Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, Rev. 2.1 (NACE Rev. 2.1) - Section Q

This section includes education at any level or for any profession. The instructions may be oral or written and may be provided by radio, television, the internet or via correspondence.

Education activities are those having an educational programme, a time frame and some evaluation of the knowledge achieved.

This section includes formal initial education at its various levels provided by institutions in the regular school system designed for students as a continuous educational pathway before their first entrance into the labour market, as well as formal education outside the regular school system with programme content and qualifications that are equivalent to those of such initial education (adult education, literacy programmes, and so on).

Also included are activities provided at their respective levels by military schools and academies, prison schools, and so on.

This section includes compulsory and non-compulsory schooling, as well as public and private education.

For each level of education, special education for physically or mentally disabled persons is included.

Groups 85.1 to 85.4 take into account the formal education activities provided under the international classification of educational programmes (ISCED-P 2011 classification). The breakdown of the categories in this section is based on the level of education offered as defined by the levels of ISCED-P 2011*. The activities of educational institutions providing courses at ISCED-P 2011 Level 0 are classified in class 85.10, at ISCED-P 2011 Level 1 in class 85.20, at ISCED-P 2011 Level 2 category 24 and Level 3 category 34 in class 85.31, at ISCED-P 2011 2011 Level 2 category 25 and Level 3 category 35 in class 85.32, at ISCED-P 2011 Level 4 in class 85.33 and at ISCED-P 2011 Levels 5 to 8 in group 85.4.

Educational institutions classified in groups 85.2 to 85.4 are authorised to certify successful completion of an educational programme, usually in the form of a document officially recognised by the relevant national education authorities.

NOTE: * mappings between the levels of education and the name of the qualifications in national language can be found here https://europa.eu/!mDwYbG">https://europa.eu/!mDwYbG

This class includes:
- pre-primary education, which is defined as the initial stage of organised instruction designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment, that is, to provide a bridge between the home and a school-based environment.

This class includes primary education: the furnishing of academic courses and associated coursework that give students a sound basic education in reading, writing and mathematics and an elementary understanding of other subjects (for example, history, geography, natural science, social science, art and music).

This group includes the provision of general secondary and technical and vocational secondary education.

This class includes the provision of education that lays the foundation for lifelong learning and human development and is capable of furthering education opportunities. Activities classified in this class are based on programmes that are usually on a more subject-oriented curriculum using more specialised teachers and more often employing several teachers conducting classes in their field of specialisation.

Subject specialisation at this level often begins to have some influence even on the educational experience of those pursuing a general programme. Such programmes are designed to qualify students either for technical and vocational education or for entrance to higher education without any special subject prerequisite.

This class includes:
- lower general secondary education corresponding more or less to compulsory school age
- upper general secondary education, whether granting access or not to higher education

This class includes the provision of education typically emphasising subject-matter specialisation and instruction in both a theoretical background and practical skills that are generally associated with present or prospective employment. The aim of a programme can vary from preparation for a general field of employment to a very specific job.

This class includes:
- technical and vocational education below the level of post-secondary non-tertiary education as defined in 85.33

This class includes the provision of post-secondary education and training programmes (both general and vocational) which cannot be considered tertiary education; these are post-secondary non-tertiary education and training programmes. It may also include the provision of supplementary post-secondary education to prepare for tertiary education or for post-secondary non-tertiary vocational education.

This class includes the furnishing of tertiary academic, professional and vocational courses and the granting of degrees at short-cycle, bachelor’s or equivalent level, master’s or equivalent level, and doctoral level.

This class includes education in public and private universities provided at the level of:
- short-cycle studies, usually based on practical learning appropriate to the performance of a given profession and preparing students for entry into the labour market or other higher education programmes
- first-cycle studies open to applicants with a secondary school leaving certificate and leading to a first-degree qualification
- second-cycle studies open to applicants holding at least a first-cycle qualification and leading to a second-cycle qualification
- comprehensive master’s degree courses open to applicants holding a secondary school leaving certificate and leading to a second-cycle qualification
- postgraduate studies open to applicants who have completed at least first-cycle studies and leading to a postgraduate qualification
- third-cycle studies (training for doctoral students) open to applicants holding at least second-cycle studies and leading to a third-cycle qualification

Education may be conducted as full-time or part-time studies.

This group includes education (including non-formal) which is neither part of initial education in the regular school system, nor equivalent in programme content and qualifications to those programmes. It includes training for any professional, hobby or self-development purposes for both children and adults, including non-formal continuing vocational education and training. Non-formal education is defined by ISCED-P 2011 as institutionalised, intentional and planned by an education provider, as an addition, alternative and/or complement to formal education within the process of an individual’s lifelong learning. It targets people of all ages but does not necessarily apply a continuous pathway/structure; it may be short in duration and/or low-intensity, and it is typically provided in the form of short courses, workshops or seminars.

This group includes the provision of athletic instruction to groups or individuals, foreign language instruction, instruction in the arts, drama or music, as well as other instruction or specialised training provided by camps and schools, not comparable to the education in groups 85.1 to 85.4.

This class includes the provision of instruction in athletic activities to groups or individuals (for example, by camps, schools). Activities provided by day and overnight sports instruction camps are also included. Instruction may be provided in diverse settings (for example, the unit’s or client’s training facilities, educational institutions) or by other means, including the internet. Instruction provided in this class offers structured educational arrangements (for example, student-teacher relationships) that are specially designed for education and learning. However, it does not lead to qualifications at primary through to tertiary levels. 

This class includes:
- sports instruction in camps or schools
- gymnastics instruction
- riding instruction
- swimming instruction
- martial arts instruction
- card game instruction (e.g. bridge)
- board game courses
- yoga or Pilates instruction
- e-sports instruction

This class includes the provision of instruction in the arts, drama and music (for example, by schools, studios, classes). Structured educational arrangements specially designed for education and learning (for example, student-teacher relationships and/or interactions) are provided. Such instruction is mainly for hobby, recreational or self-development purposes, and does not lead to qualifications at primary through to tertiary levels.

This class includes:
- music instruction
- art instruction
- dance instruction
- drama, fine arts, performing arts and photography instruction

This class includes:
- education that is not definable by level
- academic tutoring
- remedial courses
- professional examination review courses
- language instruction and conversational skills instruction
- computer training (e.g. general computer use, programming courses, use of computer applications)
- relaxation courses (e.g. meditation courses, breathing techniques, courses of awareness through movement, courses on stress and anxiety relief techniques)
- sewing courses
- oenology courses
- family life courses (e.g. parent–child courses)
- training on plant protection products

This class includes the intermediation of service activities for courses and tutors by bringing clients and service providers together for a fee or commission, without the intermediary providing the services intermediated. These intermediation activities can be carried out on digital platforms or through non-digital channels (including face-to-face, door-to-door, telephone, mail, and so on). The fee or commission can be received from either the client or the provider of the service activities for courses and tutors. Revenue for the intermediation activities can include other sources of income (for example, revenues from the sale of advertising space).

This class includes:
- provision of non-instructional activities that support educational processes or systems:
 • educational consulting
 • vocational and career-related counselling activities
 • educational guidance counselling activities
 • educational testing evaluation activities
 • educational testing activities
 • organisation of student exchange programmes
 • examination and testing of regulated professions (e.g. pilots)
 • development of curricula
 • expert and rehabilitation activities examining learning ability