National Student Fee and Support S S y Systems 2011/12

Transcription

1 National Student Fee and Sy ystems 2011/12

2 Contents Guide to the National System Information Sheets 2 Key Points 4 Belgium French Community 6 Belgium German-speaking Community 7 Belgium Flemish Community 8 Bulgaria 9 Czech Republic 10 Denmark 11 Germany 12 Estonia 13 Ireland 14 Greece 15 France 16 Italy 17 Cyprus 18 Latvia 19 Lithuania 20 Hungary 21 Malta 22 Austria 23 Poland 24 Portugal 25 Romania 26 Slovenia 27 Slovakia 28 Finland 29 Sweden 30 United Kingdom England, Wales and Northern Ireland 31 United Kingdom Scotland 33 Iceland 34 Liechtenstein 35 Norway 36 Croatia 37 Turkey 38 1

3 Guide to the National System Information Sheets G ENERAL I NFORMATION The national system information sheets aim to give an overview of the public fee and support system. The diagram aims to show the main characteristics of the system, while the text aims to provide complementary key points to enable the reader to have a good overall understanding. Information refers to public or government-dependent private higher education institutions but not to private higher education institutions. Information covers students in the first and second s only, while fee and support arrangements for doctoral students are not covered here. Information on subsidised accommodation, transportation and canteens is also not included. Diagram o o o o o The range of fees covers both part-time and full-time students and is shown by year in Euro. include all costs charged to students including for registration, admission and certification but do not include payments to students unions. Please note that within the text all references to costs are expressed in the national currency. The values of fees for international students (i.e. those outside EU/EFTA/EEA depending on national definitions) are not included in the diagram. However, the fact whether international students pay different fees than the national ones are mentioned in the text. The diagram differentiates fees by first and second. in the form of s is differentiated by the concepts of need-based and merit-based. This reflects reality in the majority of countries. The diagram includes three possible elements of student support systems that only appear when they are a main characteristic. These are: Loans: this element appears if there is a national student loan system, and around 5 % of students take out a student loan. Tax benefits for parents: this element appears if there are tax benefits for parents of students in higher education. Family allowances: this element appears if parents of student in higher education receive family allowances. o The diagrams on both fees and support aim to provide a minimum, most common and maximum value of fees and s in Euro. 2

4 Text This section contains key features of the fee system in the country expressed in the national currency. This section provides an overview of the support system operating in the country. It covers s, loans, tax benefits for student's parents and family allowances. The intention is to explain the interplay of these elements in the national system and help to interpret the diagram. The text guides the reader to an understanding of the main mechanisms of the system. This may mean that some special support measures are not included in the description. Grants are provided in the national currency and differentiated between merit-based and need-based s. This category includes any public financial support that does not need to be paid back (i.e. scholarships and s). However s for study abroad (i.e. mobility s) are not included. Loans are mentioned in this section with information on the existence of a student loan system and the percentage of students that take out a loan. Tax benefit for student's parents is any tax relief that is ed to parents whose child is a higher education student. The information aims to cover the amount of the tax relief, how it can be claimed and who is eligible to apply. Family allowances for parents aim to provide information on their amount and their relevance in the overall student support system of the country. Planned Reforms This section contains brief information on any planned reforms that will alter significantly the public fee and support system. The reforms to the regulatory framework are restricted to concrete measures that are already in the decision-making process. 3

5 Key Points F EES Highest The highest fees are charged in the UK (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Until 2012 they were set at per year. As of September 2012, this level increased in England to a new basic tuition fee of and a maximum of Students in England receive a loan to pay the fees and do not have to re-pay this until they are in relatively well-paid employment. In Wales, however, the additional cost of tuition fees for Welsh domiciled students will be met by the Welsh government, even if they study outside Wales. Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, fees will rise only in line with inflation at in 2012/13. No At the other end of the scale, there are 9 countries where students (not including international students from outside the EU/EEA) are not charged fees. They are Austria, Cyprus (bachelors' level), Denmark (though part-time students are charged), Finland, Greece and Malta (bachelors' level), Norway, Scotland (bachelors' level) and Sweden. In Germany, for the new academic year 2012/13, two Länder (Bavaria, and Lower Saxony) charge fees, while the other 14 do not. Proportion of fee payers The proportion of students who pay fees in each country ranges considerably. In a number of countries all students pay fees, and this is the case in Belgium (Flemish Community), Bulgaria, Czech Republic, England, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Turkey. In seven countries (Belgium's French Community, Estonia, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Romania) a majority pay fees. In four countries (Croatia, Germany, Lithuania, Slovenia), a minority pay fees, and finally there are the 9 countries mentioned above where no students pay at bachelor level (apart from part-time students in Denmark). International student fees For students coming from outside the European Union, fee levels tend to be higher. They are generally set by higher education institutions themselves, although in some countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal, Romania) there are central-level regulations governing fee levels. In 6 countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein and Norway) students from outside the European Union are treated in the same way regarding fees as those from within the European Union. Differences in fees between s levels tend to be higher for Masters' level (second ) than for bachelors' level (first ), and fees are also charged to more students in the second. In Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Scotland, fees are charged in the second but not in the first, while higher levels of fees are typically charged at Masters' level in Ireland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). 4

