All students have to follow the rules of the University in terms of both studying and behaviour. The rules are those set out in the University Regulations. If students are suspected of breaking these rules, the University uses the Code of Student Conduct to investigate the situation and, if necessary, impose a penalty.
The Code of Student Conduct can cover a huge range of situations, from misuse of University facilities to harassment or other non-academic misconduct. It also covers major breaches of University regulations, such as plagiarism, misconduct in exams or assault.
What is misconduct?
The University defines misconduct as “behaviour that falls short of the standard of behaviour expected of a student of the University.”. There is no definitive list of student conduct offences, but the University’s Code of Student Conduct is divided into different processes if you are accused of either a academic or non-academic misconduct.
A list of examples of academic and non-academic conduct offences can be found at the links below:
Academic misconduct
Non-academic misconduct
If you receive notification from the University that they are investigating you under the Code of Student Conduct you should contact the SRC Advice Centre as soon as possible as we will be able to provide you with support and advice on how you should proceed and may be able to represent you at any hearing(s) required.
Academic misconduct procedure
There are two levels to the academic misconduct procedure and the severity of the alleged breach of the Code will inform whether the allegation is investigated at either Level 1 or Level 2 by the University.
If you have been accused of plagiarism, we have some further in-depth advice on the steps you should follow here.
Examples of incidents of academic misconduct which are likely to be investigated at Level 1 of the procedure include:
a) plagiarism;
b) copying another student’s work with or without their permission;
c) undue collaboration between students; and/or
d) bringing materials into an examination with the potential to gain benefit in the assessment.
Examples of incidents of academic misconduct which are likely to be investigated at Level 2 of the procedure include:
a) extensive or multiple offences of plagiarism;
b) submitting coursework assignments that have been purchased from an online provider;
c) substantial or second offence of cheating in an examination;
d) attempting to bribe an assessor;
e) falsifying research results; and/or
f) failing to uphold legal and ethical requirements of research.
Level 1
Level 1 of the process will normally see the accused student being invited to meet with two of the University’s Senate Assessors for Student Conduct via zoom. The student should be given at least 7 days’ notice of the meeting and should be provided with all the relevant papers & documents relating to the accusation in advance of the meeting.
This normally means that if for example you are accused of colluding with another student on an assignment, that you would be given a copy of your submission, a copy of the other student’s submission and any other evidence the University has which it believes points to the fact that collusion has taken place.
In advance of the meeting we normally recommend that you submit a short written statement to the Assessors within which you can outline any explanation you have for or defence you believe you have which proves you have not committed the alleged offence, how you wrote and prepared the assignment etc.
At the meeting the Assessors will have the opportunity to ask you any questions they have in relation to the alleged offence, and you will also be able to raise any points or present any evidence you believe will assist your case.
What is the outcome likely to be?
The Senate Assessors for Student Conduct can make one of the following decisions at Level 1:
a) dismiss the allegation of misconduct and advise that no further action should be taken;
b) carry out further investigation;
c) impose a sanction in accordance with Annex C;
d) refer the matter to the Senate Student Academic Conduct Committee.
You will be given the decision verbally at the end of the meeting and this will then be confirmed in writing via email within 10 working days.
Can I appeal against the decision?
Yes, if you are considering an appeal please get in touch with the SRC Advice Centre.
Level 2
Level 2 of the process will normally see the accused student being invited to meet with the University’s Senate Student Academic Conduct Committee. The committee will be made up of at least 3 but normally around 5-8 members of University staff who have not been involved in the student’s case to date.
The student should be given at least 10 days’ notice of the meeting and should be provided with all the relevant papers & documents relating to the accusation in advance of the meeting.
This normally means that if for example you are extensively plagiarising your honours dissertation, you should be provided with a “marked up” copy of your dissertation showing every section the University believes you have plagiarised along with a copy of all the sources the University believes you have plagiarised from.
In advance of the meeting, we normally recommend that you submit a short written statement to the Committee within which you can outline any explanation you have for the offence or defence you believe you have which proves you have not committed the alleged offence, details on how you wrote and prepared the assignment etc.
At the meeting the Committee will have the opportunity to ask you any questions they have in relation to the alleged offence and you will also be able to raise any points or present any evidence you believe will assist your case.
