University College London

Each university has its own distinct set of disciplinary policies and procedures. Please use the links below to reveal the information of interest.

Links to procedures and policies

• General misconduct
• Academic misconduct: (note that the Student Academic Misconduct Procedure Policy is currently under review, and is intended to be published with changes for 2023-24 in time for the start of session)

 

Precautionary / interim measures?

Where the nature of the alleged disciplinary offence suggests that there may be risk to the safety of others, or where the student accused of the offence may be at risk of harm, UCL will undertake a risk assessment which may result in action as follows:

1. They may require the student to comply with specific conditions, for example agreeing not to contact another student or students. The consequence of any breach of these conditions may result in escalation to the steps outlined below; and/or
2. The student will be suspended from any class or classes and/or excluded from any part or all of UCL’s facilities, grounds and premises, until such a time as any criminal proceedings and/or UCL disciplinary proceedings have been concluded. A precautionary suspension and/or exclusion should not be regarded as a penalty and does not indicate that the student is presumed guilty of any offence.

 

Approach to police involvement?

Where a disciplinary offence is also subject to a criminal investigation, UCL may suspend the disciplinary process until the criminal investigation and legal proceedings have been concluded. The fact that the police or other legal authorities might be unable, unwilling or not yet able to proceed will not automatically preclude UCL from instigating its own disciplinary action.

The student should be reminded that whilst criminal investigations are underway they will be obliged to keep UCL informed of any progress and/or change in status regarding their case. The Executive Director of Student Services and Registrar will review the case on a monthly basis and will determine if any action is required during this review period.

When the criminal proceedings have concluded, the Executive Director of Student Services and Registrar will decide whether UCL should instigate disciplinary action, taking into account the following guidance.

Where the student has been convicted of a criminal offence, UCL may seek to take action if there are outstanding matters of concern to UCL that have not been addressed. In this case the conviction in a criminal court shall be taken as conclusive evidence that the alleged offence has occurred, and no further investigation shall be required by UCL.

Where the student has been acquitted UCL will take into account the decision of the court. However, it may be the case that it is reasonable and within UCL’s interests to pursue outstanding matters of concern to UCL that have not been addressed.

Where, following an initial investigation, a decision has been taken not to proceed to a criminal trial, this does not preclude UCL from conducting further investigations and/or instigating disciplinary proceedings in respect of outstanding matters of concern to UCL that have not been addressed.

 

Right to be represented?

General misconduct 

Students involved in disciplinary procedures shall have the right to be accompanied to any meeting or hearing by a ‘friend’, who must be a UCL student or member of staff of UCL or Students' Union UCL. The role of the friend is to provide moral support during a meeting or hearing. They cannot make representations nor cross-examine witnesses and must also not be a witness.

Academic misconduct

The student may bring a ‘friend’ who must be a member of staff at UCL, Students’ Union Advisor, or a student currently registered at UCL. The person may be legally qualified but they will not be acting in a legal capacity. The person must not be a member of the Academic Misconduct decision or panel procedure.

N.B. Even where universities state that legal representation is not permitted, we have often successfully argued that students ought to be in accordance with the principles of natural justice.

 

Penalties?

General misconduct

The imposition of any sanction may include any one or more of the following:

• an oral reprimand recorded by the Executive Director of Student Services and Registrar;
• a written reprimand recorded by the Executive Director of Student Services and Registrar;
• a written reprimand recorded on the Student’s UCL file and copied to the Head of the Student’s Department;
• a payment of compensation for damages to person or property;
• a fine of up to £300;
• an order of service to UCL for a specified period;
• require a student to enter into a ‘Good Behaviour’ agreement;
• exclusion from a part or parts of UCL for a specified period provided that such exclusion does not directly interfere with the student’s academic work;
• imposing conditions on a student’s access to UCL facilities where the student has been convicted of a criminal conviction and where such conditions are deemed necessary for the safety and security of members of UCL provided that such conditions do not directly interfere with the student’s academic work. In the case where the Executive Director of Student Services and Registrar decides there are grounds for eviction from a UCL House or hall of Residence s/he will request that the Director of Student Accommodation initiate court proceedings and will inform the student that the matter has been referred to the Director of Student Accommodation.

Academic misconduct

Possible sanctions:

• A reduction of marks for the component in which the offence took place by 10 percentage points or one letter grade;
• The component in which the offence took place be given a mark of 0.00%/Grade F;
• The module in which the offence took place be given a mark of 0.00%/Grade F;
• Suspension from UCL for the remainder of the Academic Year;
• The student is excluded from UCL and is not permitted to re-enrol on any other programme at UCL. The student may be permitted to receive an interim qualification if eligible;
• The student is excluded from UCL and is not permitted to re-enrol on any other programme at UCL. The student will not be permitted to receive a qualification, even if eligible;
• The student fails the upgrade or final examination but may be permitted to resubmit if they are still permitted a further opportunity within the regulations of their research programme.

 

Right to appeal?

General misconduct

Grounds - An appeal against a sanction or sanctions imposed by the Discipline Committee may be made on one or more of the following grounds:

1. that the disciplinary process was not conducted in accordance with the above procedures;
2. that new evidence has become available which was not, and which could not reasonably have been made available at the time the case was considered;
3. that the penalty imposed was disproportionate to the offence.

Deadline

An appeal to the Discipline Review Body must be received by the Secretary to the Discipline Review Body within twenty-eight days of the date of notification of the written communication of the decision of the Discipline Committee to the student concerned.

Academic misconduct

Grounds

An appeal against an Academic Misconduct decision will only be heard if it is based on one or more of the following grounds:

1. The decision or panel process was not conducted in accordance to the procedures;
2. Fresh evidence has become available which was not available and could not reasonably be available for consideration during the decision or panel process.
3. The decision was not reasonable given the circumstances of the case.

Deadline

Students must appeal within 10 working days of receiving formal notification of the decision.

 

Member of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (“OIA”) Scheme?

Yes – When a student has received a Completion of Procedures letter confirming that the internal procedures of UCL have concluded, they have the right to submit a complaint for review to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) if they are dissatisfied with UCL’s decision.

A student choosing to do this must do so no later than twelve months from the date that a Completion of Procedures letter is issued, using the OIA’s Scheme Application form. Students making a complaint to the OIA can seek advice and support from the Students’ Union Advice Service.

 

Contact our Student & University lawyers:

If you require further information or advice from our team of specialist lawyers, please contact a member of the team using one of the methods below. 

This information was drafted in the months leading up to September 2023. It does not constitute legal advice. As University policies are updated from time-to-time, the information on this page may contain some inaccuracies and you should always check your University’s resources and/or seek legal advice where appropriate.

Back to Student hub →