Frequently Asked Questions
This is not a comprehensive list of all the issues covered by the University of Essex’s Academic Offences Procedures. If you have any queries which are not answered by the FAQ, please refer to the procedures.
What is an academic offence?
I didn't mean to commit an offence. Can I still be investigated?
I've been invited to attend a meeting to discuss an alleged academic offence. Do I have to attend
I've been invited to attend a meeting to discuss an alleged academic offence. What's the worst that can happen?
I am a research student and I've been invited to attend a meeting to discuss an alleged academic offence in draft chapers of my thesis. What will happen?
I received a penalty for an academic offence this academic year, but I now have to repeat my stage of study anyway. What will happen to this penalty?
I've been invited to attend a meeting with an Academic Offences Committee to discuss an alleged offence. What might happen?
What do I need to do following the meeting?
Can I bring my friend to my meeting?
I'm unhappy with the decision of the Head of Department/Dean/Academic Offences Committee. Is there anything I can do?
I've been allocated a penalty which involves resubmission. Do I have to resubmit or have I got a choice?
What is an academic offence?
Examples of academic offences are listed within section A1 of the Academic Offences Procedures. Though many cases considered by Heads of Department, Deans and Academic Offences Committees relate to plagiarism, there are many other examples of academic offences.
Relevant section of the Academic Offences Procedures: A1
Return to topI didn’t mean to commit an offence. Can I still be investigated?
Even if you do not intend to commit an academic offence or deceive a marker as to the origin of your work, you can still be investigated and penalised for committing an academic offence. It is every student’s responsibility to ensure they are familiar with what amounts to an academic offence and ignorance is not an accepted defence.
Relevant section of the Academic Offences Procedures: A3
Return to topI’ve been invited to attend a meeting to discuss an alleged academic offence. Do I have to attend?
If you do not wish to attend the meeting, you can submit a written response by the date of the meeting. If you do not attend the meeting then it may go ahead in your absence.
Relevant sections of the Academic Offences Procedures: A7, D9
Return to topI’ve been invited to attend a meeting to discuss an alleged academic offence. What’s the worst that can happen?
The penalties for academic offences can be very severe, especially for subsequent offences. There are several penalties available to Heads of Departments, Deans and Academic Offences Committees, ranging from a formal written warning only, to requiring a student to withdraw. Relevant professional bodies will be informed, and students who are subject to the Breach of Professional Conduct, Fitness to Practice and Termination of Training Procedure may also be referred to other University authorities to be handled in accordance with the procedure. A student who is in receipt of a University scholarship and is found guilty of an academic offence by an Academic Offences Committee may also have that scholarship terminated. All paperwork relating to the alleged offence will be kept on the student file and the academic offences database.
Relevant sections of the Academic Offences Procedures: A10, A11, A13, A14
Return to topI am a research student and I’ve been invited to attend a meeting to discuss an alleged academic offence in draft chapters of my thesis. What will happen?
Regardless of whether your work has been submitted for formal examination or not, if you submit draft work which is inadequately referenced or is considered to constitute a case of plagiarism to your supervisor or to a Supervisory Board or Research Student Progress Committee, it will be considered as an alleged academic offence and will be referred to either the Head of Department, the Dean of the Graduate School or an Academic Offences Committee.
Relevant section of the Academic Offences Procedures: D20
Return to topI received a penalty for an academic offence this academic year, but I now have to repeat my stage of study anyway. What will happen to this penalty?
If you have a penalised mark for work as a result of an academic offence then the penalty will not be carried forward if you repeat your stage of study. However, the record of the offence will be kept on your student record and on the academic offences database, and relevant Professional Bodies will still be informed of the offence. Any further offences will also be classified as subsequent offences.
Relevant section of the Academic Offences Procedures: A12
Return to topI’ve been invited to attend a meeting with an Academic Offences Committee to discuss an alleged offence. What might happen?
The Chair of the Academic Offences Committee will explain the proceedings to you at the start of the meeting. The usual pattern of proceedings is detailed with the Academic Offences Procedures.
Relevant section of the Academic Offences Procedures: D14
Return to topWhat do I need to do following the meeting?
Whether or not you attend the meeting, the outcome of your meeting with the Head of Department, Dean or Academic Offences Committee will be officially confirmed by letter. This letter will include details of any further actions that you must or may undertake (such as resubmitting work).
Relevant sections of the Academic Offences Procedures: B12, C11, D22
Return to topCan I bring a friend to my meeting?
The Academic Offences Procedures allow you to bring a member of the University or a full-time member of staff of the Students’ Union to assist you in presenting your case to the Academic Offences Committee. You are also allowed to take a member of the University or a full-time member of staff of the Students’ Union to a meeting with a Head of Department or Dean.
Relevant section of the Academic Offences Procedures: D10
Return to topI’m unhappy with the decision of the Head of Department/Dean/Academic Offences Committee. Is there anything I can do?
Students have the right to appeal to an Academic Offences Appeal Committee against any decision of a Head of Department, Dean or Academic Offences Committee. However, there are very strict grounds upon which an appeal can be made. These, and further details regarding lodging an appeal, are detailed within Section E of the Academic Offences Procedures.
Relevant section of the Academic Offences Procedures: Section E
Return to topI’ve been allocated a penalty which involves resubmission. Do I have to resubmit or have I got a choice?
Some of the penalties detailed within the Academic Offences Procedures refer to assignments being referenced correctly or rewritten and then reassessed (either for an uncapped mark, for a capped pass mark, or for credit purposes only). Though you cannot be made to resubmit your assignment, if you do not take the opportunity to do so if the penalty offers such a resubmission then a mark of zero will be allocated for that assignment and no further submission (for credit or otherwise) will be allowed.
Relevant section of the Academic Offences Procedures: F3
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