At what age do students usually begin higher education?

Students typically begin higher education at approximately 18 years of age.1

This standard entry age generally follows the completion of secondary education, which serves as the basic requirement for admission into most postsecondary institutions, including universities and colleges. While 18 is the conventional starting age, global participation rates vary significantly; at the turn of the 21st century, less than one-fifth of the 18–24 age demographic was enrolled in tertiary education worldwide, though this figure is substantially higher in industrialized nations.12