Education planning and administration handbook, chapter 1
1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose of the handbook, target group and scope
1.2 Content and outline
1.3 Abbreviations and recurring concepts
1.4 Changes since the previous version version
Shortcuts to other parts of the handbook
1.1 Purpose of the handbook, target group and scope
The general purpose of the handbook is to clarify the rights and obligations of students, teachers and other staff at SLU.
The handbook covers most issues concerning first-cycle and second-cycle education at SLU. Certain parts of SLU education are governed elsewhere, but described here. In other parts, the handbook acts as the governing document for SLU.
In addition, the handbook provides the reader with instructions and references.
However, please remember that the handbook does not apply to:
- contract education or contract education students
- doctoral or research education.
1.2 Content and outline
The chapters correspond to various aspects of SLU education, and each chapter’s subsections generally include a number of recurring subheadings:
Important concepts
Terms and concepts which may need to be defined and explained.
Policy
SLU’s intention and ambition. Sometimes, other documents describing SLU objectives and strategies are referenced.
National regulations
Regulations that govern SLU operations and which apply to both students and employees. Statutes decided by the Riksdag and government (e.g. acts) take precedence over SLU’s internal rules. Therefore, these statutes are frequently referenced, both through direct quotes and comprehensive explanations of the legislative texts. If a statute is changed, it applies even if SLU’s internal documents have not been updated. If necessary, go to the source to check the latest version.
SLU rules
The handbook constitutes a governing document with internal rules for first-cycle and second-cycle education at SLU. In some cases, these rules were adopted in another document, which will then be referenced. If necessary, go to the source to check the latest version. At SLU, the term guidelines means the same as rules.
Who is responsible for what?
Division of responsibility for the work described in the section. SLU’s delegations of authority take precedence over the handbook in regard to delegated powers and division of responsibility between various bodies and functionaries. If a delegation of authority is changed, it applies even if the handbook has not been updated. If necessary, go to the source to check the latest version. In addition to the university- and faculty-wide delegations of authority, the departments normally have internal divisions of responsibility for issues related to education.
Instructions
Information on how to carry out a task, step or measure. SLU normally follows recommendations from SUHF (the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions). However, these recommendations do not govern our operations; they must be part adopted through an SLU decision in order to apply.
Links
Where applicable, we recommend additional information and in-depth reading in the form of links. These links often go to the SLU web pages.
The subheadings above cannot be found in every section, which may also include other headings specific to a certain section. But this is the general structure.
Exceptions
The information in the handbook normally applies, but exceptions may be allowed if necessary. The body that adopted the original regulation decides on any exceptions; this can also be done by other bodies, in particular if there are circumstances beyond SLU’s control.
Links
Laws and other statutes
Rules for doctoral education
Rules for contract education (only in Swedish)
1.3 Abbreviations and recurring concepts
Abbreviations and concepts that occur in the handbook and in other contexts related to education at SLU:
Annual cycle – SLU applies joint time frames for planning and deciding on the course and programme offering. See Annex 2: Annual cycle for course and programme planning.
Board of Education (UN) – part of SLU's organisation for education.
Canvas* – SLU's teaching and learning platform.
Conditions – a decision made with certain conditions only applies if the listed conditions are met.
Dean – the head of an SLU faculty.
Delegation of authority – see Section 2.3 Organisational aspects.
Department – education, research and environmental monitoring and assessment are carried out at a number of departments (or equivalent). The head of department is responsible for operations. A department belongs to at least one faculty.
ISR – Swedish for institutionsstudierektor, department director of studies
Director of studies – the handbook uses the term department director of studies (or equivalent), see Section 2.3 Organisational aspects, to avoid confusion with programme director of studies, see Section 13.7 Programme director of studies.
Division of Student and Academic Services – part of the university administration at SLU which supports and provides service for students and teachers.
Entry requirements – prior knowledge and other requirements necessary for a student to be eligible for a certain programme or course.
Equivalence assessment – a person who does not meet the formal entry requirements may have other qualifications deemed to correspond to the formal requirements.
Evald* – SLU’s system for electronic course evaluations at first-cycle and second-cycle level.
EVL – Swedish for elitidrottsvänligt lärosäte, elite-sports-friendly university.
