Cheating and plagiarism

It isn't always clear what exactly cheating is. It can be worth it to find out before writing an essay or other types of assignments. Cheating means that a person through the use of unauthorised aids, or in some other way, misleads on an exam or some other type of assessment. A question often asked is where the line is between plagiarism and inadequate source referencing. 

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is a form of cheating where you use someone else's work and make it look like your own. Some examples of work that can be plagiarised are

• texts
• diagrams
• charts
• computer programmes

Even a small passage from a book or the internet that has been copied without giving the source is considered plagiarism. 

Be sure to name your source

It's important to name the source of everything you haven't written or created yourself. If you've used another person's work without naming the source, you can be forced to pay compensation to them. It's of course also not permitted to copy essays from the internet - or use an essay someone else has written - and then hand them in with your name on them. 

Suspension most common consequence

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, higher education institutions may take measures in the form of suspension or a warning when a student has been caught cheating. Suspension is the most common measure. A decision regarding suspension is made by the disciplinary board at the university or university college. Suspensions are always for a set length of time - maximum 6 months - and mean that a student can't participate in lectures or examinations. The student must also pay back their student financial aid for said period as suspension is considered a leave from studies.