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
This applies to 26 countries: Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, France, Wallonia, Hesse, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
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
This applies to 16 countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Hesse, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
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
Ability to borrow money
6
countriesUniversities cannot borrow money
8
countriesUniversities can borrow money without restrictions
This applies to 8 countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Flanders, Wallonia, Latvia, The Netherlands
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
16
countriesSurplus can be kept without restrictions
This applies to 16 countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hesse, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
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
Ability to own buildings
7
countriesUniversities are not allowed to own their buildings
This applies to 7 countries: Brandenburg, Hesse, Hungary, Lithuania, North Rhine-Westphalia, Serbia, Sweden
10
countriesUniversities can sell their buildings without restrictions
This applies to 10 countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Wallonia, Italy, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom
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
0
countriesUniversities are not allowed to sell their buildings
This does not apply to any country.
3
countriesOther restrictions
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
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
6
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
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
This applies to 9 countries: Croatia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, United Kingdom
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
4
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
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
This applies to 14 countries: Croatia, Estonia, Flanders, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, United Kingdom
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
3
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
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
This applies to 14 countries: Croatia, Estonia, Flanders, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, United Kingdom
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
3
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
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
This applies to 12 countries: Croatia, Estonia, Flanders, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, United Kingdom
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
3
countriesOnly an external authority is allowed to set the level of tuition fees
7
countriesThere are no tuition fees
This applies to 7 countries: Brandenburg, Denmark, Finland, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Norway, Sweden