What is the outcome likely to be?
The Senate Student Academic Conduct Committee can make one of the following decisions at Level 2:
a) impose any of the Level 1 sanctions;
b) suspend the student from all or part of the University for a specified period;
c) permanently expel the student from the University; and/or
d) any other sanction or combination of sanctions that the Committee considers appropriate.
You will be given the decision verbally at the end of the meeting and this will then be confirmed in writing via email within 10 working days.
Can I appeal against the decision?
Yes, if you are considering an appeal please get in touch with the SRC Advice Centre.
Non-academic misconduct procedure
There are three levels to the non-academic misconduct procedure and the severity of the alleged breach of the Code will inform whether the allegation is investigated at either the more informal “Resolution by mutual agreement/Local resolution” stage or at the formal Level 1 or Level 2 stage by the University.
The resolution by mutual agreement and local resolution stage will normally only apply where a student has been accused of a minor breach of the Code of Student Conduct and the Head of Student Conduct decides there is no requirement for a formal investigation under the code. You can see more information on this here.
Aside from very minor breaches of the Code like those referenced above, it will be at the University’s discretion depending on the severity of the allegation as to whether it is investigated under Level 1 or Level 2 of the Code.
Level 1
The University will appoint an Investigating Officer to investigate the alleged breach of the Code on the University’s behalf. This will be a University staff member who has had no previous involvement in the case. The Investigating Officer will normally meet with the “responding student” (the student who is accused of breaching the Code), the “reporting student” (the student who has made the initial allegation) and any witnesses deemed relevant.
Before meeting with the Investigating Officer, the responding student should be given full details of the allegation and any relevant material such as evidence the reporting student has submitted in support of their allegation.
At the meeting the responding student will have the opportunity to present any defence or explanation they have, and if they admit responsibility, to explain their behaviour or offer information that may be relevant in deciding a sanction.
The Investigating Officer will write a report which outlines the process they have followed, the witnesses they’ve spoken to, the information gathered in their investigation, and their conclusion as to whether or the student has breached the Code of Student Conduct.
This report is then passed to the University’s “Decision Maker” who is normally the Director of Academic Services.
What is the outcome likely to be?
At this point the Decision Maker can decide to do one of the following:
a) dismiss the allegation of misconduct and advise that no further action should be taken;
b) request further investigation;
c) impose a sanction in accordance with Annex C; or
d) refer the matter to the Senate Student Non-Academic Conduct Committee
You will be given the decision verbally at the end of the meeting and this will then be confirmed in writing via email within 10 working days.
Can I appeal against the decision?
Yes, if you are considering an appeal please get in touch with the SRC Advice Centre.
Level 2
The most serious alleged breaches of the Code relating to non-academic misconduct will be investigated by the University’s Senate Student Non-academic Conduct Committee.
The committee will be made up of at least 4 but normally around 5-8 members of University staff who have not been involved in the student’s case to date.
The responding student should be given at least 10 days’ notice of the meeting and should be provided with all the relevant papers & documents relating to the accusation in advance of the meeting. The Decision Maker at Level 1 will give the Committee a written report of the case, consisting of the Investigating Officer’s report and a note of their own deliberations, reasoning and conclusions.
In advance of the meeting, we normally recommend that you submit a short written statement to the Committee within which you can outline any explanation you have for or defence you believe you have which proves you have not committed the alleged offence, or if you admit the allegation any mitigating circumstances you would like the Committee to consider.
At the meeting the Committee will have the opportunity to ask you any questions they have in relation to the alleged offence and you will also be able to raise any points, present any evidence you have and call any witnesses you believe will assist your case.
What is the outcome likely to be?
The Senate Student Non-Academic Conduct Committee can make one of the following decisions at Level 2:
a) impose any of the Level 1 sanctions;
b) exclude from all or part of University accommodation to the extent permitted by the relevant accommodation contract;
c) suspend the student from all or part of the University for a specified period;
d) permanently expel the student from the University; and/or
e) any other sanction or combination of sanctions that the Committee considers appropriate.
You will be given the decision verbally at the end of the meeting and this will then be confirmed in writing via email within 10 working days.
Can I appeal against the decision?
Yes, if you are considering an appeal please get in touch with the SRC Advice Centre.