Academic Misconduct

Not following academic integrity guidelines when completing assessment and exams can be considered academic misconduct. It can happen accidentally or deliberately, so understanding what it is, the different forms it can take, and the potential consequences if it's found can help you to avoid it.

Important to know:

If a student has been asked to participate in an academic integrity investigation, please remember that not all investigations result in a finding of misconduct.  Each case is considered thoughtfully and individually. You'll be treated with fairness and care, be given time to respond to questions and have the opportunity to talk about your intellectual ownership of the work.

What is Academic Misconduct?

 Academic misconduct is defined as:  

‘Any act or omission which gives or has the potential to give an unfair advantage in an assessment, or might assist someone else to gain an unfair advantage, or an activity likely to undermine the integrity essential to scholarship and research' 

- Regulation 11: Academic IntegrityLink opens in a new window

If the work you submit in an assessment or exam doesn't follow the guidelines set out in the Academic Integrity Framework, it may be considered a breach of academic integrity. This is known as academic misconduct.

Taking shortcuts like copying someone else's work, not referencing properly, using artificial intelligence inappropriately or collaborating on an individual assignment, might seem easier in the moment, but it can lead to bigger challenges later.

Without developing your own understanding and skills, future assessments may be harder to pass.

The consequences of academic misconduct can be serious and long-lasting. It may affect your grades, academic record, or even your final degree outcome.

Academic misconduct can happen accidentally or deliberately, so it's important to understand the rules and seek support if you're ever unsure.

What are forms of academic misconduct?

Warwick’s Regulation 11: Academic IntegrityLink opens in a new window policy outlines different types of academic misconduct, including, but not limited to: 

Plagiarism - presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own. 
Self-plagiarism: reusing your own work from a previous assignment that you’ve already submitted, unless this is allowed for that assignment.  
Copying another student’s work: taking a copy without their permission. 
Collusion: working with one or more students on an assignment that is intended to be individual work. 
Contract cheating: getting someone else to do your work (paid or unpaid) and submitting it as your own. This includes the use of essay mills or buying academic work online.  
Impersonation: arranging for someone else to take your assessment or examination for you, in person or otherwise. 
Accessing, attempting to access, or sharing unseen assessment materials: before an in-person or online examination, or to facilitate this. 
Submitting fraudulent mitigating circumstances claims or falsifying evidence: in support of mitigating circumstances claims. 
Fabrication or falsification of research: including making up or changing data, evidence or experimental results

Inappropriate use of Artificial Intelligence Tools can be considered academic misconduct - students must follow assessment brief guidelines. For guidance, visit the AI page.Link opens in a new window

All students should read Regulation 11: Academic IntegrityLink opens in a new window, and the policies relating to proof-reading Link opens in a new windowand research Link opens in a new windowin the Academic Integrity Framework, as well as department guidelines to understand expectations.

Support for Students

If you have questions about academic misconduct, have been invited to an ACP, or are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, you're not alone. There is lots of support available:

The person who contacted you: If you've been notified of an academic integrity investigation relating to your work, the person who contacted you should be able to answer questions about the process or adaptations that might help you.
Students’ Union Advice Centre Link opens in a new window(SU): A confidential, independent service offering advice, guidance and support to students with academic misconduct. To get in touch with them, submit an enquiry formLink opens in a new window
Your Personal Tutor: You can reach out to them for academic or wellbeing concerns. Their contact info on Tabula or MyWBS (for WBS students).
Wellbeing Support ServicesLink opens in a new window: If you’re feeling anxious or stressed, the Wellbeing team are here to help you.
Dean of Students Office: Link opens in a new windowYour Faculty Senior Tutor can support you with more complex cases when needed.

Remember: An academic integrity investigation can be a supportive process. If you're struggling to complete assessments, it can help you to develop your understanding of academic integrity and the best ways to complete your work.

FAQs: Academic Conduct Panels

What are academic conduct panels, and what should I expect?

If your submitted work is suspected of breaching academic integrity guidelines, here's what to expect:

1. You'll be invited to attend an Academic Conduct Panel (ACP)

This is a formal meeting with a staff panel.
It typically involves 2-3 academic members of staff who are experienced markers from the department delivering the module.
There may be a note taker or representative from your home department present.
You can also invite someone to attend to support you (normally a member of staff such as your Personal Tutor, Faculty Senior Tutor, representative from the Students' Union, or a friend or family member).

2. The kind of questions you may be asked:

The Academic Conduct Panel will ask you questions about the assessment being investigated.
The questions might be about how you completed the submission, the sources you used or about your understanding and intellectual ownership of the work.
The panel may also ask you about your understanding of academic integrity or give you advice or tips on how to improve your academic writing.

3. The panel will consider:

The panel will carefully consider your assignment submission, the referral from the marker, your answers to the questions and any other relevant information.
The panel will decide whether, on the balance of probabilities, (i.e. more likely than not) academic misconduct occurred.
They may decide that there is no case to answer or there was poor academic practice but no misconduct.
If the panel decides that academic misconduct did occur, they will recommend a sanction.

4. Potential outcomes:

Not all panels result in a finding of misconduct. The panel may decide there was no academic misconduct, or that it was poor academic practice.
A sanction will only be applied if the panel finds academic misconduct.
The most likely outcome if misconduct is found is the standard sanction: a zero grade in the assessment component.
However an ACP may recommend a more or less severe sanction if the standard sanction is not deemed proportionate.

For more information on potential outcomes if academic misconduct is found, read the information below 'What will be the consequences is the ACP thinks academic misconduct did occur?'

Students’ Union guidance on Academic Conduct PanelsLink opens in a new window

Why has my assessment been referred to an Academic Conduct Panel?

If there are concerns that academic misconduct may have occurred, your work will be referred to an academic conduct panel.
Normally, this occurs when the marker of your work notices something unusual or problematic in your assessment and asks the academic conduct panel chair to review this.
If further investigation is deemed necessary, you'll be invited to an academic conduct panel meeting.
When you are asked to attend an academic conduct panel, you'd normally receive some information about the concerns that academic misconduct may have occurred.

Do I have to attend the Academic Conduct Panel?

You do not have to attend the Academic Conduct Panel but, if you choose not to attend, they will make a decision in your absence.
You are strongly encouraged to attend the ACP to represent yourself and provide your perspective directly to the panel.
We hope this will be an opportunity for you to demonstrate ownership of your work and to receive any guidance on academic standards for future submissions.
If your assessment has been referred to an ACP to investigate concerns about authorship then the panel will want to ask you questions that explore your intellectual ownership.
They will not be able to explore this if you only submit a written statement without meeting with the panel.

What is Poor Academic Practice and is there a sanction?

Poor academic practice may be given as an outcome if there is an issue with your work but the panel believes that you were not trying to gain an unfair advantage and that a reasonable student in your position would not have known that the practice was not allowed.
Poor academic practice is most often given as an outcome where an assessment is not referenced properly, but the student is still learning how to reference.
You will not get a sanction for poor academic practice but your work will be returned to the marker and they will be asked to award a mark reflective of the academic merit.
However, you are likely to get a low (or lower mark) because the parts of your assessment that were not done properly will not have the same academic merit.

What will be the consequences if the Academic Conduct Panel thinks academic misconduct did occur?

If the Academic Conduct Panel thinks that, on the balance of probabilities, academic misconduct did occur in your assessment, they will:

Recommend a sanction, or
Referral to an Academic Integrity Committee. (If this is the first time you have had an outcome of academic misconduct in your assessments then it is unlikely that you will be referred to an Academic Integrity Committee).

Possible outcomes/Sanctions:

The most likely consequence is the standard sanction, which is a zero grade in the assessment component in which academic misconduct was committed.
An alternative sanction may be recommended as described in the Academic Misconduct Sanctions Code of Practice.
A sanction recommended by an Academic Conduct Panel will only affect the assessment component that they considered and cannot affect your right to remedy failure.

Potential impact on your module:

A sanction on the assessment is likely to lead to you getting a lower overall module mark, and possibly failing the module.
If you fail the module on your first attempt you will be entered for a resit by the Board of Examiners.
If you fail the module on a resit attempt, you would not normally be offered further reassessment.

I'm really worried about the Academic Conduct Panel. What support is available?

You are allowed to have someone accompany you in the Academic Conduct Panel for support. They won't be able to act as a character witness or answer questions for you but they can make sure the questions you are being asked are clear, check that you have been given relevant information or ask the panel questions about what happens next. An accompanying person is normally a member of staff such as your personal tutor or Faculty Senior Tutor, a representative of the Student Union or a friend or family member.

As well as support in the panel there is always support available to you including;

Your personal tutor
Dean of Students’ Office / Your Faculty Senior Tutor
Wellbeing Support Service
The Students’ Union Advice Centre

There may be additional support available in your home Department and you may want to check your course handbook to see if there are any other people who can support you.

I don't think my assessment should have been referred to an Academic Conduct Panel. Who should I complain to?

You should attend the Academic Conduct Panel and wait for the outcome before making a complaint.

After you have received the outcome of the Academic Conduct Panel, if you are not happy with the outcome you may submit evidence as to why you think the sanction is unreasonable. The Academic Registrar will review and determine whether an Academic Integrity Committee is appropriate.

If you do not believe that the investigation has been handled according to Regulation 11: Academic Integrity, you may wish to use the Students Complaints Resolution Framework.

FAQs: Artificial Intelligence and Academic Conduct Panels

Why has my assessment been referred to an Academic Conduct Panel to investigate misuse of artificial intelligence?

The Academic Conduct Panel will talk to you about your assessment and give you opportunity to demonstrate that you do have intellectual ownership. This happens if:

The marker for your assessment has noticed one or more indicators of use of artificial intelligence in your assessment.
This means some of the features - such as the writing style, structure or vocabulary in the assessment you submitted - are similar to those generated when artificial intelligence is used.
Your assessment has been reviewed, and it was considered to be worthwhile to explore whether you have intellectual ownership of the work you submitted.

Important to note: the purpose of the Academic Conduct Panel is to investigate and find out more. A decision has not yet been taken about whether academic misconduct occurred.

I didn't use artificial intelligence, how do I prove this?

If you completed the assessment yourself, you will be able to demonstrate intellectual ownership and the questions that you are asked will give you the opportunity to do this.
Before you attend the Academic Conduct Panel, you may wish to refresh your memory about how you completed the assessment and submit any evidence that you think may be relevant.
This could include your search history, notes that you made or drafts of the assessment.

I didn't know I wasn't allowed to use artificial intelligence. What will happen?

The Academic Conduct Panel will make a decision about whether, on the balance of probabilities, academic misconduct occurred in your assessment.

Academic misconduct is defined in Regulation 11: Academic Integrity

"Academic misconduct are acts or omissions by a student which give or have the potential to give an unfair advantage in an examination or assessment, or might assist someone else to gain an unfair advantage, or an activity likely to undermine the integrity essential to scholarship and research."

If you say that you did not know that you weren't allowed to use artificial intelligence, the Academic Conduct Panel will need to decide whether this is reasonable.

If you have been given lots of opportunities to understand how to use or not use artificial intelligence then not knowing is an omission that gives you an unfair advantage. This would be treated as academic misconduct.
If you are at early stage in your academic career and have not had any opportunities to understand how to use or not use artificial intelligence, then the panel may decide that it is reasonable for you to have not known. They would likely to make a decision of poor academic practice in this case.

How can I find out the right way to use artificial intelligence to help me with my assessments?

Check your course handbook which may provide specific information about academic integrity in the context of your subject.
Read assessment instructions in full and, if it is not clear what is permitted, check with your assessment lead (module tutor).

The student guide on the Academic Integrity: Artificial IntelligenceLink opens in a new window page has a number of useful links and resources too. Highlights of resources include:

Complete the Library's Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity course
Read the Library Guide on Artificial IntelligenceLink opens in a new window

You may also want to read the Institutional Approach to the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity