Rights and obligations – university regulations for your studies

Rights and Obligations – regulations for studying at first and second-cycle level at Södertörn University regulates the relationship between students and the university. Their purpose is for all students at Södertörn University to be treated equally and to clarify your rights and obligations as a student.

Selected thematic excerpts from Rights and Obligations are provided below, with a reference to the correct section of the document at the end. The full document is available at the bottom of the page.

Starting your studies

To be admitted to a course or programme, you must have the prior knowledge necessary to complete it successfully.

The entry requirements for each course are provided in the course syllabus. For courses that are part of a progression, you must have acquired the knowledge from the previous level. This usually means that you must have completed and passed a course at the lower level.

If you do not meet the formal entry requirements but are assessed as having enough prior knowledge to study successfully, you may be granted an exemption. Read more under Admissions.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 3.3, Entry requirements and exemptions from entry requirements

If you have been admitted to a course or a programme and intend to start studying, you must register. The university provides information about how and when to do this. Your registration is recorded in Ladok.

If you want to continue studying the same course after the first course instance has ended, you may re-register on the course provided it is being offered and places are available. As a re-registered student, you may participate in the modules and assessments you have not yet passed. If you wish to re-register, please contact the education administrators.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 3.4, Registration and re-registration

Course syllabus

A course must have a course syllabus. A course syllabus is a validated document that must be followed by examiners, teachers and students.

It includes the course’s contents, intended learning outcomes and forms of assessment. The syllabus is also a supporting document when transferring course credits. Every course syllabus has a course code that shows which course the student is registered on. The course syllabus must be available on the university website before a course opens for application.

Programme syllabuses

A study programme must have a programme syllabus. The programme must also have course syllabuses (see above).

The programme syllabus includes the entry requirements for the programme, the included courses and the programme-specific learning outcomes. It must also include a programme description and the title of the qualification.

Each programme syllabus has a programme code that shows the programme to which the student has been admitted.

The programme syllabus must be available on the university website before applications open for the programme.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 2.3, Course and programme syllabuses

Timetables

Södertörn University is responsible for preliminary course timetables being available when you get the first notification of selection results. A timetable may only be changed at short notice if something unforeseen happens, and students must be notified as soon as possible.

Reading lists

The reading list shows which course literature you must use. The university is responsible for ensuring it is available before the start of the course.

If you need talking books, you are responsible for contacting the library if one is missing from its collection, so it can be ordered.

A reading list is not normally changed at short notice, but exceptions may be made if the specified literature is unavailable.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 3.5, Timetables and reading lists

In exceptional circumstances, you may defer – postpone – your studies. These could be social or medical reasons, or needing to look after children, performing military or civilian service, or holding a position in a student union.

They may also include fixed-term probationary employment under the Act on Specific Employment in the Swedish Armed Forces, or periodic service in the Swedish Armed Forces as a non-commissioned officer, soldier or sailor.

Deferment can be granted for a maximum of 18 months. In exceptional cases, you may be granted longer.

To apply for deferment, submit an application to the university’s Student Support Services. You will need to provide certificates or other documents to support your application. If your application is rejected, you may send an appeal to the Higher Education Appeals Board. See Chapter 13, Appeals.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 3.1, Deferment of studies

During your studies

Under the Higher Education Act, students are entitled to exert influence on their education.

The students’ union at Södertörn University must monitor and participate in improving education and the students’ study situation. It represents all students at the university, including those who are not members.

Students are entitled to representation during preparations for or making decisions that have a bearing on their courses or programmes or the students’ situation. Student representatives are appointed by the students’ union and must represent the students’ collective interest.

A student representative is entitled to receive the same information and supporting documentation prior to meetings as the other participants. A student representative is obliged to attend meetings whenever possible, to comply with the rules on conflicts of interest and to participate in decision-making.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 8, Student influence

Södertörn University must provide the necessary resources so that students can study on campus.

