Advice and support
If you run into problems you should...
- First contact the examiner or the course coordinator to address your concerns directly.
- Contact the educational coordinator in your student association for support.
- In case of general course issues or if you feel mistreated or confused about academic regulations, the Linnaeus Union ombudsmen can offer support.
Work Environment
The head of department is responsible for the work environment within the department, both for students and staff. If you have feedback regarding the physical, social, or organizational work environment, you should contact the head of the department, the student safety representative, or the faculty's safety representative. To report harassment or violations, you can contact the Linnaeus Union student ombudsmen.
Course Evaluation
Help improve the course by completing a course evaluation, which is then summarized and commented on by the course coordinator. The teacher should present the results and any changes to the next group of students. Older course evaluations can be ordered via email at arkiv@lnu.se. arkiv@lnu.se.
Don't cheat
Avoid cheating by:
- Reading our page on cheating and plagiarism.
- Understanding and adhering to instructions and rules for examinations.
- Starting early and submitting assignments on time.
- Not looking at others' work and not letting others look at yours.
- Writing your own answers and clearly citing all sources.
- Be aware of what you bring to the exam.
Focus on retaking an exam instead of cheating. Suspensions are problematic!
ChatGPT and AI
AI can be a good complement to your own learning, course literature, and lecture material, for example, to summarize, create practice questions, or give feedback on your writing. However, do not use it during exams or as a substitute for your own critical thinking or writing skills!
If AI tools are used, it is important to be clear about how and where you have used them. You are responsible for the content, reliability, and academic rigor.
Discussing or sharing solutions during an exam is considered cheating and could lead to suspension.
Illness
CSN (Swedish student aid) takes illness into account but requires a doctor's note. Report your illness to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) from the first day of illness. The university does not offer individual accommodations for illness, so missed exams may affect your studies. If needed, contact your program coordinator and study advisor to create an individual study plan.
Group Work
Group work is common, and it is important to learn to collaborate effectively. The university library can suggest suitable digital tools. Since everyone in the group is collectively responsible for the work, the entire group can be penalized if someone cheats. Since it is difficult to check for plagiarism on your own, we recommended that you:
- Ask the examiner to clarify how individual contributions should be distinguished to ensure individual assessment.
- Work with people you trust and clarify the expectations you have of each other.
- Discuss sources and any suspicions of plagiarism before submission.
- Keep track of who did what and maintain copies and version history until the grade is recorded in Ladok.
Program Curriculum
A program consists of a series of courses that should be taken in a specific order. Sometimes, there is a requirement to have passed a certain course or earned a certain number of credits to begin the next course. Read the program's curriculum and course syllabi to find out which prerequisites are required.
Course Syllabus
The course syllabus outlines the objectives, content, and examination forms of the course. It is legally binding and must be followed. It is advisable to read the syllabus in advance.
Course Literature
The list of course literature is found at the end of the course syllabus. Double-check with the course coordinator to ensure the literature is correct if you're planning to acquire it well in advance.
Schedule
Your schedule should be available at least one month before the course starts. Regular exam dates should be listed, but retakes may not be included. If you're unsure, ask your teacher. Late-published schedules, multiple versions on Moodle or TimeEdit, or repeated changes to the schedule should not be accepted.
Mandatory Activities
Mandatory activities should be used sparingly and should appear in both the syllabus and the schedule. These activities are not examinable and do not provide any academic credits but must be completed to receive a final grade. These activities are documented as "result notations" in Ladok. The university is not obliged to offer a new opportunity to make up missed mandatory activities!
Internships and Costs
Rules for assigning internships (VFU) or practice placements should be clear and predictable so that you can plan for any increased costs during the placement. In Sweden, education is free, so you do not pay for the course or exams, but there may still be costs you are responsible for, such as housing, travel, course literature, tools (e.g., computer software), and consumables (e.g., paint, brushes, textiles). The university may charge reasonable fees for items like compendiums and consumables.
CSN sometimes offers additional support for extra costs, supplementary grants, and loans for specific expenses. If courses involve extra costs, such as study trips or special materials, these should be specified in the course syllabus.
