Dropping out is one thing, but getting expelled from university is a whole different matter — especially when you take into account the fees and time wasted, along with the impact it can have on your future.
Genevieve Carlton, a former professor from Northwestern University, confirms that an expulsion will appear on your academic record permanently.
Even if you return to college and graduate, the expulsion remains on your record as a black stain, along with the shame and uncertainty that come with it.
Of course, it’ll have to be a drastic incident to get expelled from university. Most colleges and universities resort to suspension as the first stage.
“Colleges may temporarily suspend students as a disciplinary action,” says Carlton in her article. “After a suspension, undergrads can return to the school and register for classes.”
But what about permanent expulsion?
In simple terms, expulsion means you’ll be forced to leave your university for good.
Its milder younger sister, suspension, may also be a possibility when a university mulls over what to do with you. You’ll be forced to leave, but only temporarily — depending on your offence, it could range between days to months.
You could get suspended or expelled from university for a number of reasons. They could be for infringements on your academic integrity or — obviously — more serious offences such as sexual misconduct or physical assault. These are usually clear-cut offences which have been detailed in the student handbook or university rulebook.
Universities have been known to expel students for specific circumstances, as well.
For example, many universities in the US made headlines for “disenrolling” unvaccinated students.
A week into the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian students faced threats of being expelled from US universities or deported altogether.
While these circumstances are unfortunate, you can still avoid expulsion or suspension by simply abiding by your university’s rulebook. Choose to dabble in some tomfoolery, and you may be expelled from university for good.
Want to play it safe? Avoid these:
Make sure to use proper referencing techniques to keep from being accused of academic plagiarism. Source: Mohammed Huwais/AFP
Cheating or plagiarising work is the most common reason for expulsion among students.
Cheating refers to the act of getting someone else to do your work for you, or gaining answers for your assignments through dishonest means.
Plagiarism is more intricate in requiring a student to directly copy the work of another student, website, article or journal and submitting it as their own.
Many students have gotten expelled from university for cheating or plagiarism before. For example, 8,000 Chinese international students were expelled from US universities in 2014 for cheating and bad grades.
“Chinese students used to be considered top-notch, but over the past five years, their image has changed completely—wealthy kids who cheat,” chief development officer at WholeRen, Chen, was quoted saying to the Wall Street Journal.
The expulsion hammer is coming down on those who use artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT for their work or exams, too. But this has proven difficult as AI continues to evolve — it’s hard to tell what is original content compared to AI-generated text, especially if English is not someone’s first language.
In February 2025, the University of Minnesota expelled a third-year PhD international student for apparently using ChatGPT in his qualifying examination. The student has since come out to defend himself, claiming that he didn’t use ChatGPT to write his exam, but used AI for grammar correction, even resorting to filing a lawsuit to support his claims.
Always remember that ChatGPT should not be used as an academic source, and that it’s not always correct either. If you need to cite another paper or article, familiarise yourself with proper techniques for academic referencing.
Forget just being a black stain on your CV — getting charged as a criminal is a black stain on your life. Source: AFP
The most common reason for getting expelled from university after plagiarism or cheating is by conducting a criminal offence.
Most universities will not allow for the use and distribution of illegal drugs, for example. In this, students who are found in possession of such drugs may be suspended or expelled.
Other criminal activities may encompass sexual misconduct; carrying a knife, gun, or weapon on campus; public indecency; or conducting any other illegal acts that could get you in trouble with the law. International students should avoid this at any turn, as partaking in illegal activity can put you at risk of deportation.
In 2025, the list of offences may now grow to include protesting, even if done peacefully.
In the US, President Donald Trump said he would cut funding for universities that allow what he called “illegal” protests and prosecute and deport foreign students who participate. American students who choose to partake will also be expelled from university.
In March 2025, Barnard College of Columbia University expelled two protesters for allegedly disrupting a course on the History of Modern Israel taught by Avi Shilon, a former IDF soldier. This is the first time in 57 years that the university has expelled anyone for protesting.
Don’t miss too many classes or be at risk of expulsion. Source: Frederick Florin/AFP
Most universities will give you some leeway to miss classes here and there.
It’s common that you’ll be allowed to miss two classes of a certain module or subject per term. This can usually give you room to stay in if you’re feeling unwell, or perhaps plan a sneaky, quick weekend trip as a break.
But miss too many classes and you can get expelled. Make sure to check how many classes you’re allowed to miss and when — or, if you’re feeling unwell for a prolonged period of time, secure a doctor’s note to excuse your absence. This will help you prevent any unwanted consequences from not attending your classes.
And yes, this includes online classes, too. Don’t think that just because everything can be recorded, you’ll be able to review it before your exam — your attendance counts, too.
It goes without saying, but if you can’t keep up, you’ll be forced to drop out or be expelled from university. Source: AFP
When you start university, you’ll be given a run-down of the grades you need to pass your classes.
A pass grade is usually the minimum grade needed for you to get ahead of your year. For example, if you’re graded on 4.0 GPA system, chances are that a pass should be around 2.0. Fall below 1.0, and you’ll most likely face repercussions.
If you fail your assignment, you may not have the chance to progress in university. In this case, you’ll probably have to resit your exams or redo your assignments from scratch.
Fail too many of your classes, and you’ll likely be put on academic probation or suspension. Here, your professors will investigate why you’re unable to keep up with your classes, whether it be for health reasons or unexpected circumstances.
At this stage, there are still opportunities for improvement or appeal. It’s rare to get expelled from university for bad grades right off the bat, so you can still redeem yourself if you work hard.
If these interventions don’t work and you are still unable to progress in university, you may be expelled and asked to leave for good. So, as much as we hate to nag, ensure you’re keeping up in university!
Disclaimer: This article was last updated March 13, 2025.
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