To study at a new university in another country may entail many questions and a sense of insecurity. The University of Copenhagen strives to give all new students a warm welcome and to make sure that you are informed about all important details of your stay, including both academic and social matters.
Orientation at UCPH
You will be invited to an orientation when you begin your studies at UCPH. Here, you will get all the practical information and tools necessary for a rewarding academic, cultural and personal experience.
Orientation may vary from faculty to faculty, but you will most likely hear about:
- The academic culture at UCPH
- Exams
- Getting around on campus
- How to use the different UCPH platforms
- What it’s like to live in Denmark, including interesting tips on Danish culture
- Innovation, green initiatives, research on current topics and much more
- Meet and talk to other international students
Mentor programmes
The mentor programmes at UCPH are organised by the individual faculty or department. You can sign up/apply for a mentor programme after you have been admitted to UCPH. The mentor programmes are very popular and, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that you will be assigned a mentor.
The programmes are run by volunteers from UCPH, however not all faculties or departments offer a mentor programme. Getting a mentor can be a great way to kick-start your social life in Copenhagen and to help you with practical matters at the university, for example:
- Giving you a warm welcome
- Helping you get settled in Copenhagen
- Inviting you to events with other students
- Answering questions about the University and the city.
Academic culture in Denmark
When studying abroad, you are likely to experience differences in the academic culture from what you are used to in your home country.
In general, the Danish education system is built on unwritten rules about mutual respect, trust and independence.
International students always notice the flat hierarchy between lecturers and students. Students call lecturers by their first name and not by title, and you could say that respect is earned on an individual basis in the interaction with students rather than through a traditional hierarchy.
Lecturers rarely practice one-way communication only. Instead, the teaching is often based on student involvement and open debate where problem-based learning methods encourage students to express themselves. This may differ from what you are accustomed to and may take some time getting used to.
As a student, you are encouraged to engage in your learning process and to think critically. The Danish academic tradition depends on the ability to make clear, transparent and valid argumentation, and you will be evaluated based on your ability to work with course material in a critical and independent manner.
During classes, you may experience a high level of student independence when solving problems, however, the use of group work is also highly practiced. You may experience a focus on teamwork rather than on fierce competition.
Plagiarism/exam cheating
When sitting an exam or handing in an exam paper, it must be a product of your own independent work within the framework of the exam in question.
Exam cheating is when you violate the rules of the exam or the UCPH regulations, regardless of whether it is intentional or unintentional. You are responsible for knowing and following the rules when you sit an exam. Please, read and learn the rules on exam cheating as well as the rules for the specific exam.
Read the UCPH regulations (KUnet - only accessible for UCPH students)
When sitting an exam or handing in an exam paper, it must be a product of your own independent work within the framework of the exam in question.
Exam cheating is when you violate the rules of the exam or the UCPH regulations, regardless of whether it is intentional or unintentional. You are responsible for knowing and following the rules when you sit an exam. Please, read and learn the rules on exam cheating as well as the rules for the specific exam.
When sitting an exam or handing in an exam paper, it must be a product of your own independent work within the framework of the exam in question.
Exam cheating is when you violate the rules of the exam or the UCPH regulations, regardless of whether it is intentional or unintentional. You are responsible for knowing and following the rules when you sit an exam. Please, read and learn the rules on exam cheating as well as the rules for the specific exam.
Examples of exam cheating
Plagiarism: It is plagiarism if you refer to or copy another person’s work – including tables, figures and images – without citing the exact source. It is also plagiarism if you submit an assignment that you have not written yourself.
- Direct quote: Direct quotes must be marked with, for example, quotation marks, indentation or italics. It is plagiarism if you do not cite direct quotations.
- Self-plagiarism: If you refer to or copy from your own work, you must cite yourself as the source. Otherwise, it is a case of self-plagiarism. It is irrelevant whether you reuse a previously submitted assignment, an article or other texts you have previously written.
- Shared notes: Notes that are written together with others are not your own, but the group’s notes. If you do not cite the source, it is a case of plagiarism.
Find information about different examples of exam cheating
Reuse of own exam paper
If you reuse one of your previous exam papers or parts of one, you must clearly cite yourself as the source. Otherwise, it is a case of self-plagiarism and exam cheating. It is also self-plagiarism if you reuse the same text in two different exam papers that you submit at the same time.
