You might think you will never need to worry about academic misconduct because you would never cheat - but it’s not always that simple. There are several different forms of misconduct, and many students break the rules without even realising it.

Penalties will vary depending on the type of misconduct but in the most serious cases you could even be withdrawn from the university. That’s why it’s essential to read the Student Academic Misconduct Code of Practice to make sure you don't make any mistakes.

To help you stay on track, here are 10 practical tips to help you avoid offences:

✅1. Understand What Counts as Academic Misconduct

• Academic misconduct isn’t just ‘cheating’. There are many different ways you can commit an academic misconduct offence, including plagiarism, collusion, contract cheating, AI misuse, exam misconduct, self-plagiarism and making up data.
• Even accidental mistakes (e.g., poor referencing or sharing work) can lead to penalties.

✅ 2. Reference Correctly

• Always reference ideas and quotes, even lecture notes.
• Check your references match the sources and are formatted correctly.

✅ 3. Keep Your Work Original

• Always rewrite ideas in your own words, or use quotation marks when you need to keep the exact words, in addition to referencing.
• Avoid copying and pasting from sources, even if you plan to edit later. It’s easy to forget to change the wording, which can lead to accidental plagiarism. Instead, take notes in your own words and then write from those.
• Look away from the source when writing notes. The more space you leave between the source and your writing, the less likely it is that you will use the same wording.
• Check your Turnitin report before submission if your School allows it.
• Do not reuse your own previous work – this would be self-plagiarism.
• Never buy essays or ask someone else to write your work - this is contract cheating and usually leads to termination from the university.
• Avoid using AI tools to generate or rewrite content unless your assessment brief explicitly allows it.

✅ 4. Work Independently

• Discuss some ideas with friends, but don’t share drafts or plan your assessments together—this can lead to collusion.
• If someone asks to see your work, say no. Sharing your work is academic misconduct even if you’re just trying to help.
• Don’t leave your devices unlocked in public spaces.

✅ 5. Manage Your Time

• Rushed work increases the risk of plagiarism and mistakes.
• If you’re struggling, ask for help early: speak to your tutors or submit Exceptional Circumstances, or use the Library Education Centre for support with your academic skills.

✅ 6. Be Careful in Exams

• Check exam rules before the day and make sure you don’t bring in any notes or devices unless allowed.
• Even accidental possession of notes can count as misconduct. Check your pockets before you enter the exam room.
• If you’re anxious or under pressure, seek support instead of risking cheating.

✅ 7. Avoid AI Pitfalls

• AI-generated text, paraphrasing tools, or translation software are not allowed unless stated in your assessment brief.
• If AI is permitted, cite it properly using university guidance.
• AI can produce errors, fake references, and unnatural language - don’t rely on it for assessments. Always check any information you get from AI to make sure it’s accurate. Think of AI as a tool to give you some initial insight on the topic and ideas of areas to explore, but you must then follow this up by reading genuine sources.

✅ 8. Take Care with Files

• If you accidentally submit a draft that hasn’t been correctly referenced or reworded yet, it will still count as academic misconduct. Save all drafts securely and label them clearly to avoid submitting the wrong version. Consider putting the drafts in a separate folder.
• Make sure each of your assessments are clearly named to avoid mixing them up.

✅ 9. Know the Consequences

• Penalties range from warnings to a mark of zero for the module, and for serious offences like contract cheating or repeated misconduct, you will normally be withdrawn from the University.
• Professional courses may involve Fitness to Practise investigations.

✅ 10. Use Support Services

• Contact your tutor if you don’t understand the assessment.
• The Library Education Centre, English Language Unit, and online resources can help you improve referencing and writing skills.
• Consider submitting ECs if you’re struggling.
• ASK can guide you through academic misconduct cases and appeals.