Dublin Institute of Technology - Policy on Unfair Practice in Assessment

It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the general assessment regulations of the Dublin Institute of Technology and the policy of the Dublin Institute of Technology with regard to plagiarism.

Under these guidelines, plagiarism, along with other forms of academic cheating and falsification, is classed as ‘unfair practice’ and, if detected or suspected by an assessor, is to be formally reported to the Head of School (See the DIT General Assessment Regulations).

It is essential that at Masters level you understand clearly the need to submit your work giving full credit to that of others by referencing correctly. It is not acceptable ever to cut and paste content from any source without citing.

As part of Study Skills on the DIT web site, A guide to Academic Writing and Library Research is now available and you should review it.


A lecturer will not approach you about a suspicion of unfair practice unless they have a lot of evidence and are extremely concerned about it.
You should treat your lecturers with respect in this regard. You will be given an opportunity to explain.

Your 'friends' are not a reliable source of information on any issue of policy or
regulations in the Dublin Institute of Technology.
'My friend said it was ok' is not a valid excuse or will it result in a waiving of any penalty for an offence.

If you are unsure about what you can and can't do, it is your responsibility to consult the relevant lecturer for clarification.
It is not ok to consult your 'friends'. Your 'friends' will not be paying the penalty - you will.

If you are collaborating with other students on individual assignments you are leaving yourself open to an accusation.
Individual assignments are expected to exactly that - individual. Created by you alone.

The policy of this programme is to prosecute all cases of suspected unfair practice at a panel of enquiry. In general all cases put forward are upheld.
Penalties if found guilty include, but are not limited to, the following:

voiding of any marks for the module concerned - this may mean you will not be able to progress to dissertation as you expected, that on reassessment a maximum possible grade of 40 is available to you in the module and additional fees will be payable;

suspension from the Dublin Institute of Technology for a period with loss of fees paid;

expulsion from the DIT with loss of fees paid

The Dublin Institute of Technology policy is designed to protect the majority of students who would never contemplate unfair practice from the few who try to gain an unfair advantage.

It is important that all students should feel comfortable that they and their classmates are actually earning the grades they achieve.

Any cases of unfair practice on this programme will be reported to the Head of School with requestthat a panel of enquiry be established.