FOI-2-21 

Date: 5 January 2021  

Summary:  

University Student Exclusions Due to Cheating (figures for 2018/19)   

Request:   

Please respond to these questions in relation to the (i) 2018/19 academic year and (ii) the 2019/20 academic year. 

1. How many students were permanently excluded from the University for cheating in examinations and/or assessments? For each of these cases please state if the student was an undergraduate or a postgraduate and a single sentence description of what form the cheating took. 
2. How many students were found guilty of cheating during formal University examinations/assessments (please note that any cases referred to in question 1 should still be included in this answer)?  Please give a brief description of the type of cheating that was involved in these cases. 
3. How many students were found guilty of paying a third party to provide him/her with an essay that was used as part of an official assessment?  For each case please state the amount the student paid if recorded and the name of the company/website that was paid for the essay. 

Response:  

In accordance with section 1(1)(a) of the FOI Act, I can confirm that the University does hold the requested information in part, as some of the requested information does not exist.   

I have decided to disclose the requested information, which exists, in full.  

Information pertaining  to  the  amount  the  student  paid  if  recorded  and  the  name  of  the  company/website that  was  paid  for  the  essay  (for  Question  3)  cannot  be  disclosed  as  this  information is not recorded by the University. This decision has been made after all reasonable steps have been taken to locate the referenced requested information. Whilst I acknowledge that it is the principle object of the Act to provide public access to documents, I am satisfied that the referenced requested information does not exist. 

Question 1   

2018/19  

Undergraduate = 3 

2 x repeated plagiarism offences 

1 x commissioned work – this term refers to work submitted by a student which was not completed by them. 

Postgraduate = 4 

4 x repeated plagiarism offences 

2019/20Undergraduate = 5 

4 x repeated plagiarism offences 

1 x commissioned work – this term refers to work submitted by a student which was not completed by them. 

Postgraduate = 1 

1 x repeated plagiarism offences 

Question 2   

2018/19  

Undergraduate = 6 

3 x had mobile phone in their possession during the exam 

2 x possession of unauthorised material in the exam room (notes) 

1 x used a mobile phone to assist them in the exam 

Postgraduate - 1  

Student had accessed unauthorised material 

2019/20Undergraduate = 5 

4 x possession of unauthorised material in the exam room (notes) 

Postgraduate - 1  

1 x possession of unauthorised material in the exam room (notes) 

Question 3   

2018/19 = 1 Undergraduate 

2019/20 = 1 Undergraduate.