Academic misconduct

Learn about what academic misconduct is, how we investigate it, what the penalties are and how to get support during an investigation.

What is academic misconduct?

Academic integrity is essential to maintaining the quality, fairness and credibility of your education at Victoria University (VU). All students are expected to act honestly and responsibly in their academic work.

You might make mistakes in referencing or citations. These are usually addressed through feedback and additional support from your teachers.

Academic misconduct is typically more serious and can include any action that gives you or another student an unfair academic advantage. Common examples include:

Plagiarism
Using another person’s work, ideas or words without proper acknowledgement. This includes copying, close paraphrasing or using text or ideas from generative AI without acknowledging it or when the assessment task says you can’t use it.
Collusion
Unauthorised collaboration with another person on an individual assessment task.
Cheating in exams or tests
Using unauthorised materials, communicating with others, accessing mobile devices or attempting to gain answers dishonestly during an exam or test.
Contract cheating
Submitting work that has been completed wholly or partly by someone else, including friends, relatives, online services or paid assignment-writing providers.
Fabrication or falsification
Inventing or altering information, data, citations, results or official documents.
Misuse of generative AI
Using generative AI tools in ways not permitted by the assessment instructions (for example, using AI to generate content when only editing or brainstorming support is allowed). If you use AI in your work, always check your assessment instructions and acknowledge any AI-generated content you include.
Other examples
- Reusing work from another unit without permission (self-plagiarism)
- Stealing or interfering with another student’s work
- Helping someone else commit misconduct

If academic misconduct is suspected

If a staff member believes academic misconduct may have taken place, VU follows a formal investigation and decision-making process.

You must read any academic misconduct emails carefully, as they contain instructions specific to your situation. These are sent to your VU student email.

: You will receive a notice in your VU student email. This will include:
details of the alleged misconduct or academic integrity breach
copies of all relevant material and evidence (to ensure procedural fairness)
the date, time and location of any investigation meeting
information about your right to be heard through written or spoken response
the option to bring a support person and/or be assisted by a Student Advocate
You may be asked to provide a written response, and supply drafts or notes that demonstrate how you completed the work.
VU then reviews:
your response
assessment materials
Turnitin or other similarity reports
any additional evidence.
VU looks at how much experience you have, what happened and whether the issue was accidental or intentional. Your participation in the investigation process is essential to clarify the circumstances and determine a fair outcome.
You will have an opportunity to explain or respond before a decision is made.
: After the investigation, you will receive an outcome letter. Penalties vary depending on the severity of the breach, your intent, and whether you have previous misconduct cases.
Possible outcomes include:
No breach found
Educational guidance (e.g., required integrity training)
Resubmission with penalties (A chance to revise or resubmit your work, sometimes with a limit on the maximum mark)
Reduced grade or zero mark for part or all of the assessment
Fail grade for the assessment
Formal misconduct record
Referral to a University Misconduct Panel for serious or repeated breaches
: Major breaches such as contract cheating, exam cheating, falsification of documents or repeated offences may be referred to a University Misconduct Panel.
The panel may impose stronger penalties, including:
suspension from study
exclusion from the University
revocation of results or qualifications in extreme cases.
You will be given full details and the opportunity to present your case.

International students & visa requirements

If you are an onshore international student, academic misconduct may affect your academic standing and, in serious cases, your enrolment and visa status.

Under the ESOS Act and National Code, we must report certain breaches to the Department of Home Affairs if they lead to cancellation of enrolment.