Community 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Belgium – Flemish Community 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Bulgaria 

Age of students 

Czech Republic 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denmark 

Age of students 

Germany 

Age of students 

Estonia 

Age of students 

Ireland 

Age of students 

5 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Early childhood education and care (for which the Ministry of Education is not responsible)  

Secondary vocational education 

Early childhood education and care (for which the Ministry of Education is responsible) 

Post-secondary non-tertiary education 

Primary education 

Single structure 

Secondary general education 

Tertiary education (full-time) 

Allocation to the ISCED levels: 

ISCED 0 

ISCED 1 

ISCED 2 

ISCED 3 

ISCED 4 

ISCED 5A 

ISCED 5B 

Compulsory full-time education 

  Additional year 

Combined school and workplace courses 

Compulsory part-time education 

  Study abroad 

  Compulsory work experience + its duration 

 Year 

Programme being  
phased out during (year) 

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6 

Greece 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

NB:  The  law  4186/2013  'Restructuring  Secondary  Education  and  other  provisions'  has  introduced  changes  in  the  provision  of  educational  programmes  in  the  Epaggelmatiko  Lykeio  (EPAL),  the 
Epaggelmatiki  Scholi  (EPAS) and  the  Institouto Epaggelmatikis Katartisis (IEK).  In EPAL  and  IEK  the  duration  of  studies  has  been  extended.  In EPAS,  the  first grade is  no longer  provided,  while 
students can still enrol in the second grade for the 2013/14 school year. 

Spain 

Age of students 

France 

Age of students 

Croatia 

Age of students 

Italy 

Age of students 

Cyprus 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Latvia 

Age of students 

Lithuania 

Age of students 

7 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Luxembourg 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Hungary 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Note:  

Compulsory education can end at the age of 16 or 18. The lower age limit (16) applies to students in grade 10 and below; the higher school leaving age (18) continues to apply to students in the 
grades above.  

Early childhood education and care (for which the Ministry of Education is not responsible)  

Secondary vocational education 

Early childhood education and care (for which the Ministry of Education is responsible) 

Post-secondary non-tertiary education 

Primary education 

Single structure 

Secondary general education 

Tertiary education (full-time) 

Allocation to the ISCED levels: 

ISCED 0 

ISCED 1 

ISCED 2 

ISCED 3 

ISCED 4 

ISCED 5A 

ISCED 5B 

Compulsory full-time education 

  Additional year 

Combined school and workplace courses 

Compulsory part-time education 

  Study abroad 

  Compulsory work experience + its duration 

 Year 

Programme being  
phased out during (year) 

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8 

Malta 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

The Netherlands 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Austria 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Note: Hauptschule is to be phased-out as from the 2014/15 school year. By 2018/19 all Hauptschulen will be transformed into Neue Mittelschulen. 

Poland 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Portugal 

Age of students 

9 

Programme duration (years) 

Note:   Cursos tecnológicos are no longer provided to new students. However, students enrolled in the 12th grade are still able to complete the courses 

Romania 

Age of students 

Slovenia 

Age of students 

Slovakia 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Early childhood education and care (for which the Ministry of Education is not responsible)  

Secondary vocational education 

Early childhood education and care (for which the Ministry of Education is responsible) 

Post-secondary non-tertiary education 

Primary education 

Single structure 

Secondary general education 

Tertiary education (full-time) 

Allocation to the ISCED levels: 

ISCED 0 

ISCED 1 

ISCED 2 

ISCED 3 

ISCED 4 

ISCED 5A 

ISCED 5B 

Compulsory full-time education 

  Additional year 

Combined school and workplace courses 

Compulsory part-time education 

  Study abroad 

  Compulsory work experience + its duration 

 Year 

Programme being  
phased out during (year) 

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 

Finland 

Age of students 

Sweden 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

United Kingdom – England 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

United Kingdom – Wales 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

United Kingdom – Northern Ireland 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

United Kingdom – Scotland 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

Iceland 

Age of students 

Programme duration (years) 

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Turkey 

Age of students 

Liechtenstein 

Age of students 

Norway 

Age of students 

Switzerland 

Age of students 

11 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Programme duration (years) 

Most students follow their studies in Switzerland. 

Early childhood education and care (for which the Ministry of Education is not responsible)  

Secondary vocational education 

Early childhood education and care (for which the Ministry of Education is responsible) 

Post-secondary non-tertiary education 

Primary education 

Single structure 

Secondary general education 

Tertiary education (full-time) 

Allocation to the ISCED levels: 

ISCED 0 

ISCED 1 

ISCED 2 

ISCED 3 

ISCED 4 

ISCED 5A 

ISCED 5B 

Compulsory full-time education 

  Additional year 

Combined school and workplace courses 

Compulsory part-time education 

  Study abroad 

  Compulsory work experience + its duration 

 Year 

Programme being  
phased out during (year) 

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12 

International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 1997) 

ISCED 0: Pre-primary education 

Pre-primary  education  is  defined  as  the  initial  stage  of  organised  instruction.  It  is  school-based  or  centre-based 

and is designed for children aged at least 3 years. 

ISCED 1: Primary education 

This level begins between 5 and 7 years of age, is compulsory in all countries, and generally lasts from four to six 

years. 

ISCED 2: Lower secondary education 

Lower secondary education continues the basic programmes started at primary level although teaching is typically 

more subject focused. Usually, the end of this level coincides with the end of compulsory education. 

ISCED 3: Upper secondary education 

This level generally begins at the end of compulsory education. The entry age is typically 15 or 16 years. Entrance 

qualifications  such  as  completion  of  compulsory  education  or  other  minimum  entry  requirements  are  usually 

needed.  Instruction  is  often  more  subject-oriented  than  at  ISCED  level  2.  The  typical  duration  of  ISCED  level  3 

varies from two to five years. 

ISCED 4: Post-secondary non-tertiary education 

These programmes straddle the boundary between upper secondary and tertiary education. They serve to broaden 

the  knowledge  of  ISCED  level  3  graduates.  Typical  examples  are  programmes  designed  to  prepare  students  for 

studies at level 5, or those designed to prepare students for direct entry to the labour market. 

ISCED 5: Tertiary education (first stage) 

Entry to these programmes normally requires the successful completion of ISCED level 3 or 4. This level includes 

tertiary programmes with academic orientation (type A), which are largely theory-based; and tertiary programmes 

with occupation orientation (type B), which are typically shorter than type A programmes and geared for entry into 

the labour market. 

Further information on  

national education systems and related policies  

EURYPEDIA,  the  European  Encyclopedia  on  National  Education  Systems  provides  up-to-date  and 

comprehensive information by country and level of education.  http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurypedia 

The  Eurydice  website  offers  comparative  reports  and  indicators  on  a  wide  range  of  topics  on  education.  

To see the latest reports, please consult http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice 

■ ■   The Structure of the European Education Systems 2013/14   ■ ■