Exchange student – student who takes part in an exchange programme. An incoming exchange student comes to SLU to carry out their exchange studies (at first- or second-cycle level) and counts as a programme student. Incoming students have access to programme courses during their exchange period. An outgoing exchange student is an SLU student who travels abroad to do their exchange studies in another country.
Exemption – individual exceptions to rules that generally apply.
Faculty – an organisational units led by a faculty board/dean. The faculties are responsible for the departments.
Faculty office – part of the university administration at SLU which supports and provides service for the faculties.
Faculty board – the highest decision-making body within a faculty.
Head of department – head of an SLU department. The vice-chancellor and faculty board/dean both assign tasks and powers to the head of department.
Non-programme student – student who is not studying a programme.
Ladok* – a national system for student records that includes registration, exam results and other compulsory information.
Moveon* – used for agreements, applications and administration concerning student exchange (at first- and second-cycle level) and teacher mobility.
NyA* – a national admissions system used for course and programme admissions at both first- and second-cycle level.
Originality – a plagiarism checker available to SLU teachers, where all kinds of exam papers and assignments can be checked against several sources to discover possible plagiarism.
Programme board (PN) – part of SLU’s educational organisation. See Section 2.3 Organisational aspects and the SLU web pages on the education governance structure.
Programme director of studies (PSR) – part of SLU’s educational organisation. See Section 13.7 Programme director of studies and the SLU web page on programme directors of studies.
Programme student – student admitted to or who has begun studying a degree programme.
Course pages* – database all first- and second-cycle courses have their own section. Information from Ladok and Evald is displayed on the course page on the student web and the external web.
Student web* – SLU's web pages for students, with information and support regarding their studies.
SUHF – the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions.
TimeEdit* - schedule and room booking system, for booking rooms such as lecture halls, computer rooms and group rooms.
UHR – the Swedish Council for Higher Education is a public authority nationally tasked with promoting higher education. Among other things, UHR is responsible for admission and study information, including universityadmissions.se for course and programme applications.
UKÄ – the Swedish Higher Education Authority is a public authority which, among other things, reviews the quality of higher education and research and monitors higher education institutions regarding compliance with laws and regulations.
*Authorisation is required to use SLU's educational support systems. Authorisation is given by the Education Systems and Media Unit.
1.4 Changes since the previous version
The first version of the handbook was approved by the chair of the Board of Education on 18 June 2018 (SLU ID: SLU.ua.2018.1.1.1-2343) for the academic year 2018/19. The decision to approve states the previous decisions and governing documents that were repealed and the changes made when the handbook entered into force.
The following changes have been made to the 2026 edition of the Education Planning and Administration Handbook:
- Section 1.3 Abbreviations and recurring concepts has been revised to ensure the content is relevant and up to date.
- In Section 2.2 Financial aspects, subheading Reimbursement for the faculties, a line of text regarding offsetting has been removed as offsetting does not take place as of 2024.
- In Section 3.9 Tuition fees, subheading SLU rules, parts of the text have been replaced with a link to SLU’s regulation (2025:4) on the amount of tuition fees.
- In Section 3.10 Tuition fee refunds, the text about the three-week period for meeting the condition has been removed. This is because different degree programmes have different arrival dates for the autumn semester, and three weeks would therefore be misleading.
- In Section 3.13 Approved leave from studies and non-completion, subheading Important concepts - Approved leave under specific circumstances, the instructions on submitting an application have been clarified.
- In Section 3.14 Student influence, subheading Instructions, changes have been made in accordance with the vice-chancellor’s decision of 4 February 2026 (SLU.ua.2026.1.1-286), which means the remuneration has been increased to 750 SEK for students who are not employed by SLU, or who do not receive full-time remuneration as student representatives, for board, committee or working group assignments.
- In Section 4.5 Examiners, subheading Who is responsible for what?, it has been clarified that departments, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (2017:900), must document and archive the appointment of an examiner. Under the same heading, the sentence “The faculties must document and follow up examiners for each course” has been removed. For further details, please refer to the internal audit action report (SLU.ua.2025.1.2-31).
- In Section 5.2 Course evaluations, subheading SLU rules, it has been added that at the start of each course, the course coordinator must give the student group the opportunity to appoint a student representative and document this in Evald. Under Who is responsible for what?, it has been added that the course coordinator is to compile the course evaluations together with the teachers’ comments.
