France
Recent developments:
- New law passed in 2013 introducing changes in university governance, including a reshaping of governing bodies and their responsibilities
- Change in accreditation body and approach (validation of externally conducted evaluations)
- Ability of universities to recruit students at Master level as of 2017
- Re-configuration of the sector through concentration measures, including university communities and full-scale mergers
Organisational autonomy: medium low
Governance matters are significantly regulated by the state, including selection criteria, term of office and dismissal of the executive head. Governance structures include external members, partly appointed by the university. Institutions cannot fully decide on their academic structures but may create legal entities.
Financial autonomy: medium low
Universities receive an annual block grant, with limited possibility to move funds between pre-set categories. Universities can borrow money with the approval of an external authority. Some universities own their real estate and may sell their buildings. The level of tuition fees for all types of students studying at all levels is set by the state.
Academic autonomy: low
Admission to Bachelor’s programmes is entirely regulated by an external authority, while universities have gained the capacity to recruit students at Master level. All new degree programmes must be submitted to a prior accreditation to receive funding. Universities cannot choose either external quality assurance mechanisms or providers.
Staffing autonomy: medium low
The number of senior academic posts is regulated by an external authority. Recruitment for some senior administrative positions is also carried out externally on the basis of national competitions. Salary bands for all staff are prescribed by an external authority. Dismissal procedures are strictly regulated due to civil servant status of most staff. There are restrictions on promotions for all staff.
Organisational weighted 59% unweighted 56%
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
0% Dismissal of the executive head
The dismissal is carried out by an external authority according to a procedure stated in the law
This does not apply to any other country.
0% Term of office of the executive head
The exact length is stated in the law
57% External members in university governing bodies
Universities cannot decide as they must include external members
This applies to 23 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
External members are partly appointed by the university and partly by an external authority
60% Capacity to decide on academic structures
100% Capacity to create legal entities
Universities can create legal entities without constraints
This applies to 18 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Serbia, Spain, United Kingdom
Financial weighted 45% unweighted 33%
60% Length of public funding cycle
One year
60% Type of public funding
Block grant is split into broad categories and there are no or limited possibilities to move funds between these
80% Ability to borrow money
Universities can borrow money with the approval of an external authority
This applies to 4 other countries: Croatia, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Spain
100% Ability to keep surplus
Surplus can be kept without restrictions
This applies to 15 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
60% Ability to own buildings
Universities can sell their buildings without restrictions
This applies to 9 other countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Wallonia, Italy, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom
Other restrictions
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level
Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
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: Croatia, Flanders, Wallonia, The Netherlands, Spain
0% Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level
Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
0% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level
Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
0% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level
Only an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
0% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level
Staffing weighted 43% unweighted 42%
42% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff
Appointments need to be confirmed by an external authority for some staff
The number of posts is regulated by an external authority for all staff
This does not apply to any other country.
Other restrictions
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% Salaries for senior academic staff
Salary bands are prescribed by an external authority for all staff
67% Salaries for senior administrative staff
Salary bands are prescribed by an external authority for all staff
0% Dismissal of senior academic staff
Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff
0% Dismissal of senior administrative staff
Dismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff
57% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff
Other restrictions
43% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff
Academic weighted 37% unweighted 39%
0% Overall student numbers
Free admission
This applies to 5 other countries: Austria, Flanders, Wallonia, The Netherlands, Switzerland
0% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level
Admissions are entirely regulated by an external authority
100% Admissions procedures at Master's level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 18 other countries: Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom
40% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be funded
This applies to 3 other countries: Croatia, The Netherlands, Spain
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 3 other countries: Croatia, The Netherlands, Spain
0% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
100% Termination of degree programmes
Universities can terminate degree programmes independently
This applies to 25 other countries: Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, 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
0% Language of instruction at Bachelor level
Universities can only offer degree programmes/courses in the national language
This does not apply to any other country.
83% Language of instruction at Master's level
Universities can choose the language of instruction for certain programmes
This applies to one other country: Lithuania
0% 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, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom