Students’ legal position, and student representation and participation
More about:
Legal position and protection of students
Complaints, objections and appeals
Where can I find information and advice about submitting complaints, reporting abuse or resolving disputes?
In the process of filing a complaint, reporting abuse or solving a conflict, students can approach the student counsellor for help or advice. If it concerns a situation where undesirable behaviour or academic integrity plays a role, students can also contact a confidential advisor for undesirable behaviour or the confidential advisor for academic integrity.
What can I do if I encounter undesirable forms of behaviour?
Students who encounter undesirable behaviour, for example, sexual intimidation, discrimination, aggression, violence and intimidation or bullying, may contact a confidential advisor for undesirable behaviour. In addition, in accordance with the Undesirable Behaviour Complaints Procedure students may submit a complaint, with or without the intervention of a confidential advisor.
Concerns about academic integrity?
Academic integrity is vital to academia. Principles form the basis for the practice of research with integrity. In the Dutch Code of Conduct for Academic Integrity a number of guiding principles are described, namely: honesty, due care, transparency, independence and responsibility. These principles are further developed in the code of conduct, which provides more concrete standards for good research practice. Non-compliance with these standards may lead to a breach of academic integrity. The most obvious examples of a breach of academic integrity are fabrication, falsification and plagiarism. Because of the connection between teaching and scientific research, students may encounter breaches of academic integrity. If students have any questions about academic integrity, they can get in touch with the confidential advisor for academic integrity.
I have a complaint, objection or appeal. Who can I go to?
Students can submit complaints, objections and appeals to the Central Complaints Office. The manager of the complaints office ensures that the submitted complaint, objection or appeal reaches the appropriate body.
What will happen with my complaint?
If you submit a complaint to the electronic complaints office, the manager of the office will appoint a complaints officer to handle it. The complaints officer will deal with the content of the complaint. You can find these rules in the Central Complaint Office Regulations (Appendix 13 in the Student Charter).
Which decisions can I lodge an objection against with the Executive Board?
It is possible to lodge an objection against the following decisions (or lack thereof):
- registration or deregistration;
- selection for programmes with quotas;
- tuition fees or financial support;
- decisions relating to the contravention of internal regulations or disciplinary measures
This is set out in the Objection Procedure (General Administrative Law Act) Regulations (Appendix 8 of the Student Charter), which also stipulate the procedural requirements.
What will happen with my objection?
You can read how objections are handled on the website. In short, once the objection has been dealt with at a hearing, the dispute advisory committee issues an opinion about the objection to the Executive Board. The Executive Board then makes a decision on your objection.
What can I do if I disagree with a decision the Executive Board has made regarding an objection?
If you disagree with the decision regarding an objection of the Executive Board, you can appeal to the Appeals Tribunal for Higher Education (CBHO) in The Hague. This is the highest court in the field of higher education. This means you cannot take the matter further.
For which decisions can I appeal to the Examination Appeals Board?
It is possible to lodge an appeal with the Examination Appeals Board against the following decisions (or lack thereof):
- decisions taken by an examiner or Examining Board;
- by the First-year Study Advice Committee;
- admission to the Master’s study programme;
- about prior education requirements and admission
You can find all information about the Examination Appeals Board appeals procedure in the Standing Orders of the Examinations Appeals Board (Appendix 7 of the Student Charter).
How can I appeal against negative Binding Study Advice?
You can lodge appeals with the Examination Appeals Board against negative Binding Study Advice. Appeals can be made through the central complaints office or cbe [at] bjz.ru.nl (.) You can find more information on the website.
What will happen to the appeal I filed with the Examination Appeals Board?
You can read how the procedure works on the Examination Appeals Board website. In short, the Examination Appeals Board (EAB) will first examine whether the matter can be resolved amicably, which is called an attempt to reach an amicable settlement. The EAB will forward a copy of the appeal to the person who has taken the decision contested by you and ask them, in consultation with all parties involved, to examine whether the case can still be settled. If not, the EAB will hear the case, after which a decision will be made.
What can I do if I disagree with the decision by the Examination Appeals Board?
If you disagree with the decision made by the Examination Appeals Board, you can appeal to the Appeals Tribunal for Higher Education (CBHO) in The Hague. This is the highest court in the field of higher education. This means you cannot take the matter further.
Protection of personal data
Radboud University is required to exercise due care when dealing with personal data of students which it records and processes.
How does Radboud University handle my personal data?
The Regulations governing Personal Data Protection set out how Radboud University deals with personal data.
I am entitled to inspect my personal data. How can I submit this request?
The Regulations governing Personal Data Protection stipulate how you may inspect your personal data in your capacity as a student. Refer to Radboud University's privacy policy for further information.
How does Radboud University handle camera surveillance?
The Regulations governing Personal Data Protection set out how Radboud University deals with camera surveillance.
Where can I report a data leak?
You can report data leaks (outside office hours as well) to Radboud University’s ICT Helpdesk, preferably by calling 024-362 22 22.
When may Radboud University share personal data with another party?
The Regulations governing Personal Data Protection stipulate when Radboud University shares personal data with another party. Refer to Radboud University's privacy policy for further information.