- In Section 6.3 Grading system, subheading SLU rules, parts of the text have been replaced with a link to SLU’s regulations (2026:1) on grading systems for first-cycle and second-cycle courses and programmes.
- In Section 6.4 Course instances, the table illustrating a course schedule has been removed. Tables are not always accessible, and course schedules are so well established at SLU that a table as illustration is not necessary.
- In Section 7.2, Course application, subheading Late application, the sentence ‘It is possible to apply for course instances for independent projects throughout the course period’ has been removed. Instead, reference is made to Section 9.4 Implementing independent/degree project courses, subheading Instructions, where the same information can be found. This is to avoid repeating the same information in different places using different wording.
- In Section 7.3, Course admission, subheading Late admission, the text ‘For these courses, classified as EX, students can be put on the waiting list if admission takes place within two weeks of the course starting. The course coordinator in question then decides whether the student can take the course’ has been removed. Instead, reference is made to Section 9.4 Implementing independent/degree project courses, heading Instructions, where the same information can be found. This is to avoid repeating the same information in different places using different wording.
- In Section 7.3 Course admission, subheading Who is responsible for what?, it has been clarified that, in the event of any queries, the Admissions Unit should be contacted, not the head of admissions.
- In Section 8.7 Feedback and disclosing exam material, a reference to the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (OSL) has been corrected.
- In Section 9.2 Course syllabus, the new programme code VY013 for the Veterinary Medicine programme has been added to the list of entry requirement exemptions.
- In Section 9.4 Implementing independent/degree project courses, subheading Instructions, the text “The course coordinator in question then decides whether the student can take the course” has been moved here from Section 7.3 Course admission (see the explanation for sections 7.2 and 7.3 earlier in this list).
- In Section 10.2 Informing and preventing, subheading Recurring activities, the text for the course leader has been amended to ensure greater accuracy compared with the previous wording.
- In Section 10.3 Discovering and intervening, subheading Investigating cases of suspected cheating, it has been added that the department must initiate an investigation when an incident is reported. Under the subheading Reporting cases of suspected cheating, a provision has been added stating that the person reporting a student to the disciplinary board must inform the student of this.
- In Section 11.3.5 Programme content and design, the table illustrating a matrix model for degree objectives has been removed. The matrix model is already described in the main text.
- Annex 1 SLU’s education governance structure. Since 2026, the library has been part of the university administration and the organisation chart has been updated accordingly.
- Annex 3a: First-cycle and second-cycle subjects at SLU. The field of study for the main subject field Technology has been changed from NA to TE. The correction is made in accordance with a decision from 2006 (SLU ua 17.21-1851/06), in which Technology is classified as TE.
- Annex 5: Joint course evaluation questions. The questions about whether a course has been approved for delivery via distance learning have been added. These questions were developed during the Covid pandemic but are still used for distance learning courses.
- Annex 8: Information to be included on the front cover and title page of an independent project (degree project) at SLU. The fields for faculty or department, series title, part number and place of publication have been removed. A reference to Slunik has been removed as the system has been phased out (see also the decision by the Division of Learning and Digitalisation on the phasing out of Slunik, SLU.ua.2025.1.1-2033).
- To improve accessibility, tables and images have been converted into running text.
- Following a reorganisation, the former names of the Division of Educational Affairs and the Division of Learning and Digitalisation have changed.
- The text-matching programme Originality replaces the previously used text-matching programme, Ouriginal.
The following changes have been made to the 2025 edition of the Education Planning and Administration Handbook:
- In Section 2.4 Academic year and semester dates, subheading SLU rules, additional days when no teaching should be scheduled have been added.
- Section 3.3 Equal opportunities has been partially rewritten to better align with the JLV organisation.
- Section 3.4 Study and career guidance has been updated for more relevant and up-to-date content.
- Section 3.5 Studying with a disability has been updated for more relevant and up-to-date content.
- Section 3.7 Student insurance has been shortened by moving the information in the Instructions section to a separate web page. The section has been updated with new links.
- In Sections 3.9 Tuition fees and 3.10 Tuition fee refunds, changes have been made to reflect new procedures for handling tuition fees. Some clarifications have also been made.
- In Section 3.13 Approved leave from studies and non-completion, subheading SLU rules, a statement on approved leave from studies has been removed as it was misleading.
