Slovakia
There are three types of higher education institutions in Slovakia: they are either public or private, or “state higher education institutions”. The country profile focuses on the position of public universities.
Recent developments:
- Decreasing number of part-time fee-paying students in the system
- Adjustments to public funding allocation mechanisms
- Phasing out of civil servant status for university staff towards public sector employee status
Organisational autonomy: medium low
The selection and dismissal of the executive heads of universities in Slovakia must be validated by an external authority. The dismissal procedure and exact length of the term of office are stated in the law. Universities propose part of the external members who compose the university board, and are consulted on the rest, but they are appointed by an external authority. Academic structures of universities are established by law. Slovak universities may freely create non-profit legal entities but face restrictions with regard to the creation of for-profit legal entities.
Financial autonomy: medium high
There is limited possibility of moving funds between block grant categories, which universities receive on an annual basis. Universities can keep surpluses without restrictions and borrow money up to a limited percentage as well as other conditions. Universities may not charge tuition fees to national and EU full-time students at any level, but may decide on the fees for international students.
Academic autonomy: medium low
The overall student numbers are decided upon in consultation with universities. Universities set admission criteria at all levels. All new degree programmes must be submitted to prior accreditation before they can be introduced, and universities cannot choose the quality assurance agency. Universities can terminate study programmes independently. Universities can design the content of academic programmes and choose the language of instruction.
Staffing autonomy: medium high
Universities are free to recruit senior academic and administrative staff. Salaries are set by an external authority for all staff. Dismissals are subject to regulations specific to the sector while promotions are an internal matter.
Organisational weighted 42% unweighted 40%
0% Selection procedure for the executive head
The selection of the executive head is validated by an external authority
This applies to 11 other countries: Brandenburg, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
100% Selection criteria for the executive head
The selection criteria for the executive head are not stated in the law
This applies to 9 other countries: Austria, Wallonia, Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
40% Dismissal of the executive head
The dismissal is confirmed by an external authority and the procedure is stated in the law
This applies to 5 other countries: Brandenburg, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Spain
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, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
External members are proposed by the university and appointed by an external authority
0% Capacity to decide on academic structures
Faculties/other academic structures are listed in the law
This applies to 3 other countries: Croatia, Luxembourg, Slovenia
80% Capacity to create legal entities
Financial weighted 70% unweighted 64%
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 up to a maximum percentage
This applies to 4 other countries: Brandenburg, Ireland, Italy, North Rhine-Westphalia,
100% Ability to keep surplus
Surplus can be kept without restrictions
This applies to 15 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Ability to own buildings
Universities can sell their buildings without restrictions
This applies to 9 other countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Wallonia, Italy, The Netherlands, 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, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Sweden
100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level
Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees
This applies to 13 other countries: Croatia, Estonia, Flanders, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, United Kingdom
100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level
Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees
This applies to 13 other countries: Croatia, Estonia, Flanders, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, United Kingdom
100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level
Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees
This applies to 11 other countries: Croatia, Estonia, Flanders, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, United Kingdom
Staffing weighted 61% unweighted 59%
100% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff
Recruitments are carried out freely by universities
This applies to 17 other countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Hesse, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Serbia, 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, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
17% Salaries for senior academic staff
Salaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for all staff
17% Salaries for senior administrative staff
Salaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for all staff
20% Dismissal of senior academic staff
Dismissals are subject to other regulations specific to the sector
This applies to 8 other countries: Austria, Croatia, Flanders, Ireland, The Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Switzerland
20% Dismissal of senior administrative staff
Dismissals are subject to other regulations specific to the sector
This applies to 5 other countries: Austria, Flanders, Ireland, The Netherlands, Switzerland
100% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff
Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures
This applies to 11 other countries: Austria, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Iceland, The Netherlands, Poland, 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, Finland, Flanders, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Academic weighted 56% unweighted 55%
60% Overall student numbers
Universities negotiate with an external authority
This applies to 10 other countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Finland, Hesse, Iceland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain
100% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 8 other countries: Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, United Kingdom
100% Admissions procedures at Master's level
Admission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 18 other countries: Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, United Kingdom
0% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
0% Introduction of programmes at Master's level
All new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
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, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, 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, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, 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, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
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, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom