France

France is situated at the top of the “medium low” group of countries for organisational, financial and staffing autonomy, and in the “low” group for academic autonomy.

Restrictions on organisational autonomy relate to the selection criteria, dismissal and term of office of the executive head. In addition, some external representatives in university boards are appointed by the local authorities. The law also contains some guidelines concerning internal academic structures, though these are not particularly stringent.

Most aspects of financial management are to some extent regulated in the law. The block grant is split into broad categories and universities can only borrow money and sell their buildings with the approval of the ministry. Fee levels are set by an external authority for all student groups. However, universities are free to keep a surplus on their public funding.

Restrictions apply to all aspects of staffing policy. Salary bands are prescribed for academic and administrative staff and dismissals are strictly regulated for nearly all university personnel. The state imposes promotion quotas for public servants.

Academic autonomy is most heavily constrained. France practises a system of free admissions for first-cycle students. For Master’s students, selection criteria may be set by universities. All programmes must be accredited by the national evaluation agency and courses at Bachelor level may only be taught in French, although there are exceptions. French universities are free to design the content of their degree programmes.

The reforms implemented in France since 2007 have increased autonomy, but there is a widely-held view that not enough support has been provided for the development of the new competencies, such as management and leadership skills, needed for their successful implementation.

Organisational weighted 59% unweighted 56%

100

100% Selection procedure for the executive head

The selection of the executive head is not validated by an external authority

75

75% Selection criteria for the executive head

The law states that the executive head must hold an academic position

This applies to 13 other countries: Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey

0

0% Dismissal of the executive head

The dismissal is carried out by an external authority according to a procedure stated in the law

This applies to one other country: Turkey

0

0% Term of office of the executive head

The exact length is stated in the law

57

57% External members in university governing bodies

Universities cannot decide as they must include external members

External members are partly appointed by the university and partly by an external authority

This applies to 5 other countries: Austria, Cyprus, Hesse, Iceland, Lithuania

60

60% Capacity to decide on academic structures

Guidelines exist in the law

This applies to 4 other countries: Czech Republic, Iceland, Italy, Sweden

100

100% Capacity to create legal entities

Universities can create legal entities without constraints

Financial weighted 45% unweighted 33%

60

60% Length of public funding cycle

60

60% Type of public funding

Block grant is split into broad categories and there are no or limited possibilities to move funds between these

This applies to 7 other countries: Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden

80

80% Ability to borrow money

Universities can borrow money with the approval of an external authority

This applies to 5 other countries: Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Spain

100

100% Ability to keep surplus

Surplus can be kept without restrictions

60

60% Ability to own buildings

Universities can sell their buildings with the approval of an external authority

This applies to 7 other countries: Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland

0

0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level

Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 5 other countries: Austria, Cyprus, The Netherlands, Spain, Turkey

0

0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level

Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 5 other countries: Austria, Cyprus, The Netherlands, Spain, Turkey

0

0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level

Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 4 other countries: Austria, Cyprus, Spain, Turkey

0

0% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level

Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 4 other countries: Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Spain

0

0% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level

Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 3 other countries: Austria, Cyprus, Spain

0

0% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level

Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 3 other countries: Austria, Cyprus, Spain

Staffing weighted 43% unweighted 42%

42

42% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff

The number of posts is regulated by an external authority for all staff

This applies to 2 other countries: Greece, Turkey

Other restrictions

58

58% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff

Recruitments are carried out by an external authority for some staff

This does not apply to any other country.

67

67% Salaries for senior academic staff

Salary bands are prescribed by an external authority for all staff

This applies to 5 other countries: Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey

67

67% Salaries for senior administrative staff

Salary bands are prescribed by an external authority for all staff

This applies to 5 other countries: Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Turkey

0

0% Dismissal of senior academic staff

Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff

0

0% Dismissal of senior administrative staff

Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff

57

57% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff

Other restrictions

This applies to 7 other countries: Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Hesse, Ireland, Italy, North Rhine-Westphalia

43

43% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff

Other restrictions

This applies to 5 other countries: Denmark, Hesse, Ireland, Italy, North Rhine-Westphalia

Academic weighted 37% unweighted 39%

0

0% Overall student numbers

Free admission

This applies to 4 other countries: Austria, Flanders, The Netherlands, Switzerland

0

0% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level

Admissions are entirely regulated by an external authority

This applies to 7 other countries: Austria, Denmark, Flanders, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Switzerland

100

100% Admissions procedures at Master's level

Admission criteria are set by the university

40

40% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level

All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be funded

This applies to 2 other countries: The Netherlands, Spain

40

40% Introduction of programmes at Master's level

All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be funded

This applies to 2 other countries: The Netherlands, Spain

0

0% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level

All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced

This applies to 6 other countries: Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain

100

100% Termination of degree programmes

Universities can terminate degree programmes independently

0

0% Language of instruction at Bachelor level

Universities can only offer degree programmes/courses in the national language

This applies to 2 other countries: Cyprus, Greece

83

83% Language of instruction at Master's level

Universities can choose the language of instruction for certain programmes

This applies to 2 other countries: Greece, Lithuania

0

0% Selection of quality assurance mechanisms

Universities cannot select quality assurance mechanisms

0

0% Selection of quality assurance providers

Universities cannot choose the quality assurance agency

100

100% Capacity to design content of degree programmes

Universities can freely design the content of degree programmes and courses (other than for the regulated professions)