- In Section 3.14 Student influence, the Instructions section, the text has been adapted to align with the vice-chancellor’s decision of 4 October 2022.
- Section 4.2 Educational development has been updated for more relevant and up-to-date content.
- Section 4.3 Distinguished university teacher has been updated according to the current rules on who is eligible to be appointed ‘distinguished university teacher’.
- Section 4.8 Teacher copyright has been updated and some clarifications have been made. The intellectual property rights policy of 28 September 2017 still applies (see link in the section).
- Section 4.9 Staff liability issues has been updated for more relevant and up-to-date content.
- In Section 7.1 Early course information, subheading Overall schedule, a change has been made to make the overall schedule available via Canvas rather than via the course page, as was previously the case (see also the decision from the Division of Learning and Digitilisation on the discontinuation of Slunik, SLU.ua.2025.1.1-2033).
- In Section 8.2 Assessments and grading, subheading SLU rules, a new paragraph has been added with the heading xxProcedure for changing grades.
- In Section 8.3 Exam procedures, previously misleading wordings have been changed.
- In Section 8.8 Alternative examn session, subheading SLU rules, the bullet list has been expanded to include 'On-campus e-exams where the exam has been interrupted due to technical problems’.
- In Section 9.2 Course syllabuses, subheading SLU rules, the decision of the Board of Education from 10 October 2024 on exemptions from eligibility requirements for the main field of study bioeconomy management has been added.
- In Section 9.3 Work plan, subheading SLU rules - Project description, in the bullet list, 'information about whether the project processes personal data and if so, the relevant measures taken in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation' has been added.
- In Section 9.4 Implementing independent/degree project courses, subheading SLU rules, the paragraph on supervision hours has been amended by the Board of Education's decision of 22 May 2025, Section 48/25 (SLU.ua.2025.1.1-2149). The number of hours for supervision has been removed, as this was seen as micromanaging. Under the subheading Changing supervisor, a reference to Section 3.15 Complaints procedure has been added.
- In Section 9.4 Implementing independent/degree project courses, subheading Who is responsible for what?, information has been added regarding the handling of personal data in order to clarify the responsibilities of both the student and the supervisor.
- In Section 9.4 Implementing independent/degree project courses, subheading Instructions, a new paragraph has been added on the submission of independent projects. The paragraph clarifies the legal framework for those working with students' independent projects.
- In Section 10.1 Cheating and plagiarism, subheading What is cheating?, in the bullet list, the unauthorised use of AI (artificial intelligence) has been added.
- In Section 10.1 Cheating and plagiarism, subheading Who is responsible for what?, the text on the UN's responsiblity to design measures to combat cheating and plagiarism has been removed. The reason is that this is not something the Board has been tasked with. For the Board of Education’s responsibilities, see the SLU Board’s delegation of authority.
- In Chapter 14, subheading National rules, a correction has been made following an amendment to the Higher Education Ordinance.
- Annex 3a: First- and second-cycle subjects at SLU has been reworked in accordance with the Board of Education's decision of 9 April 2025, Section 32/25. The annex clarifies the link between main field groups and main fields and subject groups and subjects. In the appendix, technology has been added as a main subject at first and second cycle level in accordance with the Board of Education's decision of 22 May 2025, Section 46/25.
- Annex 3b: Main fields of study with subject descriptions. Teknik (translation tbd) has been added as a main field of study at first and second cycle level according to the Board of Education's decision of 22 May 2025 Section 46/25.
- Annex 7: Joint programme evaluation questions (Evald). The questions were reworked.
Shortcuts to other parts of the handbook
Startpage
Chapter 2. Educational framework
Chapter 3. Students and student support
Chapter 4. Teachers and examiners
Chapter 5. Quality assurance
Chapter 6. Course syllabuses and course instances
Chapter 7. Before and when a course starts
Chapter 8. Assessment (exams) and compulsory components
Chapter 9. Independent projects (degree projects)
Chapter 10. Cheating and disciplinary measures
Chapter 11. Programme offering
Chapter 12. Programme syllabuses and programme instances
Chapter 13. Programme studies
Chapter 14. Credit transfer system
Chapter 15. External collaboration
Chapter 16. Sustainable development in teaching
List of annexes