Bullying is when you feel persistently and systematically taunted by another person. Bullying can be verbal or non-verbal, and includes acts such as teasing in a mean manner, name-calling, exclusion, spreading rumours, or embarrassing others in public.

Threatening behaviour is likely to make you afraid of being harmed. This kind of behaviour can be expressed verbally or non-verbally – for example as spoken threats or threatening body language against you or others.

Have you been subjected to violence where the offender deliberately intended to hurt you physically?

Sexism is discrimination or prejudice on the basis of your gender, where you feel exposed to inappropriate sexualized comments or touching.

Harassment can be persistent stalking or malicious teasing intended to humiliate, threaten or discriminate against you, and can be either political, religious, ethnic, or based on gender or sexual orientation.

You may have been subjected to discrimination if you feel treated unfairly and different than others because of e.g. your gender, ethnicity, political or religious opinions, disabilities, or sexual orientation.

Stalking is repeated, systematic and unwanted persecution or surveillance, either physically or online, and can vary from weeks to several years.

AAU Student Guidance offers you free and confidential conversations with professional counsellors that can help you with your student life and well-being.

We ensure your privacy whether you meet with us in person, on the phone or online. 

Book a counselling session with AAU Student Guidance.

You can also share your experience with your Head of studies. 

Overview of AAU's Head of studies.

Within a few days you can have a counselling session at AAU with a professional counsellor from the Student Counselling Service.

This service is intended for students who are severely depressed, severely anxious, or who have been exposed to a serious violation, but who do not need urgent crisis help.

Contact AAU Study Guidance to book a counselling session with the Student Counselling Service

If you need urgent crisis help, you can — depending on the situation — contact your own doctor, emergency medical services, or police crisis help (emergency 112, otherwise 114).

AAU Emergency Response -  crisis call

In the event of a serious accident, fire, or other emergency at AAU, you must also contact the AAU Emergency Response in addition to the 112 emergency number:

AAL: 99 40 35 00
CPH: 99 40 36 00
ESB:  99 40 76 00

AAU's emergency responders will assist police when they arrive.

If you need to discuss and process your experience, you are also welcome to contact the University chaplains, the Student Counselling Service, Headspace or Den Sociale Skadestue [the Social Emergency Unit].

Expect to be met with care and complete confidentiality. Together we figure out what the next step should be. Maybe a single conversation where you vent about your experience is enough, but you may also want to report your experience (see next section).

Everyone has the right and the opportunity to report offensive behaviour.

At AAU Student Guidance we can help you report the incident. Once written, you need to send the report to your head of studies.

You can also report the incident directly to your head of studies, without counselling from AAU Student Guidance.

When you report offensive behaviour, your head of studies will invite you to a confidential meeting, where you get to talk about your experience.

If you want your head of studies to decide whether any sanctions can be imposed on a student or member of staff, this person will be invited to a separate meeting to present their interpretation of the case.

You have the right to bring a companion to the meeting, such as a friend or family member.

The head of studies must be impartial and show discretion towards both parties. In the vast majority of cases, the head of studies decides what happens next. In case of extraordinary, repeated or gross violations, the case will be forwarded to the rector for a decision. Case processing is handled by Educational Law at AAU.

If you decide to report the incident, you should be aware that you for legal reasons cannot expect:

• to be held anonymous to the person you accuse
• to be informed of any decisions about the case
• to influence the decision of the case

You have the right to appeal
If you disagree with the handling or decision of your report, you have the right to appeal.

It is entirely up to you if want to report your experience.

If you choose not to, anything you share with your student counsellor will remain private, unless you want it otherwise. The counsellor has a duty of confidentiality.

Through your dialogue, you and your student counsellor can clarify if you can benefit from more than one meeting. Your counsellor can also inform you of other offers for guidance that may help you further, such as: 

• The national Student Counselling Service
• Headspace
• The University Chaplains
• Your general practitioner

If you report a case of offensive behaviour, your head of studies will receive your report. The head of studies is obliged to investigate the matter thoroughly, which means that both you and the person you accuse will be invited to separate, confidential meetings.

You both have the right to bring a companion, such as a friend or family member.

The head of studies must be impartial and show discretion towards both parties. In the vast majority of cases, the head of studies decides what happens next. In case of extraordinary, repeated or gross violations, the case will be forwarded to the rector for a decision. Case processing is handled by Educational Law at AAU.

The decision will be in writing and substantiated. If the offender is found guilty, the decision will also state the consequence of the violation.

Please notice that you for legal reasons cannot expect:

• to be held anonymous to the person you accuse
• to be informed of any decisions about the case
• to influence the decision of the case

Right to appeal
Both parties have the option to appeal a decision.

It is really important that you share your experience with someone you feel comfortable with. 

• Respond quickly when you experience offensive or abusive behaviour — don't just live with it.
• Your reactions are normal. It is healthy to express any anxious or strange feelings you may have.
• Talk to someone you trust. Describe what you feel and reflect on what has happened.
• Trust your feelings and thoughts, and listen to what your loved ones have to say about your situation.
• Maintain your habits and routines as far as possible. Keep doing the things you usually do — especially things that make you happy.
• Keep your spirits up and be extra caring to yourself.
• Stay healthy: get your sleep, eat healthily, exercise, keep studying, and stay social.
• If you feel excluded or repeatedly offended, practice saying "no", and distance yourself from the negative situation. It requires strength, courage and practice to say "no".
• Seek support from family, friends, fellow students, and student counsellors.
• Be mindful of your health and habits — consult your doctor if you are in doubt.

If you are a student and witness offensive behaviour between fellow students or between staff and students, you are always welcome to contact AAU Student Guidance if you need to talk about your experience.

It can be really helpful to share your thoughts and feelings and learn about your options in a situation where you are not directly involved.

If you are employed at AAU and have been exposed to offensive behaviour, you must contact the HR department.

If you are a head of studies and you need advice on how to handle a report from an offended student, you must contact Educational Law.