Metadata
Title
Student Code of Conduct
Category
international
UUID
494d6d5890ea4697b57e63a20e156a18
Source URL
https://www.qu.edu.qa/en-us/students/resources/code-of-conduct
Parent URL
https://www.qu.edu.qa/en-us/students/admission/undergraduate/college-requirement...
Crawl Time
2026-03-24T04:16:26+00:00
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Student Code of Conduct

Source: https://www.qu.edu.qa/en-us/students/resources/code-of-conduct Parent: https://www.qu.edu.qa/en-us/students/admission/undergraduate/college-requirements

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Student Code of Conduct

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Universities are considered unique communities where knowledge is produced and transferred. In fact, they thrive  on the freedom entrusted to individuals to explore ideas and advance their potential. Such freedom, accordingly, is established on the good will and responsible conduct of all  members in their interactions with their community, and  who must treat each other with tolerance and respect . Moreover, they should create and promote a supportive environment that allows each member to develop to the full range of their capabilities and take full advantage of the institutions’ resources.

This Student Code of Conduct aims to provide all students at  Qatar University with clear principles and standard of conduct. In this regard, violations of the code of conduct may be of an academic or non-academic, and extends to students who represent the university in sponsored events and activities such as conferences, sports teams, or clubs off-campus.

Qatar University expects its students to follow the highest standards of conduct and adhere to them in their interaction with their instructors, peers, faculty members, staff, and the wider university community at large. The university also requires all students to act maturely and responsibly in their interaction with each other, as well as assume the responsibilities and accountability expected from a Qatar University community member.

Thus, a student is expected not to engage in a behavior that compromise their own integrity or the integrity of the Student Code of Conduct. While the University strongly encourages its students to express themselves freely, this freedom should not infringe on the rights of others or the principles, policies, and values Qatar University.

From the above perspective, Qatar University emphasizes the importance of clearly affirming the students’ rights and responsibilities, and guarantees the following student rights:

Students’ Rights

Students’ Responsibilities

Students are expected to:

Resolution

Article (1)

Article (2)

The previous Code of Conduct bylaw issued on September 1, 2020 is cancelled by the issuance of this bylaw.

Chapter one: Definitions

Article (3)

In the implementation of the provisions of this Decision, the following terms and phrases have the meanings ascribed to them:

  1. The University: Qatar University (QU).
  2. The Board: University Board of Regents.
  3. The President: President of Qatar University.
  4. The Responsible Vice-President: Vice President of Student Affairs.
  5. The Responsible Dean: Dean of the College in which the misconduct occurred
  6. The Student: Any student, (male or female) whether enrolled or registered at Qatar University, including the visiting student or registered from another University.
  7. The Responsible Authority:  The President or the Vice President, or the Dean as appropriate.
  8. The Responsible Director: The director or head of the department in which the misconduct occurred.
  9. The Disciplinary Committee: The Disciplinary Committee in Qatar University.
  10. Assignments: Academic assignments and short tests that are not mid-term or final exams according to the course syllabus.
  11. Departments Responsible for Implementation: Departments designated by the responsible Vice President.
  12. University Campus: University's land, facilities, educational venues, halls, laboratories, libraries, gardens, playgrounds, university housing, and others.
  13. University Bylaws, Policies and Decisions: Bylaws, policies and decisions issued by the University.
  14. Extra-curricular/ Co-Curricular Student Programs: The programs, activities and experiences that the University offers to the student outside the classroom according to specific criteria and outcomes to develop and promote specific aspects of the student.
  15. The Staff Member Supervising the Extra-curricular / Co-Curricular program: a staff member from one of the departments under Student Life or as appropriate from other departments or colleges.

Chapter Two: Student Code of Conduct

Article (4)

Qatar University students are subject to the rules of the code of conduct and disciplinary procedures outlined below.

Article (5)

The student must abide by all the provisions of applicable student bylaws and university policies and regulations and should adhere to the following in particular:

  1. Attend lectures, seminars, exams and all forms of educational and academic requirements in accordance with the established student bylaws and university academic policies.
  2. Preserve and maintain the order of the university campus.
  3. Collaborate with various Qatar University affiliates, stakeholders and visitors on campus and treat them with respect.
  4. Preserve the University’s reputation.
  5. Respect the rights of all stakeholders at QU: faculty, students, staff and others.
  6. Dress appropriately and according to the University rules and regulations as well as the traditions and norms of the culture.
  7. Safeguard the University’s properties and observe the bylaws and instructions issued regarding their usage.
  8. Behave responsibly to maintain one’s own security, health and safety, as well as the safetyand health of others.
  9. Adhere to the instructions of the University security personnel.

