FAQ about student and PhD student righs

Suspected of cheating or plagiarism? Here's how the disciplinary process works at Stockholm University

  • According to the Higher Education Ordinance, SU may take disciplinary measures against students who:

    • attempt to mislead during exams or other assessments (e.g. using unauthorised aids or plagiarism)

    • disrupt teaching or other university activities

    • disrupt the University library or other university facilities

    • subject someone at the University to sexual harassment or harassment based on gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, sexual orientation or age.

  • All employees of the Univertisty are responsible for reporting a substantiated suspicion of disciplinary misconduct. Each department must have a designated person responsible for investigating such cases. This person is often the head of department or director of studies. It is SU and not the student that is responsible for the investigation.

    If your department suspects misconduct in connection with an examination, they will contact you to let you know that an investigation is underway. This is usually done via email, and in some cases, they may request an in-person meeting.

    If you're invited to a meeting, SUS recommends that you treat it as an informational meeting where your department explains their suspicions. If you have not seen the written documentation yet, it is best not to comment on the suspicions. Notes will be taken during the meeting and included in the department's report to the President of SU.

  • If the department maintains their suspicions, they will report the case to the President of SU. You will then receive an email with documentation including a cover letter, a description of the suspicion, the department’s account, and any attachments such as meeting notes or plagiarism reports.

    You will also be informed of your right to submit a written statement. From the date you receive the email, you are given one week to respond. This statement is your chance to explain your version of events. SUS ombud can support you with advice on how to formulate your response. Some general tips include:

    • explain what happened from your perspective

    • provide relevant background, e.g. stress or misunderstanding

    • respond to the claims made against you

    • use a respectful and factual tone.

  • Once you have ve submitted your statement, the Chief Legal Officer at the Office of the President will decide whether the matter should go to the Disciplinary Committee. The President can also decide to issue a warning or close the case without action. In those cases, it will not go further. If the case goes to the Disciplinary Committee, you will be invited to a digital meeting.

  • Once you have submitted your statement, it may take a few weeks before you hear anything from the Legal Secretariat. Our experience is that most cases proceed to a meeting with the Disciplinary Committee.

    The Disciplinary Committee usually meets every other week and decides on the majority of cases at those meetings. Because of this, it may take some time before you are called to a meeting. While you are waiting for feedback from the Legal Secretariat, and potentially being called to a meeting, you can continue with your studies as usual.

  • If your case is referred to the Disciplinary Committee, a meeting will be held to decide on the matter. The Committe consists of the President as chair, a legally qualified member who shall hold or have held tenure as a judge, a teacher representative and two student representatives. The meeting lasts about 20 minutes, and the goal is to ensure a fair decision on all available information, including what you choose to say.

    The meeting begins with the President introducing the Board and the matter. Then, the department presents its view and may add new information. Board members can ask questions. After that, you get to share your view, respond to the accusations and provide any additional information. You may also be asked follow-up questions. After that, you and the department will be placed in separate waiting room while the Committee deliberates. This usually takes 5–20 minutes. You will then be invited back and informed of the decision and their reasoning.

  • The Disciplinary Committee can make one of three decisions:

    • close the matter without action

    • issue a formal warning

    • expel you from the University for a specific period, during which you may not take part in teaching, exams or other academic activities.

  • If you are expelled, you may not participate in teaching or exams at SU. The length of expulsion is usually between one and four months, depending on the severity of the misconduct, your academic progress, the credit value of the assessment, and any previous disciplinary matters.

  • Before your expulsion begins, make sure to download all study materials and course information from Athena, course pages or the course website. Also, borrow any books you need from the University library. This way, you can continue studying independently, even if you cannot attend classes or exams. During your suspension, you will not have access to your SU account or Athena.

    We also recommend that you contact your department's study counsellor. They can help you plan your return to studies after the suspension. It is a good idea to ask how much you will miss and when you can make up the work.

    Many students find disciplinary matters emotionally difficult. Student Health Services can be a valuable resource as they have experience supporting students in these situations.

  • Based on our experience at SUS, most matters that begin at departmental level are forwarded to the Disciplinary Committee. The Committee can decide to close the case, issue a warning or suspend you. However, in most matters brought before the Committee, the outcome is expulsion.

  • Yes! You have the right to appeal the Disciplinary Committee’s decision to the Administrative Court (Förvaltningsrätten). The appeal must be submitted within three weeks from the date you received the Committe’s decision. SUS ombud can help you with guidance on how to write your appeal and what arguments might be useful to include.

  • Once your expulsion ends, you are always welcome back to your studies at SU. You should not be treated differently or negatively because of a disciplinary matter or expulsion.

