Student and doctoral student ombudspersons

What we can help you with

The student and doctoral student ombuds can help you understand your rights and responsibilities and provide support if you:

• have a conflict with KI
• would like to make a complaint
• have questions about how KI has handled your case
• are involved in a disciplinary matter, for example one concerning plagiarism
• have questions about an examination or re-examination
• are experiencing difficulties in communicating with a teacher
• experience discrimination, harassment, victimisation or feel that you have been treated unfairly.

The role of the ombudspersons

• The ombuds deal with many different types of issues. If they are unable to help you, they can refer you to the appropriate support when needed.
• The ombuds do not take sides and cannot decide how KI should handle or make a decision in a case. Their role is to provide you with support and guidance.
• They maintain confidentiality and will not share information without your permission.

If you experience discrimination, harassment or victimisation

If you feel that you have been discriminated against, harassed, subjected to victimisation or treated unfairly, it is a good idea to contact the student and doctoral student ombuds as soon as possible. This could, for example, involve derogatory comments about your background during clinical placement (VFU), or feeling that a teacher is treating you unfairly because of a disability.

The ombuds can help you understand the options available to you and support you throughout the process.

They can, for example:

• support you if you want to submit an incident report to KI
• help you formulate the report
• attend meetings as a support person during KI's investigation.

Other sources of support

You can also contact the student safety representative at your department if you would like local support.

If you need counselling or other emotional support, the student and doctoral student ombuds can also refer you to:

• The Student Wellbeing Centre
• Employment as a doctoral student at KI
• The University Church, which offers counselling regardless of religious affiliation.

Your responsibilities as a student

As a student, you also have responsibilities in relation to your studies. It is therefore important to be familiar with your rights and responsibilities and what is expected of you as a student at KI.

Read more on Student rights and study environment