The terms 'higher education' and 'university' are often used interchangeably, confusing the level of provision with the place that delivers it. Colleges, private providers and prisons are some of the other places that are delivering higher education – yet they, and universities, are far more nuanced and complex. All these institutions are unique and operate in a tertiary education ecosystem that is becoming increasingly different depending upon context and location. This term - ‘tertiary’ - is used to pull together all post-compulsory education under one umbrella. Sometimes it’s called the ‘third level’, ‘post-16’ or ‘post-18’ - depending upon the age when compulsory education ends and student choice begins in a nation. Tertiary education is not all happening in a uniform way.
