Appendix E - Field of education classification
The field of education classification is used to describe the principal subject matter of higher education and VET courses and units of study. This is also referred to as the Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED).
Its main purpose is to ensure courses, specialisations and units of study with the same or similar vocational emphasis are reliably classified as belonging to the same "field of education". It is used nationally in all administrative and survey collections which incorporate data on education by field.
There are two main elements in the Higher Education Student, VET data collections and University Application and Offers data collections that use the Field of education classification. These are:
- Field of education code (element 461) to classify a course.
- Discipline code (element 464) to classify a unit of study.
This classification is also used for:
- Field of education supplementary code (element 462) for combined degrees.
- Specialisation code (element 463) for higher education course completions.
- Field details (element 562) for prior VET study.
How to code your field of education / discipline codes
This classification is available on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.
How to apply field of education / discipline codes
The Structure of the Field of Education Classification page provides information about the structure of field of education codes and how to apply them.
The descriptions are only indicative. You will need to make a judgement as to what field of education category is appropriate for courses, specialisations and units of study of study containing subject matter not specifically listed.