Consequences of cheating in exams

If suspicion of cheating in the exam arises in connection with the assessment of an exam paper and/or the conduct of an exam, the case is sent to the head of studies responsible for the programme that offers the course. 

The head of studies reviews the case, and if they agree with the suspicion, the case is reported to the Unit of Educational Law via the faculty administration.  

After the case is reviewed, the case materials will be sent to your student email, where you will be asked for your comments on the case (this is what is called a consultation of the parties). 

A consultation of the parties may take place in writing or orally. An oral consultation is most common and it takes place either as an in-person meeting at SDU or online. At a meeting (online or in person), you have the right to be accompanied, that is, to bring a companion to the meeting. From the University’s side, the head of studies and 1–2 employees from the Unit of Educational Law will participate. 

After the consultation of the parties, the Unit of Educational Law will process the case. 

The Unit of Educational Law will then recommend a decision to the dean of the faculty, who will make the final decision. 

Finally, the decision will be sent to your student email. The decision will contain a guide for the appeals procedure.

Cases of cheating in exams are confidential and the University’s employees have a duty of confidentiality. 

A decision on cheating in the exam will not appear on the final diploma that you receive from SDU. 

You can appeal against legal matters if you do not agree with the decision. Legal matters include whether the case has been handled in accordance with applicable law and general principles of administrative law. The appeal must be sent to the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science within a deadline stated in the guidelines for the appeals procedure in the decision.

You may not participate in any re-examination in the examination activity that is part of the case until a decision has been made. If the course has several part exams/exam activities, you are allowed to participate in activities that are not included in the case of cheating in the exam. You may also take exams and attend classes in your other courses while the case is being processed.  

At an oral consultation of the parties, you have the right to be accompanied, that is, to bring a companion. 

You have the right to be accompanied, that is, to bring a companion with you, when you participate in a consultation (i.e., when you can comment on the case). 

A companion is a person of your choice who will accompany you to the consultation of the parties. For example, you can bring a friend, a family member, a representative from a relevant interest organisation or association. Your choice of companion can be based on your personal relationship or on the basis of his/her specific professional knowledge. 

The companion’s task is first and foremost to support you during the consultation of the parties. 

The companion must listen to the conversation. Perhaps the companion can help you remember what you want to say. After the consultation of the parties, your companion can help you remember what was said and what happens next in the case.

If SDU finds that you cheated in an exam, you will receive a sanction that can range from a warning to a temporary or permanent expulsion from SDU.

If cheating in an exam is detected before you have received your exam assessment, the assessment will be put on hold until SDU has made a decision. If the case is withdrawn, you will subsequently receive the assessment of your exam. If the case is not dropped, you will receive a sanction and you will have used an exam attempt. 

If cheating is detected after you have received your exam assessment, your grade will be cancelled, you will receive a sanction and you will have used an exam attempt. If the case is withdrawn, you will keep your original exam assessment. 

The consequences of cheating in an exam will generally be tougher if you are caught cheating in exams several times. 

However, if there are aggravating circumstances or if it is a final exam (e.g. bachelor project, master's thesis etc.), the consequences can be severe, even if it is the first time you are caught cheating. 

SDU’s legal text on practices and sanctions in cases of proven cheating in exams

First-time offences are sanctioned with a warning, as well as a rejection of the completed exam. 

Second-time offences are sanctioned with a temporary expulsion from the University as well as a rejection of the completed exam. 

Third-time offences are sanctioned with an indefinite expulsion from the University as well as a rejection of the completed exam. 

However, the circumstances of the case may cause first-time offences to be sanctioned with a temporary or indefinite expulsion from the University, and a second-time offence to be sanctioned with indefinite expulsion from the University. 

Proven cheating in exams in connection with written exams under invigilation during which the student has either entered into an unauthorised collaboration with other students, or during which the student has helped or received help from others, may result in first-time offences being sanctioned with temporary or indefinite expulsion from the University. In continuation of this, second-time offences committed during the aforementioned types of exams may be sanctioned with indefinite expulsion from the University. This also applies to written exams on campus that are converted to an online format in which the only difference in the exam type is the physical location. 

This is due to the fact that SDU considers it an aggravating circumstance if you either choose to collaborate with others, or to help/receive help during an exam that aims to test the student in what they can accomplish in a limited period of time.  

Proven cheating in exams in the form of unauthorised use of artificial intelligence (AI) may result in first-time offences being sanctioned with temporary or indefinite expulsion from the University. In continuation of this, second-time offences may be sanctioned with indefinite expulsion from the University. 

Proven cheating in exams in the form of extensive plagiarism or self-plagiarism may result in first-time offences being sanctioned with temporary or indefinite expulsion from the University. In continuation of this, second-time offences may be sanctioned with indefinite expulsion from the University.    

Proven exam cheating in connection with a final exam (bachelor project, final project, master's thesis, etc.) may result in first-time offences being sanctioned with temporary or indefinite expulsion from the University. In continuation of this, second-time offences committed during the aforementioned types of exams may be sanctioned with indefinite expulsion from the University. 

Cheating in an exam is sanctioned according to the disciplinary rules.