In these indicators, higher education includes two education levels, covering vocational programs to advanced graduate degrees. The first level contains two types of programs: vocational programs and academic programs. The vocational programs provide a level of education that is designed to prepare students to enter directly into the labor market. Academic programs at the first level of higher education—referred to as bachelor degree programs in the United States—are intended to provide sufficient qualifications for gaining entry into advanced research programs and professions with high skill requirements. The second level of higher education includes doctoral studies and usually requires the completion of a research thesis or dissertation.