  • Yes. If you are suspended from SU, you can still study at other universities or higher education institutions in Sweden during that time. If you are planning to take summer courses at SU, those are not affected. Suspensions are not enforced during the summer but apply to the remaining parts of the spring term and may continue into the autumn.

    After your expulsion, you are always welcome back to SU. You should not face any negative consequences for having gone through a disciplinary matter.

  • It is completely normal to feel stressed or anxious during a disciplinary matter. You do not have to go through it alone. You can contact Student Health Services at SU for individual support, groups, workshops and other activities to help you take care of your well-being while studying.

Unhappy with your grade?

  • No. Grade decisions cannot be appealed to a higher authority, and you cannot request a new examiner to assess your work.

  • Yes. You can ask the examiner to review your grade if you believe it is incorrect. This means the same examiner reviews the material again. To request a review, email the examiner and explain which course and assessment it concerns, and why you think the grade should be reconsidered.

    The examiner may only change the grade if it is clearly incorrect and can be corrected quickly and easily. The grade can only be changed in your favour.

  • If there is a writing error or calculation mistake, the grade can be corrected. This is called a "correction" and can be made either in your favour or not. Corrections are always made by the examiner. If a correction would negatively affect your grade, the mistake must be clear, university lawyers must be consulted, and you normally have the right to comment before the correction is made.

  • Yes. This is called an "amendment" of a grade decision. It can happen if new information comes to light that affects the assessment, for example, if cheating or plagiarism is discovered later. If the change would lower your grade, university lawyers must be consulted, and you must be given a chance to comment before the grade is changed.

  • The course syllabus is more than just a document - it is legally binding for both students and SU. It defines what you are entitled to and what is expected of both you and the department. A syllabus should include:

    • course goals – what you are expected to learn

    • course content – what the course covers

    • teaching and examination methods – how you will be taught and assessed

    • grading scale – which grades apply and how they are determined

    • mandatory elements – e.g. required seminars or lab sessions

    • language – the language used for teaching and assessment

    • reading list – what you are expected to read

    Since the syllabus is binding, teachers can not change content or examination methods without clear permission in the syllabus. That is why it is important to read the syllabus carefully at the start of each course.

  • You have the right to access the course syllabus before you apply. This means it should be finalised at least one month before the application deadline. For courses that only require registration (not application), the syllabus should be ready two months before the course starts. The full schedule, including teaching and assessment dates, should be published at least four weeks before the course begins.

    Read the syllabus early so you understand how the course is structured, which elements are mandatory and when key deadlines occur.

  • Since the syllabus is legally binding, the examination method cannot be changed unless it specifically says that several methods are allowed. For example, if the syllabus states the exam is a written in-person, it cannot be changed to a take-home exam unless the syllabus allows it.

  • It should clearly state the grading scale, the learning outcomes you need to achieve to pass the course, and the assessment criteria for each grade.

  • If the course has separate modules, this should be stated in the syllabus. It should also say if each module has its own goals and grades, what language is used in each module, and which literature applies.

  • If something in the teaching, assessment or course structure does not match the syllabus, contact the course coordinator or reach out to SUS ombud for support.

Course syllabus – your rights and responsibilities

  • Yes. After each course, you have the right to fill in a course evaluation. These evaluations are important for student influence at SU and help improve education. SU must summarise the results, inform students of the outcomes and explain how the feedback is used.

  • Yes. You’re entitled to supervision for your thesis, as described in the syllabus.

  • If you miss a mandatory element due to a valid reason, such as an illness, you have the right to complete it at another time. Contact the person responsible for the course or your department as soon as possible.

  • Yes. If you have had an approved study break with a guaranteed place, you have the right to support for planning your return. This might include an individual study plan with a study counsellor.

  • No. The language stated in the syllabus must be followed. If teaching is conducted in another language without this being specified, contact your department or SUS ombud.

  • You have the right to at least two exam opportunities per course round: one regular and one retake. The exact number and format should be clearly stated in the course information.

  • If you have a documented, long-term disability, you have the right to educational support. This might include note-taking help, extended exam time, or adapted assignments. Contact the Disability Services at SU to apply.

  • According to SU rules, exams should normally be graded within 15 working days. The result should also be reported at least 10 working days before the next exam so you can plan your studies.

  • Anonymous grading should be used for written in-person exams whenever possible. This means the teacher does not know who submitted the exam during grading, which ensures fair assessment.

  • Yes. You have the right to student influence. This means students must be represented in all decision-making and preparatory bodies related to education. Want to get involved? Contact SUS to become a student representative.

  • As a public authority, the University must normally respond to questions within three working days.

Other questions

Not finding what you are looking for? Contact SUS’s ombud.