Collaboration
If the exam is an individual exam, your exam paper must be the result of your own independent work. This means that you are not allowed to get help from others, help others or, in general, be in non-permitted contact with others during the exam.
Non-permitted materials
If you bring or use non-permitted materials, it is exam cheating. This also applies if you have had access to the exam assignment before the start of the exam.
Non-permitted contact
For written on-site exams, it is exam cheating if you are in contact with others physically or digitally – both inside and outside the exam room.
Aiding and abetting
If you aid other people in exam cheating, this is also exam cheating.
Attempt of exam cheating
Attempted exam cheating will be treated in the same way as actual exam cheating.
Exceeding the time limit
If you have had access to the exam assignment before the start of the exam.
All written assignments at UCPH are checked for plagiarism before the examiner and co-examiner read and assess them.
Find out what happens if UCPH suspects cheating (internal link - only for UCPH students)
If the examiner and co-examiner suspect cheating (for example, on the basis of plagiarism control), they will submit a report to the head of studies of your programme.
When the head of studies has received the report on suspected cheating, you will be invited to a meeting to go through the report, and you will have the opportunity to explain what you think has happened. Find out what happens when you are suspected of cheating
You can bring a friend, a fellow student or a family member to the meeting – also known as an observer. The observer can help you remember what you want to say and can subsequently help you remember what was said during the meeting. After the meeting, you will receive a written summary of the meeting which you will be given the opportunity to comment on. If the head of studies believes that you have cheated, they will send a report to the dean of your faculty. If the dean also assesses that you have cheated, the report will be forwarded to the rector along with a recommendation from the dean.
Education & Students will assess the case on behalf of the rector and send the dean’s recommendation to your KUmail for comment (hearing of the parties concerned in accordance with the rules of the Danish Public Administration Act). You will be given at least one week to submit your comments, otherwise Education & Students will decide the case without your comments. Education & Students will make a decision in your case on behalf of the rector. You will receive the decision in your KUmail.
If it is assessed that you have cheated at an exam, the typical consequences for a first-time occurrence are as follows:
• You are expelled from the exam in question.
• You are expelled from the University for typically one semester.
• You are given a written warning.
Find out about the consequences of exam cheating (internal link - onlyaccessiblefor UCPH students)
Each case is assessed and decided individually on its own merits.
If you have violated the regulations several times, it will be regarded as aggravating circumstances, and will be reflected in the sanction. This may involve a longer or permanent expulsion from the University.
Expulsion from the exam
If you are expelled from an exam, your assignment will not be assessed, and you will automatically be assigned the lowest grade possible, and it will count as an exam attempt.
Expulsion from the University
If you are expelled from the University, you will be excluded from all courses and exams as well as all social and academic activities at UCPH.
What are my options for appeal?
If you want to appeal against the decision, you must send your appeal to Education & Students no later than two weeks after you have received the decision. Find out about your options for appeal.
You can only appeal against the decision on legal grounds, meaning if you find that the decision has not been processed in accordance with applicable legislation. Legal aspects may for example be administrative rules and principles, such as hearing of the parties and guidelines for grounds and appeals. However, your appeal must not be about academic issues or the University’s assessments unless the assessment is outside the legal framework.
When Education & Students has received your appeal, they will issue a statement that you will have at least one week to comment on. Education & Students will send the statement along with your comments and other case documents to the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science. The Agency will then process your appeal, and you will receive a response directly from the Agency.
Getting to know the different platforms and contact points at UCPH
There are many new things to get to know when you start your studies at UCPH. It is important that you familiarise yourself with the different platforms and contact points at UCPH.
KUnet is the University’s intranet, which you will get access to after you have been admitted to UCPH.
Absalon is the platform where you can see course content and information when you have registered for courses.
Eksamen.ku.dk is the platform for submitting exam papers online.
Mobility-Online is an application platform you can use to send your application.
If you have any problems with the digital platforms or your KUmail, you can always contact UCPH IT.
Tel: 35 32 32 32
E-mail: KU-IT-Support@ku.dk
The UCPH course catalogue can be found at Kurser.ku.dk
Student well-being
Students’ well-being is very important to the University. UCPH has a big focus on the study environment and will continuously work with the project Good Student Life, which involves specific initiatives to support student well-being and create a good student life.
Learn about student wellbeing at UCPH