Students must have access to study spaces, group rooms and ICT suites, as well as a wireless network (WiFi). University premises must also have student kitchens and quiet rooms.

At the university library, students can access reference works, other sources of academic information and a limited number of copies of course literature.

These resources must be available to students outside of scheduled hours as much as possible.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 2.5, Campus resources

Study and career guidance

Södertörn University must offer study and career guidance to its students and to prospective students. As a student or applicant, you can get help with general enquiries about choosing a course and your study situation. Guidance also provides support regarding your aims, qualifications and future career. Read more about study and career guidance.

Student Wellbeing Centre

The university is responsible for ensuring that students can access healthcare, particularly preventive healthcare that aims to promote the students’ physical and mental health. All services offered as part of the student health service are free of charge. Read more about the Student Wellbeing Centre.

Study support for students with disabilities

A student with a permanent disability may obtain study support from the university to allow them, as far as possible, to study on equal terms with other students. To get this support, the disability must be permanent, documented and entail obstacles when studying. An admitted student is responsible for applying for study support via the Nais system as soon as possible.

After assessing the student’s needs, the university’s coordinating unit for disability support (Funka) issues a decision that includes decided and recommended support. If you have received a support recommendation, this is decided upon by the examiner or teaching staff. You are responsible for contacting the relevant staff well in advance of the teaching or assessment.

When deciding whether to approve or reject recommended support, the examiner must consider the learning outcomes set out in the course syllabus and ensure that the assessment is equivalent and legally certain. The examiner may also consider the financial and practical conditions.

Study Support Unit

Södertörn University has a Study Support Unit. It provides support throughout your studies, including through lectures, tutoring and courses. It is open to all students and is free of charge. Read more about the Study Support Unit.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 9, Study support

Education is to be provided without charge to students who are citizens of

a state covered by the agreement on the European Economic Area, or
Switzerland.

Expenses while studying

There may be expenses that you will need to pay yourself during your studies.

Students pay for their own course literature and other aids for personal use. The university must pay the costs for elements that are taught and are obligatory and which are conducted outside university premises, such as study visits or excursions.

The programme and course syllabuses must clearly state whether there are study trips or elements that entail costs for the student.

Tuition fees

The university must charge tuition fees to applicants and students from a third country. A third country is a state outside the EU/EEA, but not Switzerland (see above). Tuition fees are decided by the university and validated annually by the Vice-Chancellor.

Students covered by the exemption from tuition fees under the Ordinance on application and tuition fees in higher education do not pay tuition fees. A student who is exempt from tuition fees at the time of admission remains exempt throughout the entire course of study. A person who has been admitted and paid the tuition fee but is unable to start studying due to exceptional circumstances may apply for a tuition fee refund.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 2.4, Fees and expenses

A higher education institution must be responsible for ensuring that its students are insured against personal injury. At Södertörn University, you are covered by Kammarkollegiet’s personal injury insurance, under an agreement between the university and Kammarkollegiet (the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency).

The insurance is valid during teaching hours, during assessments and placements, and when travelling between home and the university or placement. It is paid for by the university.

If you are on an exchange programme at a higher education institution with which the university has an agreement, you are insured through the Kammarkollegiet for the duration of your exchange programme.

Incoming exchange students from higher education institutions with which the university has agreements are also insured while studying at the university.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 9.5, Insurance

Staff and students have a joint responsibility for safety and security at the university. Only students, employees and other people who have the university as their workplace are authorised to access university premises. Representatives of the university’s students’ union and trade union organisations also have access. During events organised by the university, other people may also be permitted to access university premises.

Students and staff must not allow others into locked areas without ensuring that the person is authorised to be in that area. A person who is not authorised to be on the premises must leave immediately when asked to do so.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 14.5, Safety and security

Under the Discrimination Act, Södertörn University is obliged to work to prevent discrimination. Discrimination may take the form of direct or indirect discrimination, lack of accessibility, harassment, sexual harassment or encouraging someone to discriminate.

