Can you actually be expelled from university?

It’s not something many students will think about but it is possible to be expelled from university. Thankfully it does not happen very often but in case anyone was wondering I have outlined a few reasons why universities may need to expel a student and what will happen to them afterwards. 

Universities typically have their own policies about academic expulsion. It’s probably best that you read up on this when you start your course. This information can usually be found on the university website or from the student advice centre. 

What would a student need to do to be kicked out? 

Not that I am suggesting you try any of these but there are a couple of reasons which could result in a student being kicked out of university. 

• Serious Student Misconduct 
• Serious Cases of Plagiarism 
• Prolonged Absence Without Good Reason
• Criminal Behaviour 

Most issues relating to student misconduct are dealt with by issuing a warning or other methods such as the student apologising for their actions. However, more serious issues will result in a student being formally expelled from the university. 

Each university has its own student disciplinary policy that will explain what actions will merit exclusion and how this is handled. This will be available on the university website for you to read through if you wish.

What happens if a student is expelled from university? 

When a student is expelled they will not be able to continue with their course and must leave the university. The student may be able to exit with a lesser award such as a diploma. However, this depends on how much of the course they had completed.  

Students who have been expelled from the university may be permitted to reapply for either the same or a different course after a certain length of time has passed. However, this depends on the terms of the expulsion and the specific rules of the university. 

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