Student Ousted for Cheating in Med School Exam

The University of Helsinki has revoked the right to study granted to a student after they were found to have cheated in the spring 2026 entrance examination. Cheating always leads to the applicant failing the entrance examination, and as a result their student place is cancelled.

The applicant was identified through the technical monitoring used at the entrance examination. The University was notified of the suspected cheating on 27 July 2026 and has since been reviewing the case. The applicant has been interviewed twice.

The University will refer the matter to the police for investigation.

Cheating in entrance examinations is rare. To illustrate, around 20,000 applicants took an entrance examination at the University of Helsinki in spring 2026; 40 suspected cases of cheating were recorded, 25 of which were confirmed.

Suspicions of cheating are usually clarified without delay, resulting in the applicant immediately failing the examination. However, suspicions of cheating can also arise from matters identified during subsequent reviews of entrance examinations. Even where admissions results have already been published, such suspicions are always taken seriously. 

"This case of cheating was exceptionally carefully planned, so we've decided to refer the matter to the police for investigation. What matters most is that cheating is caught, and that no one gains admission to the University by cheating," says Kai Nordlund, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs.

To prevent cheating, Finnish universities continually refine the technical features of the entrance examination system, as well as the rules on invigilation.

"Doctors are responsible for people's health, and at times even their lives. People must be able to trust in their competence. Entrance examinations play a part in building this trust," notes Dean Johanna Arola of the Faculty of Medicine.