Denmark
Recent developments:
- Appointment process for external members of university boards/councils changed in 2012 to increase transparency around appointments
- Student numbers have been restricted for more academic programmes due to concerns about graduate employment
- From 2013 onwards there has been a change in the government’s regulation of admissions criteria at Bachelor level, with a move from external regulation to greater co-regulation with universities
- From 2014 onwards the Danish quality assurance system has been in transition, evolving from programme accreditation to institutional accreditation
- In 2013 the government introduced a new ‘pre-qualification’ requirement to ensure all new programmes have relevance in the employment market
Organisational autonomy: high
The selection criteria for executive heads are stated in law, which also regulates characteristics of university boards/councils (minimum and maximum size, inclusion of external members and their basic competences). The selection procedure, term of office and dismissal process for the executive head are the responsibility of universities. They also appoint their board members independently.
Financial autonomy: medium high
Universities receive an annual block grant of which they control the internal allocation. There are no restrictions on universities owning, buying and selling buildings. Universities may not charge tuition fees to Danish and EU nationals at any level. Universities may charge tuition fees to non-EU nationals at Bachelor and Master levels.
Academic autonomy: medium high
There are restrictions on student numbers for some programmes set by an external authority. At Bachelor and Master levels admissions are co-regulated by universities and an external authority. All new programmes must meet a ‘pre-qualification’ requirement to ensure they are relevant to employers. Universities in Denmark cannot choose either external quality assurance mechanisms or providers.
Staffing autonomy: high
The number of posts is regulated by an external authority for some administrative staff. Salaries for academic staff are negotiated with other parties. For administrative staff salary bands are prescribed by an external authority. For both academic and administrative staff promotions public sector regulations apply so posts cannot be filled until after a vacancy has been advertised and an application process has taken place.
Organisational weighted 94% unweighted 94%
100% Selection procedure for the executive head
The selection of the executive head is not validated by an external authority
75% Selection criteria for the executive head
The law states that the executive head must hold an academic position
100% Dismissal of the executive head
The procedure for the dismissal of the executive head is not stated in the law
This applies to 10 other countries: Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Ireland, The Netherlands, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Term of office of the executive head
The length of the term of office is not stated in the law
This applies to 5 other countries: Wallonia, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom
100% External members in university governing bodies
Universities cannot decide as they must include external members
This applies to 23 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Universities can freely decide on external members
100% Capacity to decide on academic structures
Universities can decide on their academic structures without constraints
This applies to 19 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
80% Capacity to create legal entities
Financial weighted 69% unweighted 53%
60% Length of public funding cycle
One year
100% Type of public funding
Block grant and there are no restrictions on the allocation of funding
This applies to 15 other countries: Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Hesse, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Ability to borrow money
Universities can borrow money without restrictions
100% Ability to keep surplus
Surplus can be kept without restrictions
This applies to 15 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Ability to own buildings
Universities can sell their buildings without restrictions
This applies to 9 other countries: Austria, Estonia, France, Wallonia, Italy, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level
There are no tuition fees
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level
There are no tuition fees
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level
There are no tuition fees
This applies to 10 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden
60% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level
Universities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees
This applies to 4 other countries: Finland, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland
60% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level
Universities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees
This applies to 4 other countries: Finland, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland
0% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level
There are no tuition fees
This applies to 6 other countries: Brandenburg, Finland, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Sweden
Staffing weighted 86% unweighted 86%
100% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 17 other countries: Austria, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Hesse, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
83% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff
The number of posts is regulated by an external authority for some staff
67% Salaries for senior academic staff
Salary bands are negotiated with other parties
This applies to 5 other countries: Finland, Iceland, The Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom
67% Salaries for senior administrative staff
Salary bands are prescribed by an external authority for all staff
100% Dismissal of senior academic staff
There are no sector-specific regulations concerning dismissals (national labour regulations apply)
This applies to 8 other countries: Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Dismissal of senior administrative staff
There are no sector-specific regulations concerning dismissals (national labour regulations apply)
This applies to 11 other countries: Estonia, Finland, Wallonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
86% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff
Other restrictions
86% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff
Academic weighted 75% unweighted 75%
60% Overall student numbers
Universities negotiate with an external authority
This applies to 10 other countries: Brandenburg, Finland, Hesse, Iceland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain
60% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level
Admission criteria are co-regulated by an external authority and universities
This applies to 11 other countries: Brandenburg, Croatia, Hesse, Latvia, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden
60% Admissions procedures at Master's level
Admission criteria are co-regulated by an external authority and universities
60% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
Other restrictions
60% Introduction of programmes at Master's level
Other restrictions
100% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level
Universities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation
This applies to 12 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Flanders, Hesse, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Termination of degree programmes
Universities can terminate degree programmes independently
This applies to 25 other countries: Croatia, Estonia, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Language of instruction at Bachelor level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 19 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Language of instruction at Master's level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 20 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Selection of quality assurance mechanisms
Universities cannot select quality assurance mechanisms
0% Selection of quality assurance providers
Universities cannot choose the quality assurance agency
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)
This applies to 25 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom