Financial

Financial autonomy refers to a university’s ability to manage its funds and allocate its budget independently.

Financial autonomy refers to a university’s ability to decide freely on its internal financial affairs. The ability to manage its funds independently enables an institution to set and realise its strategic aims.

European universities receive an important proportion of their funds from the state. Whether this funding is provided as a line-item budget or a block grant, the extent to which it may be freely allocated to different budget lines and the length of the funding cycle are important aspects of financial autonomy.

The abilities to keep a surplus and borrow money on the financial markets facilitate long-term financial planning and provide universities with the flexibility they need to fulfil their diverse missions in the most suitable way. Similarly, the capacity to own and sell university-occupied buildings enables them to determine institutional strategies and academic profiles.

The ability to charge tuition fees opens up new private funding streams, which make up a significant percentage of university budgets in some higher education systems. In these cases, the freedom to charge and set the level of tuition fees is a crucial factor in deciding on institutional strategies.

Length of public funding cycle

3
countriesMore than one year

This applies to 3 countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Luxembourg

26
countriesOne year

0
countriesLess than one year

This does not apply to any country.

Type of public funding

1
countryLine-item budget

This applies to one country: Serbia

16
countriesBlock grant and there are no restrictions on the allocation of funding

8
countriesBlock grant is split into broad categories and there are no or limited possibilities to move funds between these

This applies to 8 countries: France, Wallonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden

1
countryBlock grant but internal allocation possibilities are limited by law

This applies to one country: Croatia

5
countriesBlock grant with other restrictions

This applies to 5 countries: Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Poland

Ability to borrow money

6
countriesUniversities cannot borrow money

This applies to 6 countries: Hesse, Hungary, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Switzerland

8
countriesUniversities can borrow money without restrictions

5
countriesUniversities can borrow money up to a maximum percentage

This applies to 5 countries: Brandenburg, Ireland, Italy, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia

5
countriesUniversities can borrow money with the approval of an external authority

This applies to 5 countries: Croatia, France, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Spain

2
countriesUniversities can borrow money from specific banks (designated by an external authority)

This applies to 2 countries: Brandenburg, Sweden

4
countriesUniversities can borrow money with other types of restrictions

This applies to 4 countries: Iceland, Lithuania, Poland, United Kingdom

Ability to keep surplus

3
countriesSurplus cannot be kept

This applies to 3 countries: Ireland, Lithuania, Serbia

16
countriesSurplus can be kept without restrictions

1
countrySurplus can be kept up to a maximum percentage

This applies to one country: Norway

3
countriesSurplus can be kept but the approval of an external authority is needed

This applies to 3 countries: Iceland, Luxembourg, Portugal

4
countriesSurplus can be kept but its allocation is pre-determined by an external authority

This applies to 4 countries: Brandenburg, Wallonia, Poland, Sweden

2
countriesSurplus can be kept with other types of restrictions

This applies to 2 countries: Flanders, Hungary

Ability to own buildings

7
countriesUniversities are not allowed to own their buildings

10
countriesUniversities can sell their buildings without restrictions

6
countriesUniversities can sell their buildings with the approval of an external authority

This applies to 6 countries: Croatia, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland

5
countriesUniversities can sell their buildings with other types of restrictions

This applies to 5 countries: Finland, Flanders, Ireland, Latvia, Poland

0
countriesUniversities are not allowed to sell their buildings

This does not apply to any country.

3
countriesOther restrictions

This applies to 3 countries: France, Wallonia, Portugal

Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level

4
countriesUniversities are free to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 4 countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Serbia

1
countryUniversities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees

This applies to one country: Switzerland

5
countriesUniversities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority

This applies to 5 countries: Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom

7
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 7 countries: Croatia, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Ireland, The Netherlands, Spain

12
countriesThere are no tuition fees

Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level

7
countriesUniversities are free to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 7 countries: Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Serbia, United Kingdom

1
countryUniversities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees

This applies to one country: Switzerland

3
countriesUniversities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority

This applies to 3 countries: Hungary, Iceland, Italy

6
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 6 countries: Croatia, Flanders, France, Wallonia, The Netherlands, Spain

12
countriesThere are no tuition fees

Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level

9
countriesUniversities are free to set the level of tuition fees

2
countriesUniversities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees

This applies to 2 countries: Slovenia, Switzerland

3
countriesUniversities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority

This applies to 3 countries: Hungary, Iceland, Italy

4
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 4 countries: Flanders, France, Wallonia, Spain

11
countriesThere are no tuition fees

Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level

14
countriesUniversities are free to set the level of tuition fees

5
countriesUniversities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees

This applies to 5 countries: Denmark, Finland, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland

3
countriesUniversities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority

This applies to 3 countries: Wallonia, Iceland, Italy

3
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 3 countries: Austria, France, Spain

4
countriesThere are no tuition fees

This applies to 4 countries: Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway

Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level

14
countriesUniversities are free to set the level of tuition fees

5
countriesUniversities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees

This applies to 5 countries: Denmark, Finland, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland

3
countriesUniversities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority

This applies to 3 countries: Wallonia, Iceland, Italy

3
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 3 countries: Austria, France, Spain

4
countriesThere are no tuition fees

This applies to 4 countries: Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway

Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level

12
countriesUniversities are free to set the level of tuition fees

4
countriesUniversities and an external authority cooperate in setting the level of tuition fees

This applies to 4 countries: Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland

3
countriesUniversities can set the level of tuition fees under a ceiling set by an external authority

This applies to 3 countries: Wallonia, Iceland, Italy

3
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 3 countries: Austria, France, Spain

7
countriesThere are no tuition fees