Academic integrity

Academic integrity means being honest, fair and respectful in your academic work. It ensures that the work you produce is your own, is properly credited and can be trusted.

At university, you show academic integrity in all your assessments, including exams, essays, lab reports, portfolios and presentations. This means you:

• show you understand your subject
• use other people’s ideas appropriately
• develop and present your own arguments

These skills help you achieve your degree and are essential in your future career.

Why academic integrity matters

The University and the wider academic community share the values of honesty, mutual trust, fairness and respect.

Academic integrity protects:

• your degree – your work reflects your ability and effort
• the University’s reputation – qualifications are trusted and valued
• your future career – employers expect honesty and ethical practice.

Good academic practice helps you maintain academic integrity and avoid assessment offences.

You need to be able to:

• produce work that meets your assessment requirements
• show a clear understanding of your modules
• use sources correctly and responsibly
• think independently and build your own arguments.

Key study skills

These skills will support good academic practice:

• Referencing – clearly acknowledge all sources you use
• Research and note-taking – organise and record information accurately
• Critical thinking – evaluate sources and develop your own views
• Academic writing – use the right structure and tone
• Exam skills – prepare effectively and perform under timed conditions

Support is available to help you develop all of these skills.

You can learn more about how to avoid breaches of academic integrity through our online course on Blackboard. The course takes 35 minutes to complete.

Academic integrity course

Assessment offences happen when academic integrity is not followed. This means work is not honest or properly credited.

Examples include:

• cheating in an exam
• submitting work written by someone else
• copying or using sources without referencing.

Why assessment offences happen

Assessment offences are not always intentional. They can happen because of:

• poor time management
• misunderstanding assessment requirements
• lack of confidence or skills
• personal pressures.

Getting support early can help you avoid these issues.

Your responsibilities

You are responsible for understanding and following the University’s rules on academic conduct.

Make sure you:

• read your assessment instructions carefully
• understand how to reference properly
• ask for help if you are unsure.

Policies and guidance

Academic Conduct Policy and Academic Misconduct Procedures (PDF)