Finland
There are two types of universities in Finland, foundation universities and public universities. The two foundation universities are Aalto and Tampere University of Technology, out of a total of 15 universities in Finland. There are statutory differences between the public universities and foundation universities. This profile considers primarily the framework applying to public universities. Several university mergers have been implemented since 2010, leading to the creation of the University of Aalto, the University of Eastern Finland and the University of the Arts.
Recent developments:
- New timeframe for university funding projections and targets in line with Government planning period
- Introduction of tuition fees for international students on Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes taught in English from January 2016
- Changes to ownership of university buildings underway with a move to greater university control of their buildings
- Cuts in public funding and subsequent university job losses
Organisational autonomy: high
The selection of the executive head is an internal matter of the university, as is its dismissal. The law nevertheless prescribes that the candidate must hold a doctorate and that their term of office is five years at most. Universities must have external members on their board/council but they control their appointment.
Financial autonomy: medium high
Restrictions concern ownership of buildings, which is done through specific companies. Universities may borrow money and keep surpluses. They cannot charge tuition fees for national/EU students but are now free to set tuition fee levels for non-EU students enrolled in English-taught programmes above a minimum level set by the government.
Academic autonomy: high
Student numbers are negotiated with an external authority. Universities may freely introduce programmes but only within the scope of their ‘educational responsibilities’, i.e. determined study fields. The termination of programmes must be agreed with an external authority. Universities may freely develop programmes in languages other than the national ones and are responsible for reviewing the quality of their activities.
Staffing autonomy: high
Universities can decide on recruitment, promotions and dismissals of senior academic and administrative staff. The only restriction concerns salaries, which are negotiated with other parties.
Organisational weighted 93% unweighted 91%
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 a doctoral degree
This applies to one other country: Lithuania
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, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, Wallonia, Ireland, The Netherlands, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
60% Term of office of the executive head
The maximum or range of length is stated in the law
100% External members in university governing bodies
Universities cannot decide as they must include external members
This applies to 23 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, 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, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Capacity to create legal entities
Universities can create legal entities without constraints
This applies to 18 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Croatia, Estonia, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Serbia, Spain, United Kingdom
Financial weighted 67% unweighted 51%
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, Denmark, Estonia, 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, Denmark, Estonia, France, Hesse, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
80% Ability to own buildings
Universities can sell their buildings with other types of restrictions
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, Denmark, Estonia, 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: Denmark, 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: Denmark, 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, Denmark, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Sweden
Staffing weighted 92% unweighted 92%
100% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 17 other countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, Hesse, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 20 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
67% Salaries for senior academic staff
Salary bands are negotiated with other parties
This applies to 5 other countries: Denmark, Iceland, The Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom
67% Salaries for senior administrative staff
Salary bands are negotiated with other parties
This applies to 6 other countries: Brandenburg, Hesse, Iceland, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway
100% Dismissal of senior academic staff
There are no sector-specific regulations concerning dismissals (national labour regulations apply)
This applies to 8 other countries: Denmark, Estonia, 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: Denmark, Estonia, Wallonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff
Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures
This applies to 11 other countries: Austria, Estonia, Flanders, Iceland, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff
Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures
This applies to 13 other countries: Austria, Estonia, Flanders, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Academic weighted 90% unweighted 88%
60% Overall student numbers
Universities negotiate with an external authority
This applies to 10 other countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Hesse, Iceland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain
100% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 8 other countries: Estonia, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, United Kingdom
100% Admissions procedures at Master's level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 18 other countries: Brandenburg, Estonia, France, Hesse, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom
80% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
Other restrictions
80% Introduction of programmes at Master's level
Other restrictions
80% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level
Other restrictions
60% Termination of degree programmes
The termination of degree programmes requires negotiation between universities and an external authority
This applies to 2 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg,
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, Denmark, Estonia, 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, Denmark, Estonia, 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
100% Selection of quality assurance providers
Universities can choose the quality assurance agency freely according to their needs (including agencies from other countries)
This applies to 7 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Hesse, Hungary, North Rhine-Westphalia, Switzerland
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, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom