Academic Misconduct

BPP University is committed to maintaining the integrity of its academic standards and ensuring that all students are assessed fairly and consistently.

Your submitted work should represent your own knowledge, understanding, and effort. Academic misconduct occurs when a student attempts to gain an unfair advantage in an assessment or acts in a way that undermines the integrity of the University’s assessment processes.

Understanding the principles of good academic practice will help you complete your assessments confidently and avoid issues with academic misconduct.

 

Key Principles

The University’s approach to academic practice is based on the following principles:

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to submit work that is a true and honest representation of their own knowledge and understanding.

Fairness and Consistency

Concerns about academic practice are reviewed carefully to ensure that all students are assessed fairly and consistently.

Protecting Academic Standards

BPP University has a responsibility to protect the integrity and credibility of its academic awards, ensuring that qualifications accurately reflect students’ abilities.

 

Definition of Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct refers to any act, or attempted act, that may give a student an unfair advantage in an assessment or undermine the integrity of the University’s assessment processes.

Examples include:

• Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own without proper acknowledgement
• Collusion – working with others on an assessment when collaboration is not permitted
• Contract cheating – asking or paying someone else to complete your assignment or exam
• Fabrication of data – inventing or falsifying research results
• Impersonation – having another person complete an assessment or exam on your behalf
• Misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – presenting AI-generated content as your own work without acknowledgement
• Self-plagiarism – submitting the same work for multiple assessments without permission

Academic expectations in the UK may differ from those in other countries, particularly regarding referencing, collaboration, and independent study.

 

Essay Writing Services and Scams

Essay writing services (often called essay mills) offer to complete assignments for students.

Using these services is considered contract cheating, which is a serious form of academic misconduct.

Under the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, it is illegal in England to provide or advertise essay writing services to students.

Students should also be aware that these services may:

• provide poor-quality work
• misuse personal information
• expose students to scams or blackmail.

 

How Academic Misconduct Is Detected

The University uses a range of methods to identify potential academic misconduct, including:

• Similarity detection software, such as Turnitin
• Academic review during marking and moderation
• Exam monitoring and invigilation
• Viva examinations, where students may be asked to discuss their submitted work

These measures help ensure that assessments are fair and consistent for all students.

 

Academic Misconduct Process

If a concern about academic practice is raised, the University follows a structured process to review the case.

Step 1 — Concern Identified

Who may identify the concern

A concern about academic practice may be identified by:

• Academic staff (e.g. lecturers or markers during marking)
• Exam invigilators during an examination
• Academic staff reviewing similarity reports from tools such as Turnitin

If a potential issue is identified, it is reported to the School Academic Misconduct Officer (AMO) for review.

Step 2 — Initial Review by the Academic Misconduct Officer (AMO)

The Academic Misconduct Officer (AMO) reviews the concern and determines whether it may be:

• Poor Academic Practice (for example, referencing mistakes or misunderstandings), or
• Suspected Academic Misconduct (such as cheating, collusion, contract cheating, or misuse of AI).

If a case may involve academic misconduct, it is referred to the Proctor’s Office for investigation.

Important Information About Assessment Results

If a concern about academic misconduct is raised, the University may temporarily withhold the release of the relevant assessment result while the investigation is ongoing.

This ensures that the case can be reviewed fairly before results are finalised.

Step 3 — Student Notification

If a case requires investigation, the student will be contacted by the University and provided with:

• details of the concern or allegation
• the evidence being considered
• information about how to respond.

Students will normally be given the opportunity to provide an explanation or submit relevant information.

Step 4 — Investigation

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the case, it may be reviewed by:

• the Proctor’s Office, or
• an Academic Misconduct Panel.

These teams review the available evidence and the student’s response before making a decision.

Step 5 — Decision

Following the investigation, the University will determine whether:

• no issue occurred
• poor academic practice occurred
• academic misconduct occurred.

The student will be informed of the outcome and the reasons for the decision.

Step 6 — Potential Penalties

If academic misconduct is confirmed, the University may apply penalties depending on the seriousness of the case.

Possible penalties may include:

• a written warning
• mark deduction
• an assessment capped at the pass mark
• failing an assessment or module
• termination of studies in serious cases.

Step 7 — Right to Appeal

Students have the right to appeal a decision through the University’s Academic Appeals process if appropriate grounds exist.

If internal procedures are completed, students may refer their complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA).

 

Key Teams Involved

Academic Misconduct Officer (AMO)

Each School has an Academic Misconduct Officer (AMO) who reviews concerns about academic practice and determines whether they involve poor academic practice or suspected academic misconduct.

 

Proctor’s Office

The Proctor’s Office oversees formal investigations into suspected academic misconduct and manages the process once a case has been referred.

 

Academic Misconduct Panel

More serious or complex cases may be considered by an Academic Misconduct Panel, which reviews the evidence, considers the student’s response, and determines the outcome.

 

Academic Appeals Board

Students who wish to challenge a decision may submit an appeal to the Academic Appeals Board, which reviews the case in accordance with the University’s appeals procedures.

 

What Should I Do if I Receive a Notification?

If you are notified about a potential academic misconduct concern:

1. Read the information carefully
2. Respond within the required timeframe
3. Provide any relevant information or explanation
4. Seek support if you are unsure how to respond
5. Attend any meeting or hearing if invited

Receiving a notification does not mean a decision has already been made. The process ensures that cases are reviewed fairly.

 

How to Avoid Academic Misconduct

You can avoid academic misconduct by following good academic practice:

• ensure your work is your own
• reference sources correctly
• follow assessment instructions carefully
• use AI tools appropriately and transparently
• avoid using essay-writing services

If you are unsure about academic expectations, seek guidance from academic staff or support services before submitting your work.

 

Support Available

If you need advice or support, you can contact:

• Academic Support teams
• Personal tutors
• Module leaders
• Independent Advice

Seeking guidance early can help you understand academic expectations and avoid potential issues.