Disciplinary matters

When a student at KTH violates the rules that apply, for example is suspected of cheating or exhibited unacceptable behaviour or harassment towards another student or staff at KTH, it may lead to a disciplinary matter.

When may disciplinary measures be taken?

According to Section 1 of Chapter 10 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), disciplinary measures may be invoked against students who:

use prohibited aids or other methods to attempt to deceive during examinations or other forms of assessment of study performance
disrupt or obstruct teaching, tests or other activities within the framework of courses and study programmes at the higher education institution
disrupt activities in the library of the higher education institution or other separate establishments at the institution, or
subject another student or member of the staff of the higher education institution to harassment or sexual harassment of the kind laid down in Section 4 of Chapter 1 of the Discrimination Act (2008:567).

Disciplinary measures may not be invoked more than two years after the committed offence.

On harassment and sexual harassment in the Discrimination Act (riksdagen.se, in Swedish)

The Higher Education Ordinance on when disciplinary measures may be taken (uhr.se)

The administrative process

A student disciplinary matter begins when a report has been completed, signed and sent to the President.
The registrar registers the matter.
A legal counsel at the legal department investigates the matter upon which supplemental information may be required from the complainant/school concerned.
The student is also given the opportunity to comment on the matter, which is an important aspect of the legal counsel's investigation. Considering the student's received statement, further investigation is carried out.
The matter is then reported to the President, who may decide to dismiss the matter without further action, issue a warning or refer the matter to the Disciplinary Board for review.

The Disciplinary Board

KTH has an ad hoc Disciplinary Board of which the President is the chairman. The Board also includes a legal expert, a representative of the teaching staff and two student representatives elected by the student union. The Disciplinary Board normally meets twice a month during the academic terms. The meetings are booked in advance, annually, taking into account examination periods and such.

If a matter is referred to the Disciplinary Board, the following people will be called to the Disciplinary Board meeting: the student concerned, the person who registered the incident and, possibly, the invigilator, the course coordinator, the examiner or other witnesses who may be considered to have something to contribute to the matter. During the meeting, the student and other people concerned are given the opportunity to make comments on the matter and answer questions from Board members. Following deliberation, the Board usually announces its decision three workdays after the meeting.

It is important to remember that, while the matter is being processed, no action will be taken until a decision has been made. This means that the student has the right to attend classes as usual. The examination in question should not be graded until the President or the Board has dealt with the matter.

Disciplinary action

Both the President and the Board may decide on disciplinary action.

In accordance with Chapter 10 § 2 of the Higher Education Ordinance, disciplinary actions available are a warning and a suspension. A suspension decision means that the student may not attend classes, participate in examinations or any other activities within the framework of the educational programme at the university. The decision may relate to one or more periods, but will not last more than six months. A suspension decision may also be limited, restricting access to certain facilities within KTH.

In the event of a suspension, the student is suspended from the date of the suspension decision. The Board usually announces its decision three workdays after the meeting has taken place. A suspension period is considered an interruption of studies from a student grant perspective. A student who has been suspended may therefore be obliged to repay student aid for the period of time the student is suspended. KTH will inform CSN (National Board of Student Aid) when a student is suspended.

The Higher Education Ordinance on disciplinary measures (uhr.se)

Frequently asked questions

If you have been reported for a disciplinary misdemeanour it means that you are suspected of, for example, being misleading during an examination. But it may also relate to you being suspected of violating the university’s code of conduct or that you have harassed someone.

Every suspicion relating to a disciplinary incident must be reported to the President as soon as possible, who will investigate the matter by gathering information. The student will be sent the gathered information and the referral and will be able to provide their views regarding what happened.

When the student’s statement has been returned, the President will decide whether the matter should be dismissed without further action, if the student should receive a warning (directly from the President) or whether the matter should be brought before the Disciplinary Board.

In most cases, the matter will be passed on to the Disciplinary Board, which comprises the President, a member learned in the law, a teacher representative, and two student representatives. The member learned in the law on KTH’s Disciplinary Board must be, or must have been, an actual court judge.

The Disciplinary Board normally meets twice a month during academic terms. Meetings are booked in advance – on a yearly basis. The processing time for disciplinary matters varies. It is, therefore, best to ask KTH’s legal department if you have any queries regarding when the Disciplinary Board will deal with a disciplinary matter.

A warning may be communicated by the President or the Disciplinary Board, while a suspension can only be communicated by the Disciplinary Board. If you receive a warning or a suspension, it is stated in the decision, which is a public document.

If you have been suspended from KTH, it means that during the suspension period you may not attend classes, examinations or any other activities within the framework of the educational programme at KTH. You are therefore only suspended from KTH, so that you may pursue studies at other universities. If you have been suspended you have the same access rights to KTH’s premises as a member of the general public. You will also still be able to use the student union’s premises if you have been suspended.

If you hold a student loan through CSN - the Swedish Board of Student Finance - a suspension decision will be sent to them. As the suspension is considered an interruption of studies, you may be required to repay your study aid for the period that you are suspended.

A warning decision will be sent to the student concerned and the school.

If you have been suspended from KTH, an entry to this effect will be visible in LADOK during the suspension, but it will not appear on your degree certificate. After the suspension, the entry will be removed from LADOK.

The documents relating to a disciplinary matter are public documents recorded by KTH. Such documents may be requested for perusal by anyone.

If a matter relating to a disciplinary misdemeanour is dealt with by the Disciplinary Board, the following people will be summoned: the student concerned, the person who reported the student and, if necessary, any other people concerned with the matter. At the meeting, the facts will be analysed and the student and other people concerned will be given the opportunity to answer questions from the Board’s members. When everyone has had the opportunity to have their say, the Disciplinary Board will deliberate in private. The Board usually announces its decision three workdays after the meeting.

Rights and responsibilities

Cheating and plagiarism

Influence your education

Complaints

Code of conduct