Collusion occurs when two or more students work together on an assignment that should be completed individually. This can include:

• Sharing answers or notes for individual assessments.
• Dividing up work for individual tasks and then combining efforts.
• Using another student’s previous work as a guide or template, even without copying directly.
• Discussing answers during online or timed exams without permission.

Even if there is no intent to cheat, collusion still breaches academic integrity policies because it gives students an unfair advantage and undermines the credibility of their qualification. Collusion does not apply to group projects, or assessments that are intended to be produced collaboratively.

Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s work, ideas, or words as your own without proper acknowledgment. This includes:

• Submitting work written by someone else, even with their consent.
• Copying text, images, code, or data from any source without citation.
• Paraphrasing someone else’s work too closely without credit.
• Reusing your own previously submitted work (self-plagiarism) without permission.

Self-plagiarism occurs when you reuse your own previously submitted or published work without proper citation or permission. It involves presenting old work as if it were new and original, which misleads your audience and violates academic integrity.

Misleading material refers to any information (written, verbal, or digital) that is intentionally false, distorted, or presented in a way that misrepresents the truth within an academic setting. This can undermine academic integrity and the fairness of assessment processes.

Cheating is broadly defined as using dishonest or deceptive means to gain academic credit or improve performance. It undermines the principles of fairness, integrity, and personal responsibility that are central to university learning. Cheating typically involves the unauthorised use of materials, information, or assistance in academic work.

Contract cheating is when a student gets someone else to complete their academic work and submits it as their own. This includes using paid services or asking others for help in a way that misrepresents their own effort. It is a serious academic offence that undermines learning and integrity.

Misconduct in research includes fabricating or falsifying data, misrepresenting findings, interests, or involvement, and failing to follow accepted procedures that protect participants, the environment, or research integrity. It also covers the improper handling of confidential or personal information collected during research.

Unauthorised use of AI is using AI tools in ways not permitted by your course, such as generating or editing work that you submit as your own. It misrepresents your effort and breaches academic integrity.