The university must work actively to promote equal rights and opportunities for everyone, regardless of sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age.

A student or applicant to the university who feels they have been exposed to discrimination, harassment or sexual harassment can contact a university employee or the students’ union’s student or doctoral student representative. An employee who is aware of this is obliged to act by informing their line manager or head of school. The incident must then be investigated. The students’ union can guide the student and encourage them to make a report.

A student who subjects another student or a university employee to harassment or sexual harassment may receive a warning or be suspended by the university’s Disciplinary Board. See Warning or suspension from studies External link..

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 14.3, Discrimination and harassment

Teaching

Teaching on daytime courses must be timetabled for weekdays between 8.00 and 18.00.
For evening courses, teaching must be timetabled for weekdays between 18.00 and 22.00.

Exceptions to these teaching hours may be made for study visits, excursions and placements.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 4.1, Teaching hours

The primary language of instruction at Södertörn University is Swedish. However, there may be elements of teaching in English, even on courses offered primarily in Swedish. Course materials in languages other than Swedish may be also used.

The language of instruction must always be specified in course and programme syllabuses.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 4.2, Language of instruction

During teaching, only students taking the course and the teacher may be in the teaching premises. Other university staff, guest lecturers and other participants may only be present if the teacher has given them permission. Children may not be in teaching premises.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 4.3, Attendants during teaching

The general rule is that recording, audio and video recording of teaching or other presentations on university premises is not permitted – both on site and during remote teaching.

In some cases, the teacher may make an exception and allow a student to make a recording during the lesson. If you have been granted study support that includes recording, you must inform your teacher in advance.

The teacher must consider whether other participating students do not wish to be recorded. If you are granted permission to record, the following applies:

Only the teaching or presentation may be recorded.
The recording is only for personal use.
You must not share it with others or publish it.

Photography and/or och filming of students during teaching is never permissible unless they have provided consent.

If recording is part of the course, you will be given specific instructions on how to use the material.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 4.4, Recording teaching

A student may be granted exemption from a compulsory course component, primarily for ethical or religious reasons.

If you wish to obtain an exemption from a compulsory course component, you must apply in writing to the examiner. The examiner assesses your reasons and whether it is possible to achieve the intended learning outcomes in the syllabus in ways other than the compulsory component.

If you are granted an exemption, you must complete a compensatory assignment. This must be designed by the examiner and provide equivalent knowledge and be of a comparable scope to the compulsory component.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 4.5, Exemption from compulsory course components

If you are writing an essay, a dissertation or other piece of independent work, you are entitled to supervision as part of the course. Supervision may be individual or in groups.

You are primarily entitled to supervision the first time you register on the course. in some cases, if you do not pass the course you may have more supervision when you re-register.

A supervisor may not prevent you from submitting work for assessment, even if they believe that you will not pass.

If you wish to change supervisor, you must submit a written request to the academic school. The reason for the change must be stated in the request.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 4.6, Supervision of essays, degree projects

Assessment

The course’s mode of assessment must be specified in the course syllabus. A temporary change to the mode of assessment, one that deviates from the syllabus, may only occur in exceptional and unforeseen circumstances.

Individual assessment tasks

You complete individual examination tasks on your own – both written and oral tasks. A student’s individual performance is what is assessed.

You must not collaborate with other students. The instruction for the assessment task will state whether any collaboration is permitted.

The course coordinator will provide the deadline at the start of the course. An assessment task submitted after the deadline will not be marked, unless otherwise specified.

Group work

Group work means that the assessment task is jointly performed by two or more students.

Everyone in the group is responsible for ensuring that work is done in accordance with the instructions for what is submitted or presented. Each student is assessed individually in group work assessments.

In-person examinations

Registration is compulsory for in-person examinations at Södertörn University. A student who will sit an in-person examination must register during the registration period, which begins three (3) weeks before and ends one (1) week before the in-person examination. If you have not registered for an examination you will not be permitted to sit it.

Remember to:

arrive in time
bring valid ID.

All in-person examinations at the university are anonymous. This means that you will be assigned an anonymising code to use, rather than using your name. You must keep the code secret until the examination has been marked.

Read more about in-person examinations on the page about In-person examinations.

Adapted in-person examinations

If you have been granted support due to a permanent disability, you are responsible for applying for this support when you register for an in-person examination. The Examination Coordination Office is responsible for processing registration and, where possible, organising the adaptations you need.

In-person examinations at another location

A student who is studying a course at Södertörn University and who wishes to sit an in-person examination in another location must contact their examiner at the start of the course and apply to do this.

If you are granted permission to sit an in-person examination in another location, you must

contact the educational institution, public authority or equivalent where you will sit the exam
pay any costs that may arise.

The in-person examination must be conducted at the same time as for other students on the course, unless the examiner decides otherwise.

Read more about in-person examinations on the page about In-person examinations at another location.

Compulsory attendance

Compulsory attendance may be a form of assessment, for example as seminars, study visits or guest lectures. At the start of the course, the course coordinator must inform students of how many and which assessed components require compulsory attendance.

For distance courses, the course syllabus must state whether the assessment requires physical attendance at the university or whether it can be conducted remotely.

Placement

During a placement, you will be assessed though

being present, participating in and completing the placement
completing any assignments and participating in seminars.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 5.1, Mode of assessment

Assessments for daytime courses take place on weekdays between 08.00 and 18.00.

Assessments for evening courses take place on weekdays between 18.00 and 22.00.

In exceptional cases, in-person examinations may be held in the evenings or on Saturdays.

If you are sitting a resit examination, it may be held on a Saturday or on a weekday evening, in addition to the times listed above.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 5.2, Assessment times

The university must provide clear written instructions and rules for each assessment. You must be able to access them both before and during the assessment.

You are responsible for reading the instructions and following the rules during an assessment.

The instructions must state:

the requirements that apply to references. As a general rule, you must always cite the source when you use or refer to someone else’s material.
whether you may use aids – and, if so, which ones and how.
whether collaboration with other students is permitted – and how.
whether and how you may use generative AI.

Each occasion for assessment requires a new performance by the student. This means that you may not reuse your text from a previously submitted assessment task. It must not be possible to obtain results and higher education credits by submitting the same text several times. However, you may refer to previously published assessments, if they are relevant to the current assessment task.

You must state your name or your anonymous code on your assessment.

If you hand in a blank assessment, you will be awarded a Fail (U or F) grade.
If the assessment is incomplete, you will receive a Fail (U or F) or the opportunity to supplement it.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 5.3, Instructions and rules for assessments

As a general rule, there is no limit on the number of times you may undergo assessment.

Once you have registered for a course, you are entitled to be assessed using that syllabus and reading list for at least two years. During those two years, the university must offer at least five opportunities for assessment in the main component on which the course or module is assessed. At least three of these must be during the first year after the start of the course. This refers to the number of assessment opportunities that are offered – not how many you choose to participate in.

The course coordinator must ensure that information about upcoming assessment opportunities is up to date and easy to find. You are responsible for finding this information.

If a course is not being taught this semester

If a course is not taught in the relevant semester, the university must offer at least one opportunity for assessment in the main component on which the course is assessed. This applies provided that you have re-registered on the course at the start of the semester.

If a course is discontinued

If a course is to be discontinued, the university must offer students at least three opportunities for assessment per assessed component over at least one year. This period starts on the date when students were informed that the course was being discontinued.

Placements

Placements or equivalent periods of education can be restricted to at least two occasions. Decisions on this type of restriction are made by the course coordinator.
If the number of occasions for assessment or placement periods are restricted, those that count are the ones you have undertaken, not the opportunities that have been offered.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 5.4, Number of opportunities for assessment

Barriers caused by the university

If you have been unable to complete an assessment due to a mistake by the university, you are entitled to a new opportunity for assessment.

This must be decided as soon as possible and in consultation with you. The assessment must be conducted in the manner stated in the course syllabus.

Assessment during religious holidays

If assessment coincides with a religious holiday that you observe, you may undergo assessment on another occasion.

To be entitled to this, you must:

inform the course coordinator at the start of the course.
be able to confirm that the day is a religious holiday if the university requests this, such as through documentation your religious community.

If your assessment is lost

If you have submitted an assessment that is then lost before it has been marked, you are entitled to a new assessment opportunity. This must be decided as soon as possible and in consultation with you.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 5.5, Barriers to assessment

Marking and results

You should receive your results as soon as possible after completing an assessment, no later than 15 working days after its submission or the in-person examination. Assessment results must be promptly reported in Ladok. Within those 15 working days, you cannot request to have your assessment marked more quickly.

Once your assessment has been marked, you should be able to have it returned to you as soon as possible, no later than 14 calendar days before the next opportunity for assessment.

Grades

Södertörn University uses these grading scales:

U, G, VG (Fail, Pass, Pass with credit)
and U, G (Fail, Pass)

Courses that are taught in English use an A–F scale:

A (Excellent)
B (Very good)
C (Good)
D (Pass)
E (Satisfactory)
F (Fail)

The course syllabus states the grading scale that will be used.

About grades

You cannot appeal your grade, but you can ask for it to be reviewed.
A grade does not need to be justified.
If you already have a pass grade, you may not retake the assessment to improve your grade.
Grades are official documents and may be made public once you have received your results.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 5.6, Marking, grading and return of assessments

Supplementation

A student who is close to achieving a pass mark for an assessment task may be given the opportunity to provide supplementation, for example by submitting a supplementary assignment or expanding on parts of the original task. The examiner must decide the deadline and the scope of the supplementation. Supplementation must primarily be used to enable the student to achieve a Pass (G) on the assessment task.

Compensatory task

A student may be allowed to undertake a compensatory task in order to complete an assessment. This means that the assessment task is replaced by another form of assessment. For example, when a written assignment is used to compensate for a seminar. The educational content and scope of these tasks must correspond to those for which compensation is necessary.

New assessment

Students must be informed about the date of the opportunity for a new assessment for each assessment task at the start of the course.
To participate in a new assessment, you must be registered or re-registered on the course during the semester in which the new assessment is conducted.

Read more in Rights and Opportunities: Chapter 5.8, Supplementation, compensatory tasks and re-assessment

If you have been assessed twice on the same course or module without passing, you are entitled to a new examiner, provided there are no specific reasons to the contrary.

If you wish to change examiner, you must submit a written request to the academic school responsible for the course or module. The school then decides in accordance with its delegation of authority.

If the assessment is an anonymised in-person examination, a change of examiner means that you lose your anonymity. You then sit the examination on one the upcoming opportunities.

If the assessment takes the form of a placement, you can change examiner after one opportunity for assessment.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 5.7, Change of examiner

Correction of a decision

A decision can always be corrected or changed before it has been announced by the university. A decision that has been announced by the university and which contains an apparent mistake, such as a textual or calculation error or similar by the university, may be corrected by the university. If the correction relates to a grade, the examiner makes the decision.

Changes to decisions

When can the university change a decision?

if the decision is incorrect due to new circumstances, or
there is some other reason why the decision is incorrect.

A decision that benefits the student may be changed to the student’s disadvantage if, for example, the error is because the student provided misleading information.

Review of grading decisions

If an examiner finds that a grading decision is obviously erroneous due to new circumstances or any other reason, the decision must be changed if this can be done quickly and easily and does not entail lowering the grade.

You can request a review of your grade for an assessment. To get your grade reviewed, you must fill in and submit a form requesting this. In it, you must specify and explain what is obviously incorrect and refer to the assessment’s grading criteria.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 5.9, Corrections, changes to decisions and review of grading decisions

A student at Södertörn University may apply to have previous studies at a Swedish or foreign higher education institution, professional experience or prior learning formally recognised as credits.

Knowledge and skills must be those you have developed

by having successfully completed higher education studies at a Swedish higher education institution,
by having successfully completed higher education studies at a higher education institution abroad,
through another type of education resulting in a documented qualification presented in Annex 2 of the Ordinance (2015:545) on the reference framework for lifelong learning qualifications, or following official confirmation that the knowledge and skills are the equivalent of a level included in the reference framework, or
through another type of education or professional practice.

Applications for credit transfers must be done via Student-Ladok or on a form. When you apply, you must provide documentation for previous studies or the equivalent, such as course syllabuses and transcripts. You are responsible for submitting supporting documentation for a credit transfer.

The decisive criterion for a credit transfer must be the learning outcomes in the syllabus for the course that you have studied and wish to have credited. The university evaluates whether these meet the learning outcomes in the syllabus for the course that will be replaced.

If the application is rejected, the university must demonstrate that there is a significant difference between student’s previous education or otherwise acquired knowledge and the course or programme to which the credits should be transferred. A decision to reject an application for credit transfer may be appealed to the Higher Education Appeals Board. See Chapter 15, Appeals.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 6, Credit transfers

Qualifications

Applying for a qualification

A student who has completed a programme at Södertörn University is entitled to apply for a qualification. Apply via Student-Ladok.

Student Support Services at the university decides on the award of qualifications. If your application is rejected, you may appeal the decision to the Higher Education Appeals Board (Chapter 13 in Rights and Obligations).

Your certificate

Certificates for qualifications are issued digitally. They have an e-stamp that proves the document is genuine and can be verified.

The date on the certificate is when it was issued. Once the decision regarding your qualification has been made, you can download your digital certificate – and you can do this as many times as necessary.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 7, Application for a qualification and certificate

Approved leave and non-completion

Students may apply for and be granted approved leave from studies.

When can I get approved leave?

You may be granted approved leave and then resume studying if you have special reasons, for example:

social reasons
medical reasons
caring for a child
military service or civilian service
roles within students’ union activities
fixed-term probationary employment
service in the Swedish defence forces.

You must be able to document your reason, such as with a doctor’s certificate.

Decisions on approved leave from studies are made by the head of school or in accordance with the delegation of authority.

What happens when I get approved study leave?

You keep your place on the course or programme.
The decision is for a fixed period of leave.
You have the right to resume studying at the time stated in the decision, provided that the university still offers the course or programme.

A student who wishes to resume studying after a period of approved leave must inform the university of this by 15 April for the autumn semester and 15 October for the spring semester. In exceptional cases, a different date will apply; if so, this will be stated in the decision.

If you cannot resume your studies as planned, you must reapply for approved leave in order to retain your place on the course or programme.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 10.1, Approved leave from studies

Disciplinary cases

An employee of Södertörn University who has a well-founded suspicion that a student has attempted to mislead an examiner or cheat during an assessment must make a disciplinary report.
A disciplinary report must also be made if a student has disrupted or obstructed teaching or activities at the library. This applies to both face-to-face and online teaching. A disciplinary report must be made if a student subjects another student or a member of staff to harassment or sexual harassment.

An investigation into the disciplinary report is then conducted. During this investigation, the student who has been reported has the right to comment on the matter and to access the documents included in the investigation.

Decision in a disciplinary case

A decision in a disciplinary case may be suspension, a warning, or that no further action is taken.

The university’s Disciplinary Board may decide the disciplinary measures of suspension and a warning. The Vice-Chancellor may decide the disciplinary measure of warning. The university’s Disciplinary Board, the Vice-Chancellor and the director of Student Support Services may decide that no further action will be taken in a disciplinary case.

A student who has received a warning from the Vice-Chancellor may request that this is tried by the Disciplinary Board.
The Disciplinary Board’s decision on suspension or a warning may be appealed to the Administrative Court in Stockholm. See Chapter 13, Appeals.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 11.1, Disciplinary cases

Warning

A warning means that

the student’s current studies are not affected
it is recorded in Ladok, but does not appear on transcripts or certificates.

