What do people actually mean by "tertiary education"?
Tertiary means "third", and tertiary education is the third stage of education we can undertake in our lives.
Primary and secondary education is undertaken in schools, and by most people in their pre-teen and teenage years.
Tertiary education is undertaken at TAFE colleges, other VET providers and the universities. It is the non-compulsory education we undertake later in life to pursue our career, study and personal goals.
Tertiary study provides:
(http://www.satac.edu.au/satac/tertia3.jpg)
Source: http://www.satac.edu.au/satac/tertiaryeducation.htm