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Academic misconduct

Academic integrity means being honest, responsible and fair in all your academic work. At the University of Stirling, students are expected to produce their own work, acknowledge the ideas of others, and follow the rules for assessments and examinations.

Academic Integrity: A Student-Friendly Guide

What does academic integrity mean?

The University expects students to:

Submit work that they have produced themselves.
Acknowledge and reference the work, ideas and words of others.
Complete assessments honestly.
Follow assessment instructions and University regulations.
Use AI tools ethically and within any guidance provided for the assessment.

What counts as academic misconduct?

Examples of academic misconduct include:

Plagiarism – presenting someone else's work, ideas or words as your own.
Collusion – working with others when individual work is required.
Contract cheating – paying or asking someone else to complete work for you.
Exam misconduct – breaking examination rules.

Inappropriate use of AI tools – using AI in ways that are not permitted by the University or assessment instructions.

Using AI tools

I tools such as ChatGPT can be valuable learning tools, but they must be used responsibly.

You should

Follow any guidance provided for your module or assessment.
Acknowledge AI use where required.
Ensure the work submitted is your own.
Check any AI-generated content carefully for accuracy.

You should not

Submit work that is wholly or substantially generated by AI as your own.
Use AI in ways that are prohibited by the assessment instructions.
Use AI to bypass learning or assessment requirements.

What happens if there is a concern?

The University may investigate concerns about academic misconduct. Evidence may be reviewed, including originality reports generated by similarity-checking software.

Depending on the circumstances, a case may be treated as:

Poor Academic Practice

These are often less serious issues, such as mistakes in referencing or misunderstandings about academic conventions. The focus is usually on helping students learn and improve.

Academic Misconduct

More serious or deliberate breaches of academic integrity are investigated through the Academic Misconduct Procedure and may be considered by an Academic Integrity Panel.

Possible outcomes

Where misconduct is found, outcomes can vary depending on the seriousness of the case and whether there have been previous breaches.

Penalties can range from educational actions and mark adjustments to more serious academic sanctions.

If you disagree with a decision

Students have the right to appeal certain decisions made under the Academic Integrity procedures. Appeals are considered under the University's Academic Appeals arrangements.

Top Tips

Start assignments early.
Keep notes of your sources.
Reference correctly.
Follow assessment instructions carefully.
Ask for help if you're unsure about plagiarism, referencing or AI use.
Keep drafts and notes that show how your work was developed.

Don't copy and paste without referencing.
Don't share answers or completed work with others.
Don't submit AI-generated work as your own.

Unsure whether we can help? Get in touch.

We'd rather hear from you early and help you find the right support than have you face a difficult situation alone.

If you’d like to get in touch with a member of the Union’s Advice team, please email advice.union@stir.ac.uk or call 01786 467166