6 S TUDENT S UPPORT Student support takes different forms and aims to meet different needs from country to country. However, the most common forms of support are s and loans, which sometimes operate in conjunction (where the student receives loans and s) and sometimes separately (student receives either a loan or a ). Grants All countries, with the exception of Iceland and Turkey, provide some types of to at least some students. In Turkey there are fee reductions for some students, but no s. There is a wide range of situations in other countries regarding the likelihood of receiving a. In Denmark, Cyprus and Malta all students receive s. In Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) the majority of students receive s. In the vast majority of countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain) only a minority of students receive s. The proportion varies from 1% of the student population in Greece to around 40% in Hungary. Loans While it may be theoretically possible for students to take out loans in all countries, they are considered as a main feature of student support systems if around 5% of the student population takes out such a loan. This is the case in 16 countries: Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, the UK (all parts), Iceland, Norway and Turkey. Other support: family allowances and tax benefits for parents of students Student support systems may consider the student either as an individual or as a member of a family that may need support. In the Nordic countries, in particular, the student is considered as an individual, and it is the individual who receives support. However, in many other countries, support may depend on overall family circumstances, and some forms of support may be channelled to other members of the family rather than the student. Family allowances and tax benefits play a significant role in student support in a number of countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia (tax benefits only), Greece, France, Ireland (tax benefits only), Italy (tax benefits only), Latvia (tax benefits only), Lithuania, Malta (tax benefits only), Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia (tax benefits only), Slovakia and Liechtenstein (tax benefits only). Note: 4 countries Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland did not submit information for this data collection. 5

7 BELGIUM FRENCH COMMUNITY Around 70 % of students pay a maximum fee Approximately 20 % of students receive a Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Tax benefits for parents Family allowances Fee limits are set by the government of the French Community of Belgium. Fee levels depend on the student's financial situation. The maximum fee is 837, the intermediate fee is 374 (for students not receiving a but considered as lower income) and there are no fees for those students receiving a. There are some differences in fees between universities and non-university higher education institutions. Until 2017 non-university higher education institutions can charge complementary fees in addition to registration fees, but the total amount cannot exceed 837/year. Complementary fees range from 0 (for holders) to 238 depending on the type of programme and the financial situation of students. Complementary fees will continuously decrease till 2017 when they will cease to exist. Students from outside the EU are required to pay complementary fees. Public s are available for low income students under 35. Students must apply for this financial benefit each year. The amount ed is determined by household income and ranges from 355 to per year. The study allowance is in average Loans are available for families with at least three dependent children. Very few (0.01 %) take out a loan. Heads of family receive tax benefits which depend on the number of dependent children and other relatives (including students enrolled at higher education institutions having no income). The tax-free minimum earnings threshold is increased by for one, for two, for three, for four and for each subsequent child. Family allowances from 88.51/month depend on the number of children. They are in principle received by the mother of the child while the student is in education or training, until the age of 25 and has no professional activity other than a student job during the summer holidays (July, August, September) and if, during the other quarters of the year, the student works no more than 240 hours per quarter. However in case the child is not living with or supported by mother, the family allowance is paid to the natural person (parent, relative, legal guardian) who actually supports the child. Planned reforms Until 2017 non-university higher education institutions can charge complementary fees in addition to registration fees, but the total amount cannot exceed 837/year. Complementary fees range from 0 (for holders) to 238/year depending on the economic situation of students. Complementary fees will continuously decrease till From 2017, non-university higher education institutions will no longer be authorised to charge complementary fees. 6