Article (6)

Academic violations are breaches of the provisions of the university bylaws, policies, and established regulations, including but not limited to the following cases:

  1. Re-submitting the work prepared for one course for another course.
  2. Cheating or any attempt of cheating, assisting, or participating in any cheating act during assignments.
  3. Submitting research or assignments written and completed by other students or other persons.
  4. Intentionally disrupting the teaching and learning process in the classroom, or attempting to do so.
  5. Falsifying and fabricating any information, figures or quotes.
  6. Cheating, trying to cheat, assisting or participating in any cheating during the mid-term or final exams. .
  7. Disrupting the examination process or causing a disturbance during the exam.
  8. Student impersonation by another student or any other person during an exam, assignment, or any academic activity.
  9. Violating the intellectual property rights of others, whether by unauthorized photocopying or undocumented quoting.
  10. Forging any documents and information submitted to the University.
  11. Possession of a mobile phone or any electronic device during an exam or an assignment without a disclosure to, or prior permission by, responsible proctor, whether it is intentional or unintentional.

Article (7)

Non-academic violations are breaches of the provisions of the university bylaws, policies, and established regulations, including but not limited to the following cases:

  1. Organizing an event at the University without a prior approval of the responsible authority.
  2. Collecting donations on campus or from University members, without a prior written approval from the responsible authority at the University.
  3. Disrupting or obstructing order on campus.
  4. Exploiting university resources, or using the university facilities without a prior approval of the responsible authority at the University or doing so for a purpose other than the authorized intent.
  5. Issuing flyers, newspapers, magazines, or posters, or distributing them on campus, without a prior written approval from the responsible authority at the university.
  6. Bringing in, holding, or making any weapons, sharp objects, explosive or flammablematerials on campus.
  7. Possessing, using, carrying, or distributing any intoxicating or narcotic substances on campus.
  8. Stealing, destroying or causing damage to any of the University’s properties, or harming its members or visitors.
  9. Non-observance of traffic rules on campus.
  10. Non-compliance with the instructions of the security personnel on campus while performing their duties, or refusing to provide proof of identity whenever requested.
  11. Granting and allowing others access to university documents and identities in order to use them illegally.
  12. The unjustified presence of male students in the female designated areas, or vice versa.
  13. Any abuse, humiliation, or physical, verbal or psychological abuse committed by the student against any of the university members, visitors, or others who are present on campus.
  14. Smoking in unauthorized areas.
  15. Not adhering to the policies, guidelines, procedures, or instructions for clubs, student organizations, trips, activities, events, and extra-curricular/ Co-Curricular programs organized on or off campus.
  16. Disrupting or attempting to disrupt the activities or extra-curricular/ Co-Curricular programs that the university organize or participate in organizing, whether on or off-campus or organized within the University by external parties.
  17. Engaging in any activity that violates the university bylaws, policies, and established regulations.
  18. Forming organizations, clubs, or associations that carry out activities on campus or joining similar ones without a prior written approval from the responsible authority.
  19. Forging any of the documents or information submitted to the University or using them.
  20. Violating University procedures and instructions related to student housing.
  21. Wearing inappropriate attire that does not suit university traditions and norms.
  22. Providing or declaring any incorrect data or information for any media outlet via any media platform on any of the university affairs.
  23. Defaming the university or any of its members on social media or any other means.
  24. Displaying pictures, video clips, or audio recordings of any of the university’s members on social media and other electronic means, without taking their consent to do so.
  25. Harming the University’s reputation.
  26. Every act inconsistent with honor, dignity and ethics, or violates good conduct and behavior inside or outside the University.

Article (8)

Without prejudice to one’s civil or criminal liability when applicable, any student who violates the stipulations of the provisions of these bylaws or other instructions issued by the University will be subject to a disciplinary penalty.

Chapter Three: Disciplinary Actions and their Issuing Authorities

Article (9)

Disciplinary actions that may be imposed on the student, in case of committing any of the academic violations, are as follows:

Article (10)

Graduate students shall be subject to final expulsion from the University in cases of cheating or attempting to cheat as specified in Article (6).

Article (11)

Disciplinary actions that may be imposed on the student, in case of committing non-academic violations, are as follows:

Article (12)

Without prejudice to the provisions of Article (11) of these Bylaws, if the student causes the loss or damage of any of the university’s properties, he/she must pay the value of what is lost or damaged.

Article (13)

A faculty member may exclude any student from the classroom if the student disrupts the class or commits any action that would disrupt or obstruct the teaching and learning process of the lecture.

Article (14)

The supervisor of the  extra-curricular / Co-Curricular program may exclude any student from the activities training areas or the place where the program is conducted  if the student disrupts the order during the program or takes any action that would disrupt or obstruct the course of the program.

Article (15)

In the event of repeated violations of these Bylaws, the university has the right to increase the disciplinary action commensurate with the nature of the violation. The authority to impose such disciplinary actions lies in the hand of the responsible Vice President.

Article (16)

It is permissible, with the approval of the responsible Vice President, to notify the college, or the complaining entity, or the guardian of the student of the violation committed and the disciplinary action taken.

Article (17)

The president, upon the recommendation of the responsible Vice President, may reconsider a final expulsion decision.

Article (18)

The responsibility to consider academic violations varies according to the following: The course instructor may consider academic violations in clauses (1) to (3) of Article (6) of these Bylaws and take the appropriate action accordingly. The responsible dean of the college may consider academic violations that fall within the powers of the course instructor in addition to clauses (4) to (5) of Article (6) and take the appropriate action in coordination with the Student Affairs Committee of the relevant college. The President of the University and the responsible Vice-President may consider all academic violation clauses listed in Article (6) of these Bylaws.

Article (19)

The responsibility to impose disciplinary action for academic violations varies according to the type of violation and is as follows:

Article (20)

In the event a student misconduct case is referred to the university disciplinary committee, the student’s instructor is required to defer the submission of the grade on banner until a final decision pertaining to the case has been rendered by the Vice President for Student Affairs. In the event the student is graduating, the graduation process is suspended until the investigation is completed and a final decision has been reached.

Article (21)

The Director of Campus Security, or anyone designated by him, shall investigate non-academic violations described in Article 7 in these bylaws, including collecting information, verifying facts, and  providing evidence related to the violation while complying with all the stipulated process described in Article 35 in these Bylaws pertaining to the full cooperation with the office or the Vice President for Student Affairs in such cases.

The supervisor of the extra-curricular/ Co-Curricular program may investigate non-academic violations in Articles 15 to 18, and may impose any of the penalties appropriate to the violation.  The President of the University and the responsible Vice President may consider non-academic violations in all clauses of Article (7) of these Bylaws.

Article (22)

The responsibility mandated to impose disciplinary action for non-academic violations varies according to the type of violation and is as follows:

Article (23)

The student may appeal the disciplinary decision issued by the Disciplinary Committee within ten (10) working days to an appeal committee mandated by the president. The committee shall decide on the appeal within a period not exceeding ten (10) working days during the Fall and Spring semesters from the date of its submission. If the student does not file an appeal within the designated period, the decision against him or her shall be final. The student has the right to appeal a disciplinary action decision issued by the instructor to the responsible dean, and similarly, a decision issued by the dean maybe appealed to the responsible Vice president.

Chapter Four: The Discipline Committee

Article (24)

The Disciplinary Committee is mandated with investigating the cases referred to it by the responsible Vice-President, and issues its recommendations for the appropriate disciplinary action.

Article (25)

The Disciplinary Committee shall be comprised of five members, two of whom shall be QU  faculty members and at least one from the Student Affairs sector. The committee shall have a secretary who records its minutes of meetings but does not have the right to vote.

The members of the committee and the secretary shall be appointed upon a decision issued by the President following the recommendation from the responsible Vice-President.

Article (26)

The convening of the Disciplinary Committee is not valid unless attended by at least three members. The Committee issues its recommendation by a majority of votes. In the event of a tie, the opinion of the team with whom the Chairman of the Committee voted is likely.

In the event that one of the committee members or its Chairman is absent or exempted for any reason, the committee shall notify the responsible Vice-President within three working days, and accordingly should be chaired by the faculty member whose appointment with QU is the longest.

Article (27):

Membership of the Disciplinary Committee is a two-year renewable term for one or more identical periods. The Committee will continue with its duties until a new committee is formed by the President.

Article (28):

Meetings of the Committee are confidential. The Committee issues its recommendations after fully studying and examining the submitted violation.

Article (29):

The student to whom the violation is attributed must attend the investigation hearings and the disciplinary meetings to which he or she is called.

Article (30):

The Disciplinary Committee may hold the student accountable in absentia and impose the appropriate penalty on him/her if they fail to attend the disciplinary meetings without an acceptable excuse.  The student shall be notified of the penalty in writing via e-mail.

Article (31):

The committee may question and cross-examine the student and review all the documents it deems necessary for the investigation even if they are confidential.

Article (32):

The recommendations of the committee shall be justified and signed by Committee Chair and members and sent to the responsible Vice-President for the required action.

Chapter Five: Referral to Investigation and Procedures

Article (33):

Article (34):

Article (35):

Article (36):

The responsible Vice President has the right to close the case or refer the student to whom the violation is attributed to the Disciplinary Committee within three working days from the date of the referral of the incident.

Article (37):

If the violation occurs during the fall and spring semesters, the Disciplinary Committee shall start investigating the details of the incident within five working days from the date on which it receives the violation and take the appropriate action in accordance with these Bylaws or recommend dismissal of complaint.

If the violation occurs during the final examinations of the Spring semester or during the Summer semester, the committee shall issue the necessary recommendations during the last week of the semester if possible in case it received it before the summer vacation.

However, the committee shall convene a session at the beginning of the fall semester and issue the necessary recommendations before the last day of the add and drop period. The responsible Vice president has the right to extend the investigation time limit stipulated by this Article to an additional period or as needed even till after the add and drop period, if necessary.  

Article (38):

Before initiating the investigation with the student, the he or she must be notified about the accusations attributed to him/her in a written summon that includes the following information:

Article (39):

In the case the violation falls with the responsibility of the dean, no penalty, beyond the course instructor’s authority, shall be imposed on a student unless  the student has been questioned by the responsible college  Student Affairs Committee, or the Disciplinary Committee in case the violation was referred to the Vice President for Student Affairs.

In the event that the student refuses to receive the summon request or declines to respond to it, the summons request is documented and included in the investigation file.

Article (40):

The University Disciplinary Committee has the right to take the necessary measures to ensure the integrity of the investigation including the following steps:

Article (41):

The investigation must be documented in formal minutes and filed by a serial number that shall include date, time, place, investigator’s name; referral decision and its issuing authority;  referred student’s name, age, place of residence and college; summary of the incident under investigation; statements of witnesses; viewed documents; date and time at which the session completed. Furthermore, all pages of the investigation shall be recorded and documented by a signature of the committee members and all involved individuals.

Article (42):

The responsible Vice President Office shall notify the referred student with a copy of the referral decision and the date and time of the investigation via  the student email account assigned by Qatar University , or by text message to the student's registered phone at the university, at least one working day before the investigation scheduled date. The notification may be provided to the student at his college in person, if needed.

In the event of violations that are referred to the Disciplinary Committee at the end of the semester without enough time to process them before the academic vacation, the student may be summoned to appear before the Disciplinary Committee at the start of academic semester for faculty members.

Article (43):

Any student summoned to deliver his or her  testimony in the investigation and refrains from appearing or refrains from providing any information he/she has, without an acceptable excuse, he/she  will be subject to disciplinary action  if his/her testimony is substantial to the completion of the investigation. Relatives of the accused student up to the fourth degree are excluded from testifying.

Article (44):

If, through the investigation, it was found that there is a suspicion of committing a crime, the matter must be brought to the President to inform the Public Prosecution. Notifying the Public Prosecution does not jeopardize the University’s right to impose disciplinary penalty for what has been proven against the student to whom the violation is attributed, unless the disciplinary penalty is pending on the outcome of the criminal case.

Article (45):

The investigation period begins from the date of the student's referral to the investigation and ends with the preparation of a final report on the results of the investigation, which includes the recommendations of the University Disciplinary Committee to the responsible authority to either close the case or take the appropriate disciplinary action.

The investigation period shall not exceed 30 working days, but it may be extended for another period with the approval of the responsible Vice President.

Article (46):

The decision to take disciplinary action against the student must be legally justified.

Article (47):

No more than one penalty shall be imposed for a single violation.

Article (48):

The responsible Vice-President shall notify the student and the responsible departments for implementation of the penalty decision signed in writing, within three working days from the date of its issuance.

Article (49):

Investigation documents and penalties shall be kept in the students’ files, and a record of penalties shall be kept in the same file including all details of all the violations and penalties imposed on them and the dates and reference numbers of decisions effecting those penalties.

If the investigation resulted in the participation of more than one student in committing the violation, it is sufficient to keep the investigation papers in the file of the first violator, and a copy of the original thereof in the files of the other students.

Article (50):

All concerned parties are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of investigations and interrogation procedures.

Article (51):

The right to disciplinary investigation shall expire in two years from the date the student commits the violation; however, such a statute of limitation shall be interrupted by investigation procedures or referral of the student to disciplinary investigation. In such case, the period shall be re-calculated from the date of the last action taken regarding the violation. If there are multiple persons referred to disciplinary investigation, interruption of the period applicable to one of them shall also be applicable to the others, even if no measures have been taken against them during the period in question.

Nevertheless, if the act constitutes a crime, the right to disciplinary investigation shall not be forfeited unless the criminal case is dropped. Disciplinary measures shall cease  upon the death of the student.

Chapter Six: General Provisions

Article (52):

The student is not allowed to drop or withdraw from the course in which the violation occurred  or from the semester during which the violation occurred except after a final decision has been issued by the responsible  authority. In the event that the course is withdrawn or dropped by the student, the University has the right to re-register the student in the same course, and apply the penalty issued against him/her.

Article (53):

Violations, investigations and disciplinary records shall be kept in confidential records in the office of the responsible Vice-President throughout the student’s study period, and for a period of six years after graduation or cessation of study.

Article (54):

All provisions and policies of these Bylaws apply to all residents in student housing in addition to the existing and approved polices and procedures developed by the Student Housing Department.

Violation Forms

Non-Academic Violation of Student Code of Conduct Form

Academic Violation of Student Code of Conduct Form