Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings. The most common meaning, however, refers to the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by acquiring the meeting prerequisites.

Until the 1960s and 1970s, "matriculation", often shortened to "matric", was used (as in other Commonwealth countries) to refer to the successful completion of Form 6 (Year 12), the extra year of high school after the 'Leaving' year, which was the last year which had a completion certificate. The matriculation exam was the prerequisite for entry into universities (other tertiary education institutions had other entrance requirements). Matriculation has generally been replaced with a "Higher School Certificate" or a completion certificate such as the 'Victorian Certificate of Education'.

In Bangladesh, the shortened term "Matric" refers to the Secondary School Examination (SSC) taken at year 10, before Intermediate Exams taken in subsequent two years prior to university entry. Bangladesh like the rest of Indian sub-continent continued to use terms such as Matriculation Exams and Intermediate Exams taken from the days of the British Raj although these terms were replaced in England itself with O' or Ordinary Level Examinations (now called GCSE) and A' or Advanced Level Examinations respectively.