Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct can include:

• Plagiarism
• Collusion, which means working with others in a way that is not allowed
• Cheating in an exam or assessment
• Reusing work you have already submitted, unless this is allowed
• Using AI or technology in a way that is not allowed
• Buying or commissioning work
• Making up or changing data
• Breaking research ethics rules
• Trying to deceive the University to gain an unfair advantage

This is not a full list. The University will look at the evidence and the assessment instructions when deciding whether academic misconduct may have happened.

Plagiarism is when you use someone else's words or ideas and present them as your own.

This can include copying, closely paraphrasing, summarising, or using someone else's ideas without proper referencing.

Collusion is when students work together in a way that is not allowed and the work submitted does not show each student's own independent work.

This can include copying another student's work, closely imitating their work, or allowing another student to copy your work.

You should take reasonable steps to protect your work, files, devices and data from being used by others.

Collusion does not include authorised group work or normal discussion where students share ideas and then complete their own independent work.

Cheating usually relates to exams or other controlled assessments.

This can include:

• Communicating with another student during an exam
• Copying from another student
• Using notes, devices or materials that are not allowed
• Accessing assessment materials before they have been released
• Asking someone else to take an assessment for you

Using AI or other technology may be academic misconduct if it gives you an unfair advantage or means the work no longer reflects your own understanding, thoughts or ideas.

This can include:

• using AI to produce all or a large part of an assessment
• using AI to rewrite or translate work in a way that changes it from your own work
• not referencing or acknowledging AI use where this is required
• ignoring the instructions in the assessment brief about AI use
• using tools to hide or humanise AI-generated work
• using tools such as paraphrasing tools, translation software, essay bots or generated images where these are not allowed

If you are unsure what is allowed, check your assessment brief and ask your module leader.

You should keep drafts, notes, prompts, outputs and other evidence showing how you developed your work.

You can reduce the risk of academic misconduct by:

• Reading the assessment brief carefully and checking what is allowed
• Asking your module leader if any instructions are unclear
• Keeping accurate notes of the sources you use
• Using quotation marks and references when using someone else's words or ideas
• Completing your own work unless the assessment allows group work
• Keeping your files, notes, devices and login details secure
• Checking the rules before using AI, translation tools, paraphrasing tools or other technology
• Acknowledging any use of AI where this is required
• Keeping drafts, notes, prompts and other evidence showing how you developed your work
• Allowing enough time to complete the assessment without relying on shortcuts
• Using academic skills support if you need help with referencing, writing or research
• Using the Mitigating Circumstances process if serious circumstances affect your ability to complete the assessment

Keep a copy of the assessment brief and any guidance provided by your course. These will help show what you understood the rules to be when you completed the work.

• The process depends on the type of concern raised.
• The University may decide that the issue is poor academic practice, academic misconduct, or gross academic misconduct.
• The University does not need to prove that you intended to commit academic misconduct. It needs to decide, based on the evidence, whether it is more likely than not that academic misconduct happened.
• The University aims to deal with suspected academic misconduct cases within 25 working days from the date marks are released. If the case is complex and more time is needed, the University should tell you why.

What this usually means

This is usually used where the concern is about poor academic practice rather than academic misconduct.

This may include weak referencing, missing quotation marks, or gaps in the reference list.

What usually happens

You may be invited to a meeting with a member of staff, usually the module leader.

The meeting is intended to help you understand the concern and improve your academic practice.

Possible outcomes

• the work is marked through the normal marking process
• a mark reduction of 10% of the maximum mark, where the assessment criteria on referencing have not been met
• advice on good academic practice
• referral to support or learning opportunities about good academic practice
• you may be asked to complete an academic integrity learning activity

What this usually means

This is normally used for a first case of academic misconduct.

If concerns are raised about more than one assessment submitted around the same time, the University may treat these as one case.

What usually happens

The Academic Integrity Lead will review the evidence.

You will be told about the allegation and asked to submit a written response.

You may be able to request a meeting if you disagree with the outcome.

Possible outcomes

• a mark of 0% for the assessment
• a requirement to resubmit the assessment, where this is allowed
• the resubmitted assessment mark being capped at the minimum pass mark
• the module mark being capped at the minimum pass mark, where this applies
• a written warning explaining what may happen if there is further academic misconduct
• referral to learning opportunities about good academic practice
• a note being added to your student record

What this usually means

This is normally used where there is a repeat case of academic misconduct.

This usually means you have previously received a penalty and warning for academic misconduct, and the new concern happens in a later assessment period.

What usually happens

You will be invited to a meeting with the Academic Integrity Lead.

You should receive at least 5 working days' notice of the meeting, along with the allegation and evidence.

You can respond to the allegation, explain your case and provide evidence.

Possible outcomes

• a mark of 0% for the module
• no opportunity for reassessment in that module
• permission to retake the module in a later year, where this is allowed
• the retaken module mark being capped at the pass mark for the module
• a final written warning explaining what may happen if there is further academic misconduct
• referral to learning opportunities about good academic practice
• a note being added to your student record

What this usually means

This is used for the most serious cases.

This is normally where the University finds there was a clear attempt to deceive or gain an unfair academic advantage.

What usually happens

The case will be considered by an Academic Misconduct Committee.

You should receive at least 5 working days' notice of the hearing, along with the report and evidence.

You can respond to the allegation, explain your case, answer questions, provide evidence and call witnesses.

Possible outcomes

• failing the level of study and being required to withdraw from the programme
• permanent expulsion from the University
• a decision about any credit or award you may still be able to keep
• a note being added to your student record

• If poor academic practice happens again in the future, it may be treated as academic misconduct.
• The University will normally allow students to keep any award or credits already given for work that has been passed without evidence of academic misconduct.
• Where academic misconduct is found for the first time on a reassessment for an assessment you have already failed, you will not normally be given a further reassessment opportunity.
• These outcomes also apply if you move from one University of Lancashire course to another and credits from your previous course are transferred to your current course.
• A finding of academic misconduct will normally be recorded on your student record.
• For some courses, especially professionally regulated courses, the outcome may also be shared with relevant professional bodies, placement providers or employers where required.

• You will have the opportunity to explain what happened.
• Mitigating circumstances will not usually be considered when deciding whether academic misconduct happened.
• They may be considered when deciding the outcome, but only where there is evidence of serious mitigating circumstances that affected your judgement.
• If mitigating circumstances affected your ability to complete an assessment, you should usually use the Mitigating Circumstances process at the time.

You can appeal an academic misconduct decision within 10 working days of receiving the official outcome.

An appeal must be based on one or both of these grounds:

• the original meeting or hearing was not conducted fairly or in line with the published procedure
• the original decision was manifestly unreasonable, meaning the decision did not reasonably fit the evidence or circumstances

If the decision was made by an Academic Misconduct Committee in a Category 4 case, the appeal will go straight to the second stage of the Academic Appeals Procedure.

The Students' Union Advice Service can help you understand the allegation, review the evidence, prepare a written response, prepare for a meeting or hearing, and discuss whether you may have grounds to appeal.

You can contact us through the enquiry form here.