University of Auckland will not re-enrol student who was kicked out after suicide attempt

Student who was kicked out of University of Auckland because of mental health issues is at a loss at what to do next. Photo / Jason Oxenham

A University of Auckland student who was kicked out after she attempted suicide following an alleged rape has been told she will not be re-enrolled.

The student, who cannot be named, received a message from the deputy vice-chancellor saying the decision to terminate her enrolment will not be reversed.

"We can confirm that the University, after serious consideration, cancelled your student agreement under the rights outlined in clause 10 of the Student Agreement," the message said.

Under the agreement, the student was to inform the university about any change to her mental health - which she did not prior to her suicide attempt.

A spokeswoman from the university said one of the requests made by the student in a letter dated Jan 10 was for the university to inform her of procedures to challenge and review the decision to cancel her enrolment.

"Our response to (the student) is that she is able to challenge the decision via NZQA, and can engage Ausa Advocacy Services to help with that," she said.

But the student, who was in her fourth year pursuing a double degree in health science and science, was told by the authority it did not have the power over the university's decision.

In a note to the student, NZQA said it was continuing with its interactions with the university to find out if its decision was compliant with its code of practice.

"But we need to clarify that we don't have the legal power to require the University to re-enrol you, even if we find that they have not acted in keeping with the code," it said.

The student said this morning she's at a loss at what to do next.

"We are unable to afford a lawyer and there is no one willing to do pro bono," she said.

"We have asked a lot, but most of them have acted for the University of Auckland before and so there was a conflict of interest."

She said her family had already spent more than $12,000 on legal fees.

"I think for me as an individual to try to find justice from an institution is extremely difficult," she added.

The student said the whole situation has made her life miserable, and she does not know what to do next.