8 BELGIUM GERMAN-SPEAKING COMMUNITY Nearly all students pay % of students receive a need-based scholarship Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Loans Tax benefits for parents Family allowances Higher education provision exists only at ISCED 5B level. All students have to pay fees at registration. Amounts range in theory from 100 to 600. In practice nearly all students pay the same amount of 425. Student s are need-based. Parental income determines eligibility. They are provided through the national social security system for students who return to higher education. Annual amounts are between 362 and The possibility exists to take out loans of 750 for the first and for the second. Interest is between 0 and 3 %, depending on the income of the student, and the loan needs to be repaid at the latest three years after graduation. Heads of family receive tax benefits which depend on the number of dependent children and other relatives (including students enrolled at higher education institutions having no income). The tax-free minimum earnings threshold is increased by for one, for two, for three, for four and for each subsequent child. Family allowances from 88.51/month depend on the number of children. They are in principle received by the mother of the child while the student is in education or training, until the age of 25 and has no professional activity other than a student job during the summer holidays (July, August, September) and if, during the other quarters of the year, the student works no more than 240 hours per quarter. However in case the child is not living with or supported by mother, the family allowance is paid to the natural person (parent, relative, legal guardian) who actually supports the child. 7

9 BELGIUM FLEMISH COMMUNITY 70 % of students pay the maximum and 25 % pay the minimum fee About 25 % of students receive a need-based Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Tax benefits for parents Family allowances A fixed registration fee of 61 is paid at the beginning of an academic year. In addition, students pay the flexible tuition fee according to a number of ECTS credits followed. Each credit point carries a fee of 7.5. The amount of fees varies with the income of the student and the type of study programme. If a student is eligible for a, the maximum payable fee amount is 100. Non-EU students may be requested to pay higher tuition fees. Student s are allocated on the basis of economic need and academic merit. Eligibility is determined by the income of parents and/or the student and academic achievement in the past academic year. Amounts vary between 234 and per academic year. No loans. Heads of family receive tax benefits which depend on the number of dependent children and other relatives (including students enrolled at higher education institutions having no income). The tax-free minimum earnings threshold is increased by for one, for two, for three, for four and for each subsequent child. Family allowances from 88.51/month depend on the number of children. They are in principle received by the mother of the child while the student is in education or training, until the age of 25 and has no professional activity other than a student job during the summer holidays (July, August, September) and if, during the other quarters of the year, the student works no more than 240 hours per quarter. However in case the child is not living with or supported by mother, the family allowance is paid to the natural person (parent, relative, legal guardian) who actually supports the child. 8

10 BULGARIA All students pay fees 35 % pay minimum and 5 % maximum fees in 1st 18 % of students receive s 2 % of students take out loans Loans Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum 1 = BGN Public higher education institutions define their own fees, but maximum amounts are set by the government. Student fees depend on the programme and field of study. The fees range from BGN 111 for part-time studies in both s to BGN for second full-time studies. The lowest fees are paid in the following fields of study: pedagogy, economics, administration and management. Certain categories of students are exempted from paying fees. They include orphans, persons with disabilities, war invalids and senior cadets in military schools. of international students are subject to different rules. Grants/scholarships are available to full-time students. They are distributed by higher education institutions, taking into account need-based and merit-based criteria. Grant amounts range from BGN 50 to 120. Full-time students who are less than 35 years old can apply for state guaranteed loans. There are no tax benefits for parents nor any family allowances. 9

11 CZECH REPUBLIC All students pay admission fees once per About 1 % of students receive a social scholarship Tax benefits for parents Family allowances Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum 1 = CZK are only related to admission procedures and need to be paid once per. No tuition fees are paid by 'typical' higher education students. Students who exceed a regular length of study by at least one year have to pay fees. The fee amounts to at least CZK 8 871/academic year, based on the average cost of a student for the public budget. No maximum is set by law. Students who study in second or further degree programmes have to pay fees (maximum CZK 2 957/academic year). Students of study programmes in a foreign language also have to pay tuition fees and no maximum limit is set by law. Such arrangements are decided by each higher education institution. for international students are the same as for home students. Scholarships can be ed on the basis of excellence in studies, for research, artistic or other activities. Scholarships are ed to students from regions other than the seat of the higher education institution as an accommodation scholarship (CZK 5 367/year). Social scholarships are available for students in a difficult economic situation (CZK /year). No publicly subsidised loans are provided. Family allowances are provided. Eligibility depends on family economic conditions and allowances are provided until the student is 26 years of age. A child allowance of CZK 700 per month is paid if the family's income is below 2.4 times the subsistence level. Tax benefits for parents are also provided in the form of tax relief. Tax relief for each dependent child (student up to 26 years of age) is CZK /year; if the child is disabled the amount is multiplied by two (CZK /year). 10

12 DENMARK No fees All students receive s Loans Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum 1 = DKK No fees for national and EU full-time students. All students studying in part-time courses pay fees set by higher education institutions. International students pay fees set by higher education institutions. State s are available to all students. The maximum amount is DDK per month for 12 months each year for students living independently. Extra s are available for students who become parents and for single parents. Additional s of DDK per month are available for students with a disability. State loans of DDK per month are available to all students. During the period of study, a 4 % annual interest rate applies. Students must start paying back no later than one year after the end of the year in which they graduate. The loan must be repaid within 15 years. About half of all students make use of state loans ( 1 ). There are no tax benefits for students' parents or family allowances. ( 1 ) For more information on s and loans see: 11

13 GERMANY The majority of students pay minimum fees Approximately 25 % of students receive need-based support ( 2 ) Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Loans Tax benefits for parents Family allowances In the majority of the Länder studying is free of charge. Only in Bavaria, Hamburg and Lower-Saxony do students have to pay fees of maximum per academic year, which is defined by law. Only administrative charges are paid by all students. When exceeding the regular study period, students may be liable to pay fees even in those Länder that do not charge fees. Students can be exempt based on need- or merit-based criteria. Different fees may be charged to students from outside the EU and EEA countries. General public student support (BAföG) is awarded as a for one half of the individual amount, and as an interest free loan for the other half. Total amounts range from 10 to 670/month for 12 months/year. Eligibility and amount are determined by assessment of student need based on income, family situation, housing situation and disability. A maximum of needs to be paid back. Students need to be under the age of 30 (35 for master studies) to be eligible for public student support. support is awarded entirely as a. The amount awarded is also determined through an evaluation of student need. Total amounts of scholarships range from 150 to 750/month for 12 months/year. Additional support is determined by assessment of the family financial situation. Study loans are available to cover the tuition fees (in those Länder that charge tuition fees and limited to the amount charged) and living costs. The latter are available as a Bildungskredit of up to and a Studienkredit of up to Both loans are paid out in monthly instalments. Students' parents receive a monthly family allowance of 184 for the first two children, 190 for the third and 215 for the fourth and more, and a lump sum tax relief ( per annum, per child, per parent), until students are 25 years old. The tax office checks in favour of the taxpayer whether the child benefit or the deduction of the above mentioned allowances is more favourable. Planned reforms The Land of Hamburg will give up fees as of 01/10/2012 (beginning of the academic year 2012/13). ( 2 ) Including integrated loan. See text. 12

14 ESTONIA No data available for 2011/12 16 % of all students in both s receive s Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Loans Tax benefits for parents Students with a state funded place do not pay fees. These places exist in all study fields and are attributed to students according to their results in secondary school leaving examinations. Students who do not have a state funded place pay fees. Higher education institutions define their own fees. The amount depends on the cost of study, and demand for study places. The level of fees cannot increase by more than 10 % between two academic years. Grants are available to approximately 16 % of all students in the 1st and 2nd together. The basic is 55.93/month and the additional 28.13/month. These s are currently primarily based on merit. Full-time students can apply for state guaranteed loans. Estonian citizens or persons with a permanent residence permit, with full-time studies, according to curricula, of nine months or more has the right to obtain a study loan. Some exemptions are envisaged by the law. The maximum amount is /academic year. Tax benefits for parents depend both on students' status and on the civil status of students (age, marital status, etc.). No family allowances. Planned reforms Significant changes in the higher education system will be implemented from Students can study in Estonian language curricula for free. However, if they are unable or unwilling to meet the requirements of the curriculum in full, the higher education institution has the option of demanding compensation of the study costs by the student up to the maximum limit set by the Government. Furthermore, institutions of higher education will, in the future, receive performance support from the state budget for providing higher education. Should the state have a specific shortage of graduates in a certain field, it can secure its needs in 'performance contracts'. It is hoped that the new financing system will make it easier for the state to specify the functions and areas of activity of higher education institutions, reduce the level of duplication and provide support for nationally important areas of development. The new funding system should increase the responsibility of higher education institutions for the efficiency and quality of higher education. The new financing model will have a 3-year transition period. The so far merit-based study support system is intended to be replaced by a need-based system. 13