What rules apply if a student encounters a breach of academic integrity, for example, by a lecturer or a thesis supervisor?
It follows from the Regulations for Integrity in Science and Scholarship that students may submit a complaint if they think there is a breach of academic integrity by lecturers or other staff of Radboud University. Students may also consult a confidential advisor specialising in academic integrity. For more information on confidential advisors, please go to the Radboud University website.
Safety, health and welfare
Radboud University has facilities catering for the health, safety and welfare of its students.
What is the Radboud University emergency number?
The Radboud University and Radboudumc emergency number is (024)-36 55555.
When can a student call upon an Occupational Health Officer of the Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Service (AMD)?
If you have a chronic illness or develop health complaints during your studies which are caused (or are partly caused) by your studies or have an impact on them. In these cases, please contact your student advisor. Together, you will examine whether a referral to the Occupational Health Officer of the Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Service (AMD) is required.
What facilities does Radboud University offer for the purposes of preventing complaints affecting one's arm, neck or shoulder?
Information may be found on the website of the Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Service (AMD) concerning the prevention of complaints affecting one’s arm, neck or shoulder.
Where can I find information about how the university deals with the design of workspaces?
Information about working healthily and safely in a workspace may be found on the website of the Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Service (AMD).
Where can I find information about how to deal with hazardous substances?
Information about dealing with hazardous substances may be found on the website of the Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Service (AMD).
Whom may I approach if I am concerned about my physical or mental well-being, for example, in the case of burnout symptoms?
If you are concerned about your physical well-being or are experiencing symptoms of burnout, for instance, please contact a student psychologist.
Are you allowed to smoke on campus?
It is important that the campus provides a healthy, safe, and pleasant environment for everyone. The Radboud university medical center property has had a smoking ban in place since 1 January 2020; Radboud University and the HAN have been smoke-free since 1 August 2020. With that, the entire campus is smoke-free. More information about the smoking ban can be found on the Radboud University website.
Student representation and participation
Students constitute an integral part of the academic community of Radboud University. Various forms of representation and participation are available to students.
What does the University Student Council (USR) do?
The University Student Council (USR) comprises members who are directly appointed by students. In addition, every accredited umbrella organisation may appoint a member of the USR: these are nominated members. The USR consults the Executive Board about matters concerning students, such as the Profiling Fund Regulations and this Student Charter. This is set out in the USR-FSR Regulations.
What does the University Joint Assembly (UGV) do?
The elected members of the USR also comprise part of the University Joint Assembly (UGV), of which the members of the Works Council and a delegation of the Radboud university medical center academic staff comprise part. The UGV consults the Executive Board about matters such as the Strategic Plan and annual budget. This is set out in the UGV-FGV Regulations.
What does the Faculty Student Council (FSR) do?
Every faculty has a Faculty Student Council (FSR), which is directly elected by the students of that faculty. An FSR consults the relevant faculty’s Executive Board about matters such as its policy on student facilities within the faculty and the manner in which quality assurance is implemented within it. This is set out in the USR-FSR Regulations.
What does the Faculty Joint Assembly (FGV) do?
Every faculty has a Faculty Joint Assembly (FGV). An FGV consists of the members of the FSR and members of the Representative Council of the relevant faculty. FGVs consult the relevant faculty’s Executive Board about matters like the faculty's policy plan, budget and Education and Examination Regulations. This is set out in the UGV-FGV Regulations.
What does student assessor of my faculty do?
The Faculty Board appoints a student assessor at the recommendation of the Faculty Student Council. The student assessor attends the Faculty Board meetings and has an advisory role. The student assessor’s position is set out in the Structure Regulations.
What does the programme committee do?
Every study programme (or group of study programmes) has a programme committee consisting of lecturers and students in that department. The programme committee advises the Faculty Board about the content of the Education and Examination Regulations and conducts an annual assessment of the manner in which those regulations are enforced. The programme committee may issue solicited or unsolicited advice to the dean and the director of the educational institute concerned on all matters relating to education within the study programme. The role of the programme committee at Radboud University deviates from the role of the programme committee according to the WHW. These deviations have been documented in the Structure Regulations.
What is the role of the student member of the Examination Appeals Board?
From each faculty, one student is nominated as a member of the Examination Appeals Board. The Executive Board appoints the students based on nominations presented by the dean of the relevant faculty. The Examination Appeals Board deals with matters in panels. Every panel consists of a chair, three members drawn from the academic staff and one student member. The student member decides on the same basis as the other members of the board. More information can be found in the Standing Orders of the Examination Appeals Board.
How can I participate in the participational bodies as a student?
Elections are held for membership of the University Student Council, the Faculty Student Council and the Study Programme Committee. As a student, you can stand for election (passive voting rights) and you can vote (active voting rights). Students' active and passive voting rights are regulated by the USR-FSR Regulations.
How do I contact the participational bodies?
You can contact the various participational bodies that students participate in through the website on representative bodies of Radboud University, among other places.
Where can I find public documents, agendas and other documents pertaining to the meetings by or held with the participational bodies?
RadboudNet tells you how to consult the agenda and documents of the university’s participational bodies. Many faculties publish the agenda and/or documents on the faculty pages of Radboudnet.