Suspension

At Södertörn University, suspension means that a student may not

participate in teaching activities, assessments or other activities that are part of their education at Södertörn University,
receive a grade for the assessment that is the subject of their case.

A suspended student may

enter university premises and use the library, SH-StudyWeb and ICT suites, unless otherwise decided by the Disciplinary Board
have credits that were completed prior to suspension registered
register for in-person exams to be held after the period of suspension
visit study and career guidance counsellors, the Study Support Unit and the Student Wellbeing Centre.
conduct independent study
study at other higher education institutions during the period of suspension.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 11.3, What does a disciplinary measure entail?

Expulsion from studies

The Higher Education Act provides for the following reasons for expulsion if a student

suffers from a mental disorder,
abuses alcohol or drugs, or
has been found guilty of a serious crime.

A further requirement for expulsion is that there is believed to be considerable risk that the student may harm another person or damage valuable property during their studies due to the circumstances in 1-3 above.

The Higher Education Expulsions Board is the national agency that examines cases of expulsion when a report is submitted by the Vice-Chancellor. A decision on expulsion means that the student may not continue with their current education, and that the student may not continue with or be admitted to a similar course or programme unless the Board decides otherwise.

The Board’s decision on expulsion is valid for an indefinite period, but can be re-assessed after two years A decision on expulsions may be appealed to the Administrative Court.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 12, Expulsion

Appeals

A student or applicant to the university who is dissatisfied with specific decisions made by the university may appeal these. Anyone who receives a decision that can be appealed must simultaneously receive information about how to appeal.

The Higher Education Appeals Board is a public agency that is tasked with hearing appeals regarding specific decisions made in the higher education sector. For example, a decision to reject an application for the award of a qualification may be appealed to the Higher Education Appeals Board. The Board’s decision cannot be appealed.
The Administrative Court is a court that hears cases regarding decisions made by authorities that relate to individuals. Appeals that apply to Södertörn University are heard by the Administrative Court in Stockholm. The Disciplinary Board’s decision on suspension or a warning may be appealed to the Administrative Court.

Appeals

An appeal must be in writing and addressed to the Higher Education Appeals Board (Överklagandenämnden för högskolan) and sent to Södertörn University.
It must state which decision it relates to and how the person wishes the decision to be amended. The appeal must be received no later than three weeks after the student or applicant was notified of the decision. Appeals submitted after the deadline will be rejected.

Read more in Rights and Obligations: Chapter 13, Appeals

Read the entire document Rights and Obligations – regulations for studying at first and second-cycle level at Södertörn University

Rights and Obligations – regulations for studying at first and second-cycle level at Södertörn University

Rights and obligations – university regulations for your studies

Starting your studies

Entry requirements and exemptions from entry requirements

Registration and re-registration

Course and programme syllabuses

Timetables and reading lists

Deferment of studies

During your studies

Student influence

Campus resources

Support while studying

Fees and expenses

Insurance

Safety and security

Discrimination

Complaints

Teaching

Teaching hours

Language of instruction

Attendants during teaching

Recording teaching

Exemption from compulsory course components

Supervision of essays, degree projects

Assessment

Modes of assessment

Assessment times

Instructions and rules for assessments

Number of opportunities for assessment

Barriers to assessment

Marking, grading and return of assessments

Supplementation, compensatory tasks and re-assessment

Change of examiner

Corrections, changes to decisions and review of grading decisions

Credit transfers

Qualifications

Application for a qualification and certificate

Approved leave and non-completion

Approved leave from studies

Non-completion of studies

Disciplinary cases

Disciplinary report

Warning or suspension

Expulsion from studies

Expulsion

Appeals

Appeals

Read the entire document Rights and Obligations – regulations for studying at first and second-cycle level at Södertörn University