Academic
Academic autonomy refers to a university’s capacity to manage its internal academic affairs independently.
Academic autonomy refers to a university’s ability to decide on various academic issues, such as student admissions, academic content, quality assurance, the introduction of degree programmes and the language of instruction.
The ability to decide on overall student numbers and set admission criteria are fundamental aspects of institutional autonomy. While the number of study places has important implications for a university’s profile and finances, the capacity to select students contributes significantly to ensuring quality and matching student interest with the programmes offered.
The capacity to introduce academic programmes without outside interference and to select the language(s) of instruction enables a university to pursue its specific mission in a flexible way. A free choice of teaching language may also be important in the context of institutional internationalisation strategies.
Although quality assurance mechanisms are essential accountability tools, related processes can often be burdensome and bureaucratic. Universities should therefore be free to select the quality assurance regime and providers they consider as appropriate.
The ability to design the content of courses (except for the regulated professions) is a fundamental academic freedom.
Overall student numbers
7
countriesUniversities decide independently on the number of study places
This applies to 7 countries: Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom
4
countriesUniversities decide on the number of fee-paying students while an external authority sets the number of state-funded study places
11
countriesUniversities negotiate with an external authority
This applies to 11 countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Finland, Hesse, Iceland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain
1
countryAn external authority decides on the number of study places
This applies to one country: Serbia
6
countriesFree admission
This applies to 6 countries: Austria, Flanders, France, Wallonia, The Netherlands, Switzerland
Admissions procedures at Bachelor level
9
countriesAdmission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 9 countries: Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, United Kingdom
12
countriesAdmission criteria are co-regulated by an external authority and universities
This applies to 12 countries: Brandenburg, Croatia, Denmark, Hesse, Latvia, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden
8
countriesAdmissions are entirely regulated by an external authority
Admissions procedures at Master's level
19
countriesAdmission criteria are set by the university
This applies to 19 countries: Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom
8
countriesAdmission criteria are co-regulated by an external authority and universities
This applies to 8 countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Flanders, Hungary, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden
2
countriesAdmissions are entirely regulated by an external authority
This applies to 2 countries: Wallonia, Switzerland
Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level
8
countriesUniversities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation
This applies to 8 countries: Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
0
countriesA minority of new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced/funded
This does not apply to any country.
4
countriesAll new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be funded
This applies to 4 countries: Croatia, France, The Netherlands, Spain
10
countriesAll new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
This applies to 10 countries: Flanders, Wallonia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, North Rhine-Westphalia, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia
10
countriesOther restrictions
Introduction of programmes at Master's level
8
countriesUniversities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation
This applies to 8 countries: Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
0
countriesA minority of new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced/funded
This does not apply to any country.
4
countriesAll new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be funded
This applies to 4 countries: Croatia, France, The Netherlands, Spain
10
countriesAll new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
This applies to 10 countries: Flanders, Wallonia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, North Rhine-Westphalia, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia
10
countriesOther restrictions
Introduction of programmes at doctoral level
13
countriesUniversities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation
This applies to 13 countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Flanders, Hesse, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
0
countriesA minority of new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced/funded
This does not apply to any country.
0
countriesAll new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be funded
This does not apply to any country.
1
countryOnly some universities/academic units can open new degree programmes
This applies to one country: Lithuania
10
countriesAll new degree programmes/courses must be submitted to prior accreditation to be introduced
This applies to 10 countries: Croatia, France, Wallonia, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain
8
countriesOther restrictions
Termination of degree programmes
26
countriesUniversities can terminate degree programmes independently
This applies to 26 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, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
3
countriesThe termination of degree programmes requires negotiation between universities and an external authority
This applies to 3 countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Finland
0
countriesThe termination of degree programmes occurs on the initiative of an external authority
This does not apply to any country.
0
countriesOther restrictions
This does not apply to any country.
Language of instruction at Bachelor level
1
countryUniversities can only offer degree programmes/courses in the national language
This applies to one country: France
20
countriesUniversities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 20 countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
2
countriesUniversities can choose the language of instruction for certain programmes
2
countriesThe number of degree programmes/courses taught in a foreign language is limited by an external authority
2
countriesUniversities can choose the language of instruction only if the programme is also offered in the national language
3
countriesUniversities can choose the language of instruction but will not receive public funding for foreign-language programmes
Language of instruction at Master's level
0
countriesUniversities can only offer degree programmes/courses in the national language
This does not apply to any country.
21
countriesUniversities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes
This applies to 21 countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
2
countriesUniversities can choose the language of instruction for certain programmes
2
countriesThe number of degree programmes/courses taught in a foreign language is limited by an external authority
2
countriesUniversities can choose the language of instruction only if the programme is also offered in the national language
3
countriesUniversities can choose the language of instruction but will not receive public funding for foreign-language programmes
Selection of quality assurance mechanisms
3
countriesUniversities can select quality assurance mechanisms freely according to their needs
This applies to 3 countries: Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia
26
countriesUniversities cannot select quality assurance mechanisms
Selection of quality assurance providers
8
countriesUniversities can choose the quality assurance agency freely according to their needs (including agencies from other countries)
This applies to 8 countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Estonia, Finland, Hesse, Hungary, North Rhine-Westphalia, Switzerland
0
countriesUniversities can only select between national quality assurance agencies
This does not apply to any country.
21
countriesUniversities cannot choose the quality assurance agency
Capacity to design content of degree programmes
26
countriesUniversities can freely design the content of degree programmes and courses (other than for the regulated professions)
This applies to 26 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, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
3
countriesAuthorities specify some content of academic courses
0
countriesAuthorities specify all content of academic courses
This does not apply to any country.
0
countriesOther restrictions
This does not apply to any country.