Higher Education Financing in the New EU Member States : Leveling the Playing Field

The study reviews the experience in the EU8 countries of the emergence of private higher education institutions and introduction of fees for student who do not gain regular admission. This has resulted in a dual-track system that is affecting the equity of access to higher education. The authors have addressed this with a variety of financing mechanisms in the EU8 countries and seek to develop some useful policy options to "level the playing field" for countries contemplating further reforms, which would include the introduction of variable fees, needs-based grants and loans to increase private financial flows into higher education while facilitating equal access across the board. The study begins with and introduction. Chapter 2 provides an overview of current higher education systems in the EU8 in a comparative perspective. Chapter 3 suggests some directions for further reform initiatives. Chapter 4 concludes.