Increase in the number of cases of exam cheating at summer exams at AU: Ten students expelled – the number may increase
So far, 97 cases of suspected exam cheating have been reported at the spring exams, which began in May. Ten students have been expelled for one semester. But the number may increase, as many cases have yet to be finalised.
Cheating in exams can result in the following disciplinary measures:
Formal warning
Cancellation of exam (counts as an examination attempt)
Expulsion for the next semester/more semesters
Permanent expulsion
Kilde: AU.
Since the students went on summer break after the exam period, ten students have been notified that they have been suspended for one semester for cheating on an exam.
This is shown by a report from Educational Law at AU on cases of exam cheating in the spring 2025 exam period, which began on 1 May. A total of 97 exam submissions have been reported for suspected cheating.
Most of the cases from this year are still being processed. 37 cases have been completed so far. 32 resulted in sanctions, while 5 were rejected. In addition to those expelled, 12 have had an exam cancelled and 10 have received a warning.
Most of the resolved cases – 12 – involve the use of prohibited aids, while plagiarism, GAI, and plagiarism of another assignment each account for six cases. There is one case of falsification of data and one case of plagiarism of own assignment. It’s unclear which cases led to which sanctions.
| Spring semester 2025 (May-present) | Completed |
| Plagiarism of other assignment | 6 |
| Plagiarism | 6 |
| Plagiarism of own assignment | 1 |
| Prohibited aids | 12 |
| Unauthorised collaboration | 0 |
| Unauthorised contact | 0 |
| Falsifying data | 1 |
| GAI | 6 |
| Other: For example, the use of shared notes, submission from a different IP address for an on-site examination. | 0 |
| Aiding and abetting | 0 |
| Total | 32 |
Learn more about the rules here:
The AU webpage on exam cheating, which you can find here, has more about what constitutes exam cheating, what you should know before you take an exam, and what you should do if you are reported for having cheating in an exam.
Where to find help if you are experiencing exam pressure:
A number of bodies at AU and outside AU offer help for students who feel under pressure to the extent that they are tempted to cheat on their exams: The student chaplains, Student Counselling Service and Study and Career Guidance Denmark.
More expulsions this summer
The number of exam cheating cases during this year’s spring exams is somewhat higher than in the spring exams of 2023 and 2024, when 72 and 77 cases of suspected cheating were reported at the beginning of August, respectively. Please note, however, that the statement on which this article is based was made at the end of August.
In August last year, AU had completed its processing of 33 of the total 77 cases. Here, only 3 students were expelled, and only 11 of the cases led to sanctions, which is a lot fewer than so far this year.
For context, the cases of exam cheating are distributed over a total of 73,417 exam events from 1 May to 26 August.
There may still be reports of suspected cheating from the recent exam period, as reexaminations take place in August. Omnibus will follow up when Educational Law has the final statement ready, which is expected in October.