15 IRELAND 60 % of students pay fees 43 % of first students receive s Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Tax benefits for parents For the first, full-time EU students are exempt from full tuition fees if they meet the terms of the free fees scheme, but pay a student contribution charge of 2 000/year. Full-time EU students who do not meet the terms of the scheme must pay a consolidated fee covering both tuition fee and student contribution charge: the average EU consolidated fee is For the second, the majority of students pay tuition fees. Part-time fees are generally half of those for full-time programmes. International student fees are generally two or three times higher than those of EU students and are set by the higher education institution. s are provided by the Department of Education & Skills. Their amounts range from 308 to per academic year, depending on means, family size and distance from institutions. Students who qualify for s also have the student contribution and any tuition fees paid on their behalf. The same department provides bursaries with a value of per academic year. The bursaries require qualification under both merit and need-based criteria. Students need to satisfy specific conditions of residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment to be eligible for s. Students have to be enrolled full-time. Tax relief is available for the expenses paid for tuition fees at a recognised higher education institution. No loans or family allowances, except where a parent is in receipt of a social welfare payment is supporting a dependent aged up to 22 who is in full-time education. Planned reforms From the 2012/13 academic year the student contribution is being increased to 2 250/year. The sum will encompass expenses for student registration, examinations and student services as well as a contribution to tuition costs. Grant support for postgraduate students will be considerably reduced from the 2012/13 academic year. All new applications from 2012/13 will be handled by a single awarding authority. 14

16 GREECE No fees in the first Less than 1 % of the students receive a scholarship for undergraduate studies Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Loans Tax benefits for parents Family allowances No fees for full-time students in the first. Only students of the Hellenic Open University pay fees for 1st studies that range from 700 to 2 100/year. 2nd students may pay fees. Amounts are specified in master s degree regulations of higher education institutions. There are also 2nd programmes where students do not pay fees. Some categories of students are exempt from paying fees. These include scholars of the State Scholarships Foundation. All foreign non-eu students who have not entered higher education through the 'Pan-Hellenic Examination' (national examinations for entry to higher education) pay fees for their graduate studies. Grants/scholarships are available through the National Scholarship Foundation, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and private sector such as the research institutions and non-profit organisations. The National Scholarship Foundation provides a merit-based lump-sum of per year to graduate students. In addition, there is a merit-based lump-sum of available for the first year student achieving the top mark at the entrance examination (per faculty) and for the enrolled students with the best year's results (per faculty). Post-graduate students receive 450 per month after successful examinations organised by the above mentioned Foundation. Students can apply for state guaranteed loans. The academic performance and the socio-economic background of the student and his/her family are taken into account. Students parents are eligible for tax benefits. Tax exemption is available to students' family (parents or guardian) until students reach 25 years of age. They can also claim family allowances of per year per child that is under age 25 and is not living at home, provided that the family income does not exceed

17 FRANCE Approximately 70 % of students pay fees Approximately 30 % of students receive social s Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Tax benefits for parents Family allowances The amount of fees per year fixed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research is 177 in the first (L1, L2, L3) and 245 in the second (M1, M2). However, a number of universities have decided to add associated costs related to specific services (e.g. for diplomas related to continuing learning and training). In some public universities, the tuition fees can reach more than 2 000/year. in the grandes écoles and Engineering Schools vary, but the most common amount is 584 per year. However, tuition fees in some of them reach up to /year, depending on family income. Students who receive a (approximately 30 % of the student population) are exempted from fees. Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need to students that are less than 28 years of age. The amount awarded for the need-based depends on the assessment of social criteria, and varies between and per year. The merit-based ranges from to Loans are also available, with a maximum amount of , but less than 0.1 % of university students take out such a loan. Parents are eligible for tax relief if students are financially dependent on them and are less than 25 years old. The amount of tax relief is proportional to the amount of taxable income of the household. Family allowances are paid for two or more dependent children that are under 20 years old. The minimum amount is 127 per month and increases with the number of eligible children. An additional amount of 63 per month is paid for every child that is aged years. 16

18 ITALY 89 % of students pay fees 10 % of first students receive s Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Tax benefits for parents Full-time first and second students pay average fees of 1 434/year. The average does not include the 11.4 % students that are exempted from paying fees. The exemption from paying fees is determined on the basis of both students' financial conditions and academic performance. International students pay the same fees as national students. Public s are allocated on the basis of economic need and academic merit. The amount depends on whether the student lives with her/his parents. Amounts range from (students living with parents) to 4 776/year (students not living with parents) Parents can receive tax benefits based on real educational expenditure, if the child has a proven student status. Tax benefit is applicable as long as the child is tax dependent on his/her parents. No loans or family allowances. 17

19 CYPRUS in the 1st for Cypriot and EU students are paid by the State All students receive a basic, 1 % merit-based, 10 % need-based Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Higher education institutions can define their own fees within limits set by the Ministry of Education and Culture. : fees total per semester for Cypriot students and for students admitted from EU countries. These fees are paid fully by the State. International students pay fees. for students admitted from non-eu countries total per semester. : all students pay fees which range from to All Cypriot students receive an annual educational (basic ) by the Ministry of Finance. According to new legislation which came into force in 2012, the educational is given based on family income criteria. The minimum educational is 850 and the maximum is per year. 10 % of Cypriot students receive targeted need-based s to cover living, books, rental and computer expenses based on their socioeconomic status. The minimum targeted is and the maximum is per year. About 1 % of students receive merit-based scholarships. The criteria for scholarships are academic excellence and socioeconomic status. Students may receive up to per year for an undergraduate programme (1 st ), per year for a master's programme (2nd ). Study loans are available only for owners of property in the northern Cyprus. There are no tax benefits for parents or family allowances. 18

20 LATVIA 64 % of students pay fees 5 % of students receive a Loans Tax benefits for parents Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum 1 = LVL Students studying on state subsidised places do not pay fees. provide percentage of students that pay fees The majority of students, including those enrolled in evening courses, distance courses or courses offered jointly with other universities pay fees. Fee amounts vary by field and course load. Each higher education institution can set its own fees. The fees range from LVL 680 to per year for full-time studies and from LVL 550 to for part-time studies in the 1st. In the 2nd fees range from LVL 800 to for full-time studies and from LVL 640 to for part-time studies per year. For college programmes or short- programmes (ISCED 5B) the fees range from LVL 350 to 900. However, some of the higher education institutions apply a diversified tuition fee amount throughout the study years, i.e. usually the fee in the first year of studies is the lowest. The amounts of fees for international students may differ in some study programmes (e.g. medicine, dentistry, engineering) and range from LVL 980 to in the 1st. In the 2nd, fees range from LVL to for full-time studies and from LVL 650 to for part-time studies per year. The students from EU and EEA are treated as home students. Public s to cover tuition fees are allocated on the basis of academic merit. These s are primarily available in priority areas; currently natural sciences, computer sciences and engineering. Other public s are traditionally available based on academic merit. Recently, more need-based criteria are taken into account. Disabled or orphaned students with families, from large families or in economic need are treated favourably. State budget s are LVL 70/month (per 10 months) for the first and second. Approximately students receive state budget s each semester (11 % of students receiving the public in the form of the free tuition). Higher s are available through the European Social Fund activities supporting the implementation of Master s study programmes (specifically for students in the following priority study fields: natural science, mathematics, IT, engineering, health care, environmental sciences and creative industries). In 2010/11, 36.7 % of full time Master students in these priority study fields received this. Two types of loans exist. The first is to cover tuition costs and the second to cover living costs with a cap of LVL 120/month. Loans need to be paid back 12 months after the end of the degree programme. 18 % of students take out loans. Tax benefits awarded to parents and students (payers of personal income tax) of LVL 150 per year to recover the part of the annual funds invested in health care and education. No family allowances. Planned reforms Both the Declaration of the Intended Activities of the Cabinet of Ministers and Latvia s Strategic Development Plan define the task for the Ministry of Education to draft and prepare a fundamentally new model (performance-based public funding allocation mechanism) of financing for higher education institutions until This will also alter the system of fees paid by students. 19

21 LITHUANIA 47.8 % of students pay fees 4.6 % of students receive a need-based ; 9.4 % receive a merit-based Loans Tax benefits for parents Family allowances Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum 1 = LTL Students studying in state subsidised places do not pay fees. There are exceptions after changing study programme (if study programme fees are higher than previous study programme fees). All fees vary depending on the study programme (influenced by study field) or study forms (full-time/ part-time). In the first, fees range between LTL and per year, in full-time studies and between LTL and per year in part-time studies. In the second, fees range between LTL and per year, LTL and per year in parttime studies. Higher education institutions can determine higher tuition fees for citizens of non-eu and non-eea countries. There are two main types of scholarships/s: for academic achievement and social scholarships. The amount of the scholarships for academic achievement is regulated by each higher education institution. It ranges from LTL 50 to 780 per month. Social scholarships are available for students with low socio-economical background, disabled students and orphans. Their amount is LTL 390 per month. In 2011, less than 5 % of students took out a student loan (1.53 % students received a state-supported loan for living expenses (LTL ) and 2.36 % for tuition fees (LTL ); the latter cannot be higher than the tuition fee for one academic year. 0.1 % of students received a state-supported loan to pay for part of the studies pursuant to international (interdepartmental) agreements. It ranges from LTL to % students received a state loan to pay for tuition fees. It ranges from LTL 416 to the more commonly paid sum of LTL 520. Only students who were enrolled until 2009 can get the state loan. Tax benefits for parents. Students parents who pay tuition fees are eligible for an annual income tax refund, in favour of the student if the student receives his/her first degree. The income tax refund is up to 15 % of the paid tuition fee. Students' parents can get family allowances if the family has three or more children under 18 years and/or older children who are full time students (until they become 24 years old). The amount of social allocation is LTL 52 per child per month. Planned reforms From 29 May 2012, the Government confirmed a new type of scholarship study scholarships. The purpose of the study scholarship is to cover the fees for students who study in non-financed places and who show the best study results. 20

22 HUNGARY 42 % of students pay fees 40 % of students at all levels receive a : only state-funded students are eligible Loans Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum 1 = HUF are charged to those without a state-funded place and those who exceed the prescribed period of study. A maximum of 10 % of the best-performing students with non state-funded status (NSFS) can obtain the statefunded status (SFS) during their studies. are defined by the higher education institutions and should reach at least 50 % of the total educational cost per student. Amounts range from HUF to /academic year (most common HUF ) for the 1st and to /academic year (most common HUF ) for the 2nd. International students pay the same amount of fees. Only students with state-funded status can receive s. The minimum need-based amounts to HUF /month and the minimum merit-based to HUF 5 950/month. The s are paid during the period of 10 months/year. Government-subsidised loans are available for students with state-funded status (max. HUF /month) and without it (max. HUF /month). Orphans and those with unemployed parents can receive HUF /month more. The maximum duration is 5 years (7 for longer diploma courses such as medicine). Students below 40 years of age are eligible. It is a general-purpose loan. Loans can be taken for 10 months/year. No tax benefits for parents or family allowances. Planned reforms In addition to the state-funded and fee-paying student status, a partly state-funded status is to be introduced in the academic year 2012/13. It covers half of the study costs while the other half is paid by students. A second type of student loan (Student Loan 2) is available from the academic year 2012/13. It is a government subsidised loan with interest rates lower than for Student Loan 1 (above). There are no restrictions on the maximum amount to be taken out but it can only be spent on tuition fees. A student can take out both types of loans to cover both study costs and living costs. 21

23 MALTA No fees for the 1 st full-time EU students Grants for all EU 1 st students Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Tax benefits for parents No fees apply for full time EU-students in the first. apply for evening and distance learning courses in the first. EU students pay fees ranging from 250 to 875 per semester. Higher fees may apply for ICT courses. The annual enrolment fee of 400 is the amount paid in every case by all EU students for all full-time second courses. Higher fees may apply for courses offered jointly with other foreign universities. International students (including EEA and EFTA) pay fees in both s. Student maintenance s are given to all first EU full-time students that fulfil the relevant eligibility criteria. They receive every four weeks from October to June, plus a one-time of in the first year and another per each academic year. If studying for a Science, Mathematics or IT-related degree (known as prescribed programmes ), the above amounts may increase. Additionally, students who due to proven hardship are deemed by to qualify for a supplementary maintenance, receive a higher than that referred to above, due to their personal situation. They receive a one-time of , plus paid every four weeks from October till June and per each academic year. Grants are offered in some second degrees which are required for the practice of a regulated profession. There are several scholarship schemes available to students for the purpose of taking up undergraduate studies abroad or postgraduate studies in Malta or abroad. These include: the Strategic Educational Pathways Scholarship (STEPS for Postgraduate study in all areas), the Malta Government Scholarship Scheme (MGSS Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies in all areas), the Malta Arts Scholarship (MAS) and the Malta Sports Scholarship (MSS). In Malta the Youth Specialisation Studies Scheme (YSSS) provides the opportunity for young people, aged between 18 and 30 years, to apply for a soft loan at a subsidised rate of interest to further their studies or follow distance learning courses. Tax benefit for parents: As from 1 January 2012, the Maltese Government introduced a new tax band category called parent computation. Parents supporting children who are not gainfully employed up to eighteen years of age are eligible for this computation. It applies also for parents of children up to 21 years who are still in tertiary education. By means of this computation parents will save between 150 and 840 in income tax yearly payments. No family allowances. 22

