Cheating, plagiarism and other disciplinary offences
You may receive a warning or be suspended from your studies if you cheat, plagiarise or contravene any of the University’s other rules. It is your responsibility to know the rules, so find out what applies and ask a member of the teaching staff if you are unsure.
At the University, certain actions are prohibited. These are known as disciplinary offences and include:
- cheating or plagiarism (also known as attempt to deceive)
- disrupting or hindering teaching, examinations or other activities
- causing a disturbance in libraries or other premises
- subjecting another student or member of staff to harassment or sexual harassment.
A disciplinary offence may result in a warning or suspension, which could cause a delay to your studies. It could also result in you losing your student finance or even having to pay it back. That is why it is important that you find out what the rules are.
What is meant by cheating and plagiarism?
Cheating is when a person uses unauthorised aids or otherwise attempts to deceive the examiner during an assessed component.
Plagiarism means imitating or copying other people’s work – such as texts, diagrams or tables – and passing it off as your own. Plagiarism is a form of cheating. Reusing your own text that has been used in previous work also constitutes plagiarism.
Notes, mobile phones and other aids are often not permitted during examinations and may be regarded as cheating. Attempting to cheat is also prohibited and may result in a warning or suspension. A student may therefore be found guilty of cheating even if they do not use unauthorised notes or other unauthorised aids that they have brought with them.
Sometimes, certain aids are permitted during an examination. In such cases, you will be informed of this in advance. As a student, it is always your responsibility to find out what the rules are.
The use of generative AI or similar services may be considered cheating during examinations. Always ask your lecturer if you are unsure about what is and isn’t allowed. If you are allowed to use generative AI, you must always check the information you receive (such as sources) and write in your own words unless otherwise stated.
Cooperating with someone to a greater extent than is permitted during an examination may be regarded as cheating. It may also be considered cheating if you help someone else to cheat, for example by allowing someone else to use your answers in an examination.
How do you avoid cheating?
Cheating may be due to stress and a demanding study situation. Cheating can also be due to a lack of awareness of the requirements for academic texts and research projects. By learning the rules and how to use other people’s texts, you can avoid being reported on suspicion of cheating.
Be sure to follow the instructions given by your lecturer when they set your assignment. Note that the instructions may vary depending on the assignment. If you are unsure about how to complete the assignment, you should speak to the relevant member of the teaching staff.
Find out what rules apply when you use other people’s work in an academic text. It must be clear which parts are your own ideas and wording, and which parts you have taken from other sources.
Reference management – lub.lu.se
Open online courses on academic writing – lub.lu.se
You can get answers to questions about reference management at your subject library.
Disciplinary offences other than cheating
As well as not cheating, it is important that you follow the library’s rules and regulations, such as registering your loans and returning the books on time. You must not disrupt or hinder teaching either. For example, you must comply with the rules of conduct that apply during lectures, laboratory sessions and examinations. It may also be regarded as disrupting teaching if you fail to attend group work sessions (such as revision sessions) without a valid reason for your absence.
If you do not follow these rules, you may be reported for a suspected disciplinary offence and may receive a warning or be suspended. The same applies if you harass or sexually harass another student or a member of staff.
You can read about what harassment and sexual harassment are on the following page:
Harassment and sexual harassment
If you would like to read about disciplinary offences and disciplinary measures in full, you will find them in Chapter 10 of the Higher Education Ordinance.
Higher Education Ordinance – uhr.se
If you are reported for a suspected disciplinary offence
The following explains what happens if a lecturer or other member of staff reports you on suspicion of cheating or another disciplinary offence.
Your department should inform you if a report is made against you. The department may make a note of any comments you may have in connection with this discussion.
The report is investigated by the University’s Legal Division. They will email you information about the report. You will then have the opportunity to submit a written statement and explain in your own words your views on the matters described in the report. If the report concerns several students, all students involved in the report will be able to read each other’s statements.
The investigation may result in the case being referred to the Disciplinary Board, but it may also be dismissed or resolved by the Vice-Chancellor.
Your studies will continue during the ongoing investigation
Until a decision has been made, you may continue to take part in teaching and all other activities at the University as usual. If the report concerns cheating, this means that you may also be required to take a resit exam, should this be necessary. In most cases, however, the assignment to which the report of cheating relates will not be marked until the disciplinary case has been resolved.
Cases are often taken up by the Disciplinary Board. You will have the opportunity to attend the Board’s meeting and comment on the matter. The Board may then put questions to both you and the department’s representative.
If the Disciplinary Board finds you guilty, you may receive a warning or be suspended for a specific period. A suspension means that you are not allowed to take part in the education in any way for a specific period. This means that you are not permitted to take part in teaching or assessed components, or to be present in laboratory premises or similar areas.
You may be suspended for a period of a few weeks to several months, up to a maximum of six months. The most common duration is six weeks. You are not entitled to student finance during the period of suspension.
A warning is the milder penalty. A warning may be imposed either by the Vice-Chancellor or the Disciplinary Board.
If the Vice-Chancellor issues a warning, you may request that the decision be reviewed by the Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board decides to impose a suspension or a warning, you may appeal against the decision to the Administrative Court.
The examiner is not required to mark the relevant exam or essay if you are found guilty. If the assignment has already been given a grade of Pass before the Disciplinary Board concludes that you have cheated, the examiner may change the result to a grade of Fail.
If cheating cannot be proven, the assignment is usually marked as normal.
If you have seen another student commit a disciplinary offence
If you have seen another student cheating or committing another disciplinary offence, you can contact your examiner or your department. They can then file a report.
Support if you have been reported for a disciplinary offence
There are several services at the University that you can turn to if you need support in connection with a report.
Student ombudsman
The Student Ombudsman is based at the Lund University Student Union Association. Among other things, the Student Ombudsman can provide support to students involved in disciplinary cases.
Student Ombudsman at Lund University Student Union Association – studentombudet.se
Student Health Centre
If you feel stressed or unwell during the process, you can contact the Student Health Centre for support. Staff at the Student Health Centre are bound by a duty of confidentiality. You also have the right to contact the Student Health Centre during any period of suspension.
Study guidance
You have the right to remain in contact with your study adviser during any period of suspension. Together, you can review how your studies are affected by the suspension.
Contact information
For questions about disciplinary matters, contact the Legal Department.
Legal Department
disciplin [at] lu [dot] se (disciplin[at]lu[dot]se)