Overview

Academic misconduct is:

• any action by a student which gives or has the potential to give an unfair advantage in an examination or assessment
• any action by a student which might assist someone else to gain an unfair advantage
• any action by a student likely to undermine the integrity essential to scholarship and research
  

'Academic misconduct' may also be referred to as ‘breach of academic integrity’ or an ‘assessment offence’. It covers a range of misconduct such as plagiarism, collusion, falsification, and contract cheating. Further information is available on examples of academic misconduct.

The University expects and will support you to and maintain high standards of academic honesty and integrity, and all students must undertake and successfully pass the Academic Integrity Training and Test or a test set for your course.

The University will take action if it suspects that its standards of academic integrity are not upheld in your assessment. Regulation 19 - Conduct of Investigations into Academic Misconduct outlines the University’s policy on the handling of suspected academic misconduct.

Allegations of misconduct for research by doctoral students are investigated according to the Procedure for Inquiring into Allegations of Misconduct in Research and Scholarship.

What happens if I am suspected of academic misconduct?

Full information on investigations into academic misconduct is provided in Regulation 19 - Conduct of Investigations into Academic Misconduct. In summary, you can expect:

1. Notification from your department of suspected academic misconduct and that it has started an evidence gathering investigation to determine if an offence has occurred, and the severity of the academic misconduct.
2. The opportunity to respond and provide any evidence, if you wish. You will have at least one opportunity to meet with your Director of Studies to discuss the suspected academic misconduct. If your case is considered more severe you will be invited to attend a Board of Inquiry.
3. Notification of the outcome of the investigation and any decision. Penalties are detailed in Regulation 19 - Conduct of Investigations into Academic Misconduct.
4. If penalties have been applied you may be able to ask for a review of any decision if you think you have the grounds to do so.

It is important to remember that if the investigation determines that there was academic misconduct, your case will be dealt with depending on its severity. Regulation 19 - Conduct of Investigations into Academic Misconduct provides further information.

Further information

Students

• What to expect with a confidential notification of suspected academic misconduct.
• Guidance on what to expect from a Presentation of Learning event.

Staff

• Handling confidential notifications of suspected academic misconduct.
• Guidance on holding a Presentation of Learning event.
• Internal staff guidance, including letter templates.

Advice and support

The University offers a range of support services that you can access throughout the process. In particular, the Wellbeing Service is available for emotional and wellbeing support. Your Director of Studies will also be able to offer advice on the procedural steps.

SU Advice & Support is independent of the University and SU Advisers can assist you with responding to suspected academic misconduct and preparation or representation (if possible) at any meetings. You can find out more about the support available on its Assessment Offences webpage and arrange a meeting with an adviser.

How do I request a review of a decision about academic misconduct?

You can request an academic misconduct review on the following grounds:

• there were material procedural irregularities in the conduct of the investigation into academic misconduct.
• there is material new evidence which you could not reasonably have been expected to make available for the investigation into academic misconduct.
• that the determination of the Head of Department/Board of Inquiry was unreasonable in light of the evidence presented.

This process is solely for requesting a review of a decision specifically about moderate or severe academic misconduct, i.e., the finding of misconduct and/or the penalty applied as a result of this. If you wish to make an appeal related to your confirmed unit outcome, progression or award decision, follow the guidance on appealing against an academic decision.

Submitting your request

Moderate academic misconduct

Moderate academic misconduct penalties are applied by your Head of Department. A request for a review must be submitted by email to:

• School of Management
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Engineering and Design
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Decision of a Board of Inquiry

Submit your form by email to the Director of Academic Registry.

Your request must be submit within 14 calendar days of written notification of the outcome of the investigation. If you need independent advice, you can contact SU Advice and Support.

The University’s internal procedures will be completed once a review decision is reached. If this review has not resulted in a resolution to your satisfaction, you have the option to pursue it with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA).