Tertiary education
Tertiary Education
Tertiary education, also known as higher education or third-level education, is the level of education after one has completed secondary education, like a secondary school or a high school. In most cases, tertiary education is seen as including undergraduate and postgraduate levels of education, as well as vocational training and education. The main institutions providing tertiary education are colleges and universities, collectively known as tertiary institutions.
In the world, the US provides the largest number of graduates of tertiary education. Many other countries have also been having graduates in recent years. Some of them are China, Brazil, India, Korea and South Africa. Some other countries providing more graduates are Germany with 4.8%, France (3.7%), Spain (3.3%) and Canada (3.6%).
Components of Tertiary Education
The human civilization can hardly survive without tertiary education because it is what provides essential skills needed for the modern society to survive. Tertiary education has helped in producing the doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers and academics that help us to continue to have high-quality lives, even making us to be hopeful of a better future for our offspring.
Tertiary education is the source of intellectual development and perpetual cycle of training, and it will always be an aspiration for the future and an essential beacon of hope. Undergraduate programs taken in tertiary education include bachelors, associates, diploma and certificate degrees. An undergraduate degree is often succeeded by graduate programs involving master’s and doctorate programs.
Financing Tertiary Education
Tertiary education usually requires a huge investment, which most students are not always able to afford. Therefore, many of them, especially in the developed world, usually rely on scholarships and state-provided student loans. Bursaries and scholarships are made available to secondary school students willing to attend colleges and universities, and such awards are based on their results. Some employers also assist their employees in going for tertiary education while they continue to be paid during the course of study.
In the US, the average cost of tertiary education is about $15,000 per year, including feeding and books, meaning that one should be prepared to spend close to $100,000 for a 4 to 5-year course. If you are a student with a higher taste, you are likely to be spending up to $25,000 per year. The college or university you are attending may also make you to spend more or less. If it is a school with good reputation in terms of quality of education, you are likely to pay more.
Of course, governments are playing important roles in the number of citizens who go for tertiary education. However, parents are the real driving force through their zeal and willingness to support the studies of their children financially. Increase in privatization has also contributed to the growth in the number of those who enroll in tertiary education, with over 80% of students studying at private colleges and universities in countries like Korea, Japan and Singapore, and more than 60% of the funds needed to complete the education usually comes from the family members.
Importance of Tertiary Education
1. Good life – It has been discovered that the people with tertiary education generally live a good or high-quality life because they are well paid. They are the people who make better employees, parents and partners. The good lives they have generally make them to follow societal norms and do not often get involved in anti-social activities. Those who have passed through tertiary education are more tolerant, and are always willing to help in building a peaceful society.
2. Helping others – The people who have tertiary education are always willing to help others. They are living a good life and are always willing to make sacrifices for others, especially those who are less-privileged.
You have a lot to gain by going for tertiary education. You will benefit emotionally, socially, intellectually and financially. The good thing is that there are still many universities and governments providing many financing options that enable students to complete their studies without problems. You only need to submit your application for the financial aids and loans during the application periods.