24 AUSTRIA No fees for EU students Statistical data on % of students taking in 2011/12 not available Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Tax benefits for parents Family allowances EU students and those who are accorded the same rights do not have to pay tuition fees. Austrian students, EU students and students with equal status at Pädagogische Hochschule do not have to pay fees, but if they exceed the minimum study duration for more than a year, they have to pay per semester. Students at Pädagogische Hochschule can be exempt from paying in cases such as studies or internships within transnational mobility programmes, illness, pregnancy and disabilities. All other students at Pädagogische Hochschule have to pay fees ( per semester). The federal student s can systematically be divided into two sections: direct study financing received in cash, and indirect study financing which the student may receive by a transfer payment to the students parents, or through non-cash benefits. Direct student support is paid out in monthly instalments up to per year. The amount is assessed on the basis of income and number of family members of the student, his/her parents and his/her spouse. The s need not be paid back except when proof of academic achievement is missing after the first two semesters. Students' parents can receive family allowances ( per month per child) and tax relief ( per month per child) if the student is under 24 (in exceptional cases till 25 years of age) and is studying. No student loans. 23

25 POLAND (DATA FOR 2010/11) Approximately 70 % of students pay only administrative fees 23.6 % of students of all s receive a Loans Tax benefits for parents Family allowances Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum 1 = PLN Students pay administrative fees which include the issue of student ID cards, student record books and diplomas. Fee amounts are defined annually by the Minister of Science and Higher Education. Students also pay a fee related to enrolment procedures. The maximum possible amount of this fee is defined annually by the Minister, while the actual amounts are decided by rectors of individual higher education institutions (HEIs). The amount of the fees altogether is approximately PLN 170. Tuition fees, set by public higher education institutions, are generally paid by part-time students only with exemptions and reductions possible mainly on the basis of low economic status or excellent results. Detailed rules regulating the actual amounts of tuition fees and the mode and conditions for exemptions are laid out by the senates of particular institutions. Full-time students in public HEIs pay fees only if they repeat a study course due to unsatisfactory academic results. Students from the EU and EFTA countries and some other defined categories of students (e.g. students with refugee status) study according to the same rules as Polish citizens. for international students other than these are decided by the senates of individual HEIs. Financial support is ed to students in the following forms: a needs-based available for students with a low personal/family income, a needs-based available for students with disability, emergency / allowance, merit-based for best students based on academic, artistic or sport achievements. The income threshold to be eligible for need-based s for students with low family income is PLN per person per year. The most common amount of the need-based is PLN The average amount of the merit-based is PLN with a maximum of PLN Loans of PLN 6 000/ year may be taken out in any for those students whose personal income is below net PLN 2 100/month (in 2011). In the academic year 2011/12, 4.6 % of students enrolled in public higher education institutions took out loans. The state guarantees part of the loans for low income students: since 2010/11 students with family income of PLN 600/month per person have been ed a 100 % guarantee of their loan and students with a family income of PLN 1 000/month a 70 % guarantee. Tax benefits for parents/guardians of students in the form of tax relief of PLN per child per year in 2010, if families receive a care allowance or other social benefits and/or the student did not earn a taxable income (including capital gains) exceeding PLN 3 089/year. Family allowance based on low income of parents or disability of a student. 24

26 PORTUGAL All students pay tuiton fees About 26 % of 1st and 2nd students receive a need-based Scale: 0 to Minimum / Most common Maximum Tax benefits for parents Family allowances The annual tuition fees for the 1st courses are fixed by each higher education institution and range from to (2012). Tuition fees for the 2nd courses legally needed for the practice of specific professions are fixed by each higher education institution and range from to (2012). The minimum value of the above fees is calculated as a 1.3 times the national minimum wage at the beginning of each school year. The maximum wage value is updated every year according to the rate of inflation. The most institutions adopt the maximum value. Tuition fees for other 2nd courses are fixed freely by each higher education institution and range usually between and for the entire course (2 or 4 semesters). A very small number of fees is above Student scholarships can be need or merit based. Eligibility for need based scholarships is determined by the income of the student and his family. Need based s amount vary between 987 and (2012). s amount is ( ). There is a special loan scheme for higher education students at low rates, with government guarantee. In 2010, 3.4 % of all students enrolled took out the loan. Tax benefits for parents are provided through tax deduction on educational expenses. Family allowance child benefit is ed to families with sons/daughters enrolled in higher education, less than 24 years old when the household income does not exceed 1.5 times social support index times 14 (2011: ) and when the family assets are less than 240 times social support index (2011: ). 25