current students - policies & procedures

current students

Plagiarism Policy

Prepared by Jim Plume
(updated in July 2005 in line with new UNSW Policy)

Introduction

The purpose of this page is to ensure that all students are clear about what constitutes plagiarism in an academic context. Please note the menu links on this page. Some specific examples of plagiarism are given on the Examples page to illustrate the many forms of plagiarism. The Declaration Forms page includes downloadable Plagiarism Declaration forms that are now required by UNSW policy to be included with every piece of submitted work. Finally, the Consequences page outlines the current UNSW responses to acts of plagiarism.

This page has been prepared as a tool to support teaching and is not to be interpreted as superseding or otherwise limiting the existing UNSW policies on Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism.

Under the new UNSW policy, a standard explanation of plagiarism is required to be included with all course outlines. A copy of that statement in PDF form is included here.

What is Plagiarism?

Generally speaking, plagiarism is presenting another's work as your own. More specifically, in an educational context, plagiarism is endeavouring to obtain academic credit in a course of study for work that has not been individually prepared by you for that course.

Submitting plagiarised material for assessment is academic misconduct and is treated as a very serious offence at UNSW. In significant or repeat cases, it can lead to permanent exclusion from the University.

Plagiarism is clearly explained in the UNSW Student Guide. A copy of the relevant part of that guide can be found on the Web at the "UNSW Policy" link associated with this page. There is also a very good site hosted by the UNSW Learning Centre entitled Plagiarism & Academic Integrity.

There are four activities that are regarded as "academic misconduct" in relation to plagiarism:

  • submitting work that contains plagiarised material (fairly obviously!).
  • submitting group work without accurately acknowledging the proportinal contributions of each group member.
  • submitting work that was not prepared solely for assessment in the particular course for which it is being submitted (perhaps not so obvious, and sometimes can be permitted if formal agreement is arranged in advance with the Course Lecturer).
  • permitting another person to copy your work either in paper or electronic form, knowing that there is a fair risk that they will submit it as their own work.

Notice that conspiring with or assisting another to plagiarise is academic misconduct. It is also possible to plagiarise yourself: that is, submit work entirely completed by yourself, but undertaken for some other purpose, such as paid employment or for another course of study.