# Suspected of cheating at university: access, help and appeals

Suspected of cheating? Find out how to access documents, explain your case and get help, and what to do about a decision to annul an assessment or exclude you.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/mistenkt-fusk-universitet
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-07T19:15:44.147+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-07T19:15:44.208868+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Ask for the documents and check the response deadline Request access, note the deadline for your account and contact the student ombud or a representative before replying to the suspicion.
- Legal cost coverage has its own start and conditions Reasonable and necessary costs may be covered under the rules from the decision to bring an exclusion case; a suspicion or annulment alone is insufficient.
- Appeal on time and ask for deferred implementation Send the appeal to the institution, normally within three weeks of notification reaching you, and separately request deferred implementation because an appeal does not automatically suspend the decision.

Are you suspected of cheating at a university or university college? Ask for the documents, check the response deadline and get help before replying. A suspicion is not a decision. The right to a representative and the right to paid legal assistance have different conditions.

The rules were checked on 7 October 2026. This guide covers cheating cases in Norwegian higher education. It is based on the current [Lov om universiteter og høyskoler (universitets- og høyskoleloven)](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2024-03-08-9), the Universities and University Colleges Act from 2024, as subsequently amended. The 2005 Act has been repealed. Local examination rules also matter.

## What should you do when you receive a cheating notice?

**Read what the suspicion concerns and note the deadline for giving your account.** A notice means the case is being investigated. It does not mean you have already been excluded.

Find the case officer's name and the case number. Ask if the letter is unclear:

- Which examination or assignment does the case concern?
- Which actions and rules do you consider relevant?
- Which documents is the suspicion based on?
- Where and when should I send my account?

You must normally receive notice and an opportunity to give your account before a decision. The institution must investigate the case properly. See [Lov om behandlingsmåten i forvaltningssaker (forvaltningsloven) sections 16 and 17](https://lovdata.no/lov/1967-02-10/%C2%A716), the Public Administration Act.

If you need more time to read the documents or get help, request a new deadline before the existing one expires. Do not assume it has been extended until you receive a reply. This is a different type of case from an ordinary grade appeal; SamfunnPrep explains that process in its guide to [appealing an examination grade](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/klage-eksamenskarakter-universitet).

## How can you see the basis for the suspicion?

**Request access to the case documents in writing.** These may include your submitted work, the report that initiated the case, relevant rules and any plagiarism-check report.

As a party to the case, you generally have a right of access, subject to statutory exceptions. Some internal documents may be withheld. That does not mean every piece of information in them can be hidden: relevant factual information may be covered by the right of access under [forvaltningsloven sections 18–19](https://lovdata.no/lov/1967-02-10/%C2%A718c).

A refusal must be in writing and cite the specific legal provision. You must receive information about your right to appeal. Request these reasons if you only receive a brief refusal. The rules are in [section 21](https://lovdata.no/lov/1967-02-10/%C2%A721).

A percentage in a plagiarism report is not the same as a final decision that cheating occurred. Under [UiB's plagiarism-check guidelines](https://www.uib.no/foransatte/112369/retningslinjer-plagiatkontroll-ved-uib), a person must assess the report; the report alone is insufficient to justify a suspicion, regardless of the percentage. Do not treat any particular percentage as a general threshold for all institutions.

## How can you explain what happened?

**Explain the sequence of events specifically, separating what you know from what you are uncertain about.** One practical approach is to create a short timeline and respond to each point in the notice.

Keep original drafts, version history, sources, the assignment text and the instructions that applied when you submitted it. State what the documents show. Do not alter old files to make them fit your explanation. Ask the institution how to submit the material securely.

Check the rules on permitted aids, collaboration and artificial intelligence (AI) for your particular course and assessment. At Universitetet i Bergen (UiB), the University of Bergen, faculties and departments may have different rules. UiB's [guidance on students' use of artificial intelligence](https://www4.uib.no/for-studenter/dine-studier/regelverk-og-retningslinjer/studenters-bruk-av-kunstig-intelligens) also explains referencing and documenting its use. Permission in one course is not general permission in another.

An error in a source reference or the use of AI does not alone determine whether the conditions for a sanction are met. The rules, the specific work and the legal requirements must be assessed. Get help if you are unsure how to describe your use.

## Who can help, and who pays?

**Contact the student ombud and consider a representative or lawyer.** The student ombud advises on students' rights, is independent and has a duty of confidentiality. The ombud decides whether to assist in a case and cannot make decisions on cheating. See [universitets- og høyskoleloven section 10-8](https://lovdata.no/lov/2024-03-08-9/%C2%A710-8).

You can have a lawyer or another representative throughout the proceedings under [forvaltningsloven section 12](https://lovdata.no/lov/1967-02-10/%C2%A712). A representative is someone who acts on your behalf. Representatives other than lawyers must normally provide written authorisation.

**Coverage of legal costs is a separate right in exclusion cases.** It starts when a decision is made to bring such a case. An initial suspicion alone does not give you a right to coverage under this rule, nor does a case concerning only annulment. The institution covers reasonable and necessary costs for a lawyer or another representative under the prescribed rules, rather than automatically paying every invoice. Clarify the start date and payment before arranging extensive assistance. See [section 12-9](https://lovdata.no/lov/2024-03-08-9/%C2%A712-9).

## What conditions must be met for a sanction?

**For completed cheating, the law requires intent or gross negligence.** Intent here means the action was deliberate. Gross negligence is more serious than an ordinary mistake. An attempt to cheat must be intentional. The Act also has a separate rule on intentionally assisting cheating.

The institution must assess the conditions in [universitets- og høyskoleloven section 12-4](https://lovdata.no/lov/2024-03-08-9/%C2%A712-4). A sanction is not automatic.

| Term | What does it mean? |
|---|---|
| Suspicion | The institution investigates whether there are grounds for a case. |
| Annulment | An examination or compulsory activity may be declared invalid. |
| Exclusion | You may be excluded from the institution and lose the right to take examinations at all universities and university colleges. |

For cheating or attempted cheating, exclusion and loss of examination rights may last up to one year, or up to two years in particularly serious cases. These are statutory limits, not a fixed sanction everyone receives. Ask for help understanding which parts of the rule apply to your case.

## How is the case handled?

**The institution investigates the case before the board itself or a student affairs committee decides it.** [Norges Handelshøyskole (NHH)](https://www.nhh.no/for-studenter/eksamen/fusk-ved-eksamen/), the Norwegian School of Economics, describes how the student's account is considered alongside reports and other documents.

Ask about local procedures for meetings and written statements. [The guidelines at Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet (NMBU)](https://www.nmbu.no/studenter/retningslinjer-behandling-av-mistanke-om-fusk-eller-annen-uredelig-opptreden-ved-nmbu), the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, allow the student and lawyer to attend when the case is considered. [UiB's student affairs committee](https://www.uib.no/ledelsen/17259/den-sentrale-klagenemnd) normally handles cases in writing. You therefore have no general guarantee of an in-person meeting with the committee.

At the same time, ask for clarification about examinations, teaching and your results while the case is ongoing. A decision must normally be in writing, give reasons and provide information on appeals. See [forvaltningsloven sections 24–27](https://lovdata.no/lov/1967-02-10/%C2%A727).

## How do you appeal the decision?

**The appeal deadline is normally three weeks from when notification of the decision reached you.** Send the appeal to the institution that made the decision. Identify the decision you are appealing, the change you want and why. See [forvaltningsloven sections 29 and 32](https://lovdata.no/lov/1967-02-10/%C2%A729).

The institution reconsiders the case. If the decision is upheld, the appeal is forwarded to [Felles klagenemnd for studentklagesaker](https://hkdir.no/vaare-tenester/felles-klagenemnd-for-behandling-av-klagesaker), the joint appeals board for student complaints. Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse (HK-dir), the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, serves as its secretariat. Appeals against refusals of access to documents instead go to HK-dir as a directorate, rather than Felles klagenemnd; follow the information in the refusal.

**An appeal does not automatically suspend implementation.** Separately request deferred implementation under [forvaltningsloven section 42](https://lovdata.no/lov/1967-02-10/%C2%A742), and clarify whether your request has been granted.

A final exclusion decision can be challenged in the district court. The deadline is three months from when the final decision reached you. The institution covers the costs of proceedings in the district court under [universitets- og høyskoleloven section 12-10](https://lovdata.no/lov/2024-03-08-9/%C2%A712-10), subject to the Act's rules on lawyers' fees. Get legal help quickly if you are considering court action.

## What should you do if your studies are interrupted?

**Clarify your study plan with the institution and report relevant changes to Lånekassen (the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund).** Lånekassen says you must notify it immediately if you interrupt your studies or take fewer credits. See its guidance on [delays, interruption and changes to education](https://lanekassen.no/nb-NO/stipend-og-lan/forsinkelse-avbrudd-og-endring-i-utdanningen/). Ask it to assess what the actual change means for your financial support.

If you need adjustments for later examinations, read SamfunnPrep's guide to [adjustments at university](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/tilrettelegging-eksamen-universitet). Use the [tools overview](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) for other practical tasks, and keep decisions, dates and contact details together.

## FAQ

### Is a suspicion the same as a cheating decision?

No. The institution investigates the case, and you must normally have an opportunity to give your account before a decision. Ask for the documents and note the deadline in the notice.

### Do I always get a free lawyer when suspected?

No. You can have a representative from the start, but coverage under section 12-9 applies to exclusion cases from the decision to bring the case, for reasonable and necessary costs under the rules. A suspicion or annulment alone is insufficient.

### Does a high percentage in a plagiarism report mean I cheated?

The percentage does not alone determine whether the legal conditions are met. UiB requires a person to assess the report and that the report alone not be used as grounds for suspicion, regardless of the percentage.

### Where do I send an appeal against a cheating decision?

Send the appeal to the institution that made the decision, normally within three weeks from when notification reached you. If it upholds the decision, it forwards the appeal to Felles klagenemnd.

### Can I continue as usual while my appeal is considered?

An appeal does not automatically defer implementation of the decision. Separately request deferred implementation under forvaltningsloven section 42, and clarify whether you can continue attending teaching and examinations.

## Sources

- [Lov om universiteter og høyskoler (universitets- og høyskoleloven)](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2024-03-08-9)
- [Lov om behandlingsmåten i forvaltningssaker (forvaltningsloven)](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1967-02-10)
- [Mistanke om fusk](https://www.nhh.no/for-studenter/eksamen/fusk-ved-eksamen/)
- [Retningslinjer – behandling av mistanke om fusk eller annen uredelig opptreden ved NMBU](https://www.nmbu.no/studenter/retningslinjer-behandling-av-mistanke-om-fusk-eller-annen-uredelig-opptreden-ved-nmbu)
- [Nemnd for studentsaker](https://www.uib.no/ledelsen/17259/den-sentrale-klagenemnd)
- [Retningslinjer for plagiatkontroll ved UiB](https://www.uib.no/foransatte/112369/retningslinjer-plagiatkontroll-ved-uib)
- [Forsinkelse, avbrudd og endring i utdanningen](https://lanekassen.no/nb-NO/stipend-og-lan/forsinkelse-avbrudd-og-endring-i-utdanningen/)
- [Felles klagenemnd for studentklagesaker](https://hkdir.no/vaare-tenester/felles-klagenemnd-for-behandling-av-klagesaker)
- [Studenters bruk av kunstig intelligens](https://www4.uib.no/for-studenter/dine-studier/regelverk-og-retningslinjer/studenters-bruk-av-kunstig-intelligens)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Suspected of cheating at university: access, help and appeals", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-07T19:15:44.147+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/mistenkt-fusk-universitet