Study environment

If you have a question or comment, you should if possible first contact the course and programme coordinator or another appropriate person at your department.

By logging into the Student Portal and visiting My Page, you can see which faculty and department your course or programme belongs to. If you are studying a programme, there may be courses run by other departments and faculties than those responsible for your programme.

If you are hurt on University premises, during your studies or on your way to or from the University, you should make a report. For example, you may fall on the stairs on your way to the lecture hall, injure yourself during your VFU or work placement, or be involved in a car crash on your way to a seminar.

The University of Gothenburg has a central system, called the IA system, to aid us in handling various types of incidents. You make your report in this system.

IA system

In addition to making a report to the University, you may also need to make a report about, for example, occupational injuries to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) or the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet). Read more about this on the page Insurance.

At the University of Gothenburg, the study environment should be free from discrimination and harassment. Every employee and student is responsible for treating each other with mutual respect.

If you have information about a possible case of discrimination or harassment of any kind, it is important that you inform the University about this.

Discrimination and harassment

You can always turn to Feelgood, our student healthcare provider, if you feel unwell or need support for something related to your studies. The University also has resources that you can use on your own.

Student health

Student work environment representatives represent students in study environment issues. They are tasked with ensuring a good study environment and that the University works continuously and systematically with these issues.

Student work environment representatives

If you encounter problems in your studies, you can get support from the student and doctoral student ombudsmen. They have a duty of confidentiality and can provide support in disciplinary matters and when reporting discrimination and sexual harassment, among other things.

Student ombudsmen at gus.gu.se

There are four student unions at the University of Gothenburg. The student unions work to represent their members, elect student representatives, appoint student work environment representatives (SAMO) and create meeting places for students. The student unions cooperate within the University of Gothenburg's student unions (GUS) and within Göteborgs förenade studentkårer (GFS), which also includes Chalmers student union.

Student unions and associations

If you have a documented disability, you may be able to receive study support.

Study support for students with disabilities

As a student, you can develop your skills in academic language and writing with the support of the Unit for Academic Language (ASK). 

Academic language and writing

The library offers services and support in several areas.

Services and support from the University library

You can contact the student counsellors if you have questions about your studies and career choices.

Study counselling at gu.se

As an education provider, the University shall prevent risks of ill health and accidents and promote a satisfactory study environment. A satisfactory study and work environment means, among other things:

• That study conditions are adjusted to fit people's circumstances.
• The opportunity to participate in the design of studies and the development of work concerning the organisation of studies.
• Opportunities for variety, social contact and co-operation, coherence between individual work/study tasks, opportunities for personal and professional development as well as for self-determination and professional responsibility.

• The University is responsible for the environment that the University can manage and influence, such as lecture rooms, silent reading rooms, group work, Canvas and exam rooms.
• There are other places that may be important for your study environment, such as VFU sites or group work outside the University's premises. These are not environments that the University has a mandate to change, but can to some extent try to influence.
• You also have a responsibility in the work surrounding study environment, such as following rules and regulations and reporting risks that you discover in your study environment.
• It is usually the Head of Department where you are studying that is responsible for your study environment, but the division of responsibilities may vary slightly throughout the University.

As with study environment, the Head of Department is responsible for work concerning equal treatment at the department. The Dean and ultimately the Vice-Chancellor are responsible for the University's overall work.

The University complies with the Work Environment Act and the Discrimination Act, and these laws form the basis of the work concerning equal treatment.