Sweden
All institutions including universities that are government authorities follow applicable general rules and universities are also subject to the Higher Education Ordinance and Act. Similar rules are included in the statutes for universities with foundation status but the Higher Education Ordinance and Act does not apply to these institutions. Six Swedish universities have foundation status, which gives more autonomy to these institutions.
Recent developments:
- Change in appointment process for external members of governing bodies in 2012, with a two-person nomination committee providing suggestions to the government for final appointment; as of 2017 the university appoints one of two members
- Full capacity of universities to organise their academic structures from 2011
- Partial lifting of restrictions on universities establishing legal entities
- Introduction of tuition fees for non-EU students in 2011
- Increasing demand for student places
- New quality assurance system legislation introduced in March 2016
- Greater flexibility for universities in academic staff recruitment process
Organisational autonomy: medium high
The appointment and dismissal of the university executive head must be validated by an external authority. Selection criteria and the minimum term of office are stated in the law. Universities include external members in their governing bodies, and propose them for appointment by an external authority through a nominations committee. Universities can decide on internal academic structures. There are restrictions on the establishment of legal entities.
Financial autonomy: medium low
There is limited possibility to move funds between different activity categories of the block grant funding received by Swedish universities. Surpluses must be used within the same activity category for which the funding was allocated. Swedish universities that do not have foundation status may borrow money through a specific government-backed bank and cannot own buildings. Universities may not charge tuition fees for national and EU students at any level and for non-EU students at doctoral level. They may charge fees for non-EU students at Bachelor and Master levels.
Academic autonomy: medium high
Universities decide on overall student numbers. Admission criteria at Bachelor and Master levels are co-regulated. Universities may introduce new programmes without prior accreditation but cannot select either external quality assurance mechanisms or providers. Swedish universities can design the content of their degree programmes and may decide on the language of instruction.
Staffing autonomy: high
Universities can essentially decide on recruitment, salaries, promotions and dismissals. Minimum requirements for the recruitment process of academic staff are outlined in law.
Organisational weighted 61% unweighted 62%
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, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
75% Selection criteria for the executive head
The law states that the executive head must hold an academic position
80% Dismissal of the executive head
The dismissal is confirmed by an external authority but the procedure is decided by the university
60% Term of office of the executive head
The minimum length is stated in the law
This applies to one other country: North Rhine-Westphalia
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, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland
External members are proposed by the university and appointed by an external authority
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, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
60% Capacity to create legal entities
Financial weighted 56% unweighted 44%
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 from specific banks (designated by an external authority)
This applies to one other country: Brandenburg
80% Ability to keep surplus
Surplus can be kept but its allocation is pre-determined by an external authority
This applies to 3 other countries: Brandenburg, Wallonia, Poland,
0% Ability to own buildings
Universities are not allowed to own their buildings
This applies to 6 other countries: Brandenburg, Hesse, Hungary, Lithuania, North Rhine-Westphalia, Serbia,
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, Slovakia,
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, Slovakia, 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, Slovakia, United Kingdom
0% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level
There are no tuition fees
This applies to 6 other countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Finland, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway,
Staffing weighted 97% unweighted 96%
92% 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, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Other restrictions
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, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
100% Salaries for senior academic staff
Universities can freely decide on staff salaries
This applies to 4 other countries: Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Switzerland
100% Salaries for senior administrative staff
Universities can freely decide on staff salaries
This applies to 5 other countries: Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Switzerland, United Kingdom
80% 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, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 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, Finland, Wallonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Serbia, 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, Finland, Flanders, Iceland, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, 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, Slovakia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Academic weighted 66% unweighted 72%
100% Overall student numbers
Universities decide independently on the number of study places
This applies to 6 other countries: Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, United Kingdom
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, Denmark, Hesse, Latvia, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Spain,
60% Admissions procedures at Master's level
Admission criteria are co-regulated by an external authority and universities
80% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
Universities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation
This applies to 7 other countries: Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Other restrictions
80% Introduction of programmes at Master's level
Universities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation
This applies to 7 other countries: Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Other restrictions
80% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level
Universities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation
This applies to 12 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Flanders, Hesse, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Other restrictions
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, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, 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, Slovakia, Spain, 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, Slovakia, Spain, 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, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom