Greece

The institutional autonomy of Greek universities is limited in all dimensions. Organisational autonomy is rated as “medium low”, financial, staffing and academic autonomy as “low”.

At the organisational level, the law states multiple selection criteria for the executive head: candidates must hold a doctoral degree and an academic position and come from within the university in question. Greek universities are unable to include external representatives in their governing body and their internal academic structures are subject to approval by the education ministry.

Greece is one of only three countries that continue to allocate public funding in the form of a line-item budget. Institutions are unable to keep a surplus or borrow money and may only sell their buildings with external approval. No fees can be charged for national and EU Bachelor students and those for non-EU undergraduate students are set by the ministry.

Universities are heavily restricted in determining staffing policies. Specific regulations for public-sector employees apply to salaries, dismissals and promotion procedures. The number of posts for senior academic staff is regulated by the ministry, which also confirms appointments. Permanent administrative staff is recruited in a country-wide competition for all public services.

Regarding academic affairs, universities are similarly constrained. They must negotiate student numbers with an external authority. The ministry regulates admissions at Bachelor level. Greek universities are unable to select their quality assurance mechanisms and providers, as accreditation by the national agency is compulsory at programme level. Universities can only offer Bachelor courses in Greek.

In 2011, the Greek parliament passed a wide-ranging higher education reform package, which concerns governance structures and funding mechanisms.

Organisational weighted 43% unweighted 40%

0

0% Selection procedure for the executive head

The selection of the executive head is validated by an external authority

25

25% 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, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey

The law states that the executive head must hold a doctoral degree

This applies to 8 other countries: Cyprus, Finland, Flanders, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Sweden, Turkey

The law states that the executive head must come from within the university

This applies to 4 other countries: Cyprus, Flanders, Italy, Spain

80

80% Dismissal of the executive head

The dismissal is confirmed by an external authority but the procedure is decided by the university

This applies to 5 other countries: Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden

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 cannot include external members

This applies to 4 other countries: Brandenburg, Latvia, Poland, Turkey

60

60% Capacity to decide on academic structures

Other restrictions

This applies to one other country: Turkey

60

60% Capacity to create legal entities

Universities are only allowed to create not-for-profit legal entities

This applies to 5 other countries: Cyprus, Portugal, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey

Financial weighted 36% unweighted 29%

60

60% Length of public funding cycle

0

0% Type of public funding

Line-item budget

This applies to 2 other countries: Cyprus, Turkey

0

0% Ability to borrow money

Universities cannot borrow money

This applies to 6 other countries: Hesse, Hungary, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey

0

0% Ability to keep surplus

Surplus cannot be kept

This applies to 3 other countries: Cyprus, Ireland, Lithuania

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, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland

0

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

There are no tuition fees

This applies to 11 other countries: Brandenburg, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hesse, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden

100

100% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 7 other countries: Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, United Kingdom

0

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

There are no tuition fees

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, France, Spain

100

100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

0

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

There are no tuition fees

Staffing weighted 14% unweighted 13%

33

33% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff

Appointments need to be confirmed by an external authority for all staff

This does not apply to any other country.

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

This applies to 2 other countries: France, Turkey

0

0% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff

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

This does not apply to any other country.

Recruitments are carried out by an external authority for all staff

This does not apply to any other country.

0

0% Salaries for senior academic staff

Salaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for all staff

This applies to 4 other countries: Cyprus, Italy, Slovakia, Spain

0

0% Salaries for senior administrative staff

Salaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for all staff

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

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

43

43% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff

The law states who has to be included in the selection committee

This applies to 4 other countries: Cyprus, Norway, Portugal, Spain

Other restrictions

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

29

29% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff

The law states who has to be included in the selection committee

This applies to 2 other countries: Cyprus, Spain

Promotions are only possible if there is a post at a higher level

This applies to 5 other countries: Brandenburg, Cyprus, Lithuania, Portugal, Turkey

Academic weighted 40% unweighted 34%

60

60% Overall student numbers

Universities negotiate with an external authority

0

0% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level

Admissions are entirely regulated by an external authority

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

100

100% Admissions procedures at Master's level

Admission criteria are set by the university

0

0% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level

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

0

0% Introduction of programmes at Master's level

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

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, France, Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain

60

60% Termination of degree programmes

The termination of degree programmes requires negotiation between universities and an external authority

This applies to 4 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Finland, Turkey

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, France,

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: France, 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)