Academic misconduct

Unauthorised communication with other students, using unauthorised materials, accessing an exam paper or questions in advance, or otherwise breaching exams conditions as set out in the instructions, subject outline or rules. 

Assisting another student, intentionally or recklessly, to commit academic misconduct or the unauthorised collaboration with other students on assessable work. This includes the unauthorised sharing or uploading of documents such as the subject outline and assessment task.

Getting someone else to complete part or all an assessment task for you. This may involve outsourcing to a commercial provider, current or former student, family member or acquaintance – either paid or unpaid. Contract cheating is one of the most serious forms of academic misconduct. A student found to have outsourced their work may not only receive a fail for the assessment task, but may be suspended from their studies or even expelled from the University. For more information on contract cheating, see ‘What is contract cheating?’ on AskUOW. Note: Be cautious of companies advertising contract cheating and assignment help. These services are illegal and can lead to blackmail or scams. 

Contract cheating includes: 

• Paying a company or individual to assist in producing work 
• Asking a friend, family member, or tutor to do your work
• Using unauthorised editing services

Submitting AI-generated work without permission from the subject coordinator or submitting AI-generated work where authorised but where the AI use is not acknowledged.

Falsifying or intentionally misrepresenting data, images or information in an assessment task including false citations and making an untrue statement about attendance or participation in an activity required for assessment purposes (including a professional learning placement).

Using the ideas, words, images or any form of representation made by someone else without giving proper acknowledgement. Common forms of plagiarism include copying, inadequate referencing, or self-referencing.

When submitting work, you always need to:

• Provide a reference whenever you include information from other sources in your work, and
• Use the appropriate citation or referencing style for your subject or discipline 

Plagiarism can often be unintentional as a result of poor referencing. All students should familiarise themselves with the appropriate referencing guides, noting that different subjects, schools, and faculties may use different referencing styles. For the full referencing guides, see the Referencing & citing page. 

This category also extends to self-plagiarism, which is the reuse and submission of your own work which you have previously submitted for assessment, even if you submitted the work for a different subject.

Seeking an unfair academic advantage through submission of fraudulent documentation (including but not limited to medical certificates) to support an academic consideration application.

The Subject Coordinator conducts the initial investigation. If they think the allegation has substance, you’ll receive an email outlining the allegation and inviting you to attend an interview. 

At the interview, the Subject Coordinator will explain the allegation, present the evidence, and give you an opportunity to respond. 

If it’s your first instance and the breach is considered minor or unintentional, the Subject Coordinator may make a preliminary finding of Poor Academic Practice. In this case, you won’t be required to attend an interview, but you’ll have five (5) working days to request one or submit a written response. If you don’t respond, the decision will be final, and the outcome will be imposed. 

Academic Integrity Officers (AIOs) are responsible for reviewing cases escalated by Subject Coordinators or the Exams Team. You may be asked to attend a meeting or submit a written response before a decision is made. 

The Faculty Investigation Committee (FIC) investigates and makes a determination on more serious or complex cases. These cases are typically escalated from AIOs or the Exams Team, but the FIC may also initiate investigations.  

The FIC also considers cases if a student appeals the decision of the Subject Coordinator or AIO.  

The FIC may impose up to medium-level outcomes such as fail for the subject, and zero marks for major assessments.

The Student Conduct Committee (SCC) investigates and makes a determination on the most serious cases of academic misconduct.  

The SCC can recommend that the Vice-Chancellor impose a high-level outcome such as suspension or expulsion.

Poor academic practice refers to unintentional breaches of academic integrity, often due to a lack of understanding or experience. These cases are typically treated as educational opportunities. 

Examples include: 

• Inadequate referencing; 

• Minor citation errors; 

• Unintentional paraphrasing issues. 

Possible outcomes: 

• Educational advice or feedback; 

• Completion of the Academic Integrity Module (AIM); 

• Resubmission of the task with or without a mark penalty; 

• A formal warning. 

Academic misconduct involves deliberate or reckless actions that breach the Academic Integrity Policy. These cases are treated more seriously and may result in formal penalties. Academic misconduct can be determined with low, medium or high-level outcomes.  

Examples include: 

• Plagiarism; 

• Contract cheating; 

• Collusion; 

• Misuse of gen AI tools; 

• Cheating in exams; 

• Fabrication or falsification of data; 

• Academic fraud. 

Possible outcomes: 

• Zero marks for the assessment; 

• Fail grade for the subject; 

• Suspension from study; 

• Expulsion from the University.

More serious consequences include:

• If you are an international student on a student visa and are suspended or excluded from the University, you may lose your eligibility to remain in Australia. 

• If you have a scholarship, you may risk losing it or having to repay it. 

• If, in the future, you seek professional accreditation that involves the assessment of ‘good character’ (such as in law, nursing or accounting), you may be required to disclose whether you have been the subject of an investigation of academic misconduct, regardless of the outcome.