Huge surge in students who behave badly

EDINBURGH University saw a massive surge in the number of students being disciplined for unacceptable behaviour in the last three years.

Last year 343 were hauled before the dean for breaking rules, a near 250 per cent increase on the 136 students reported in 2006/7.

While the vast majority of cases were for plagiarism or cheating in exams, ten incidents were criminal offences and another nine involved violent, indecent or threatening behaviour.

Edinburgh's incidents of indiscipline, the highest in Scotland, were among at least 1,700 cases of indiscipline reported at seven of Scotland's best-known universities, which also included St Andrews and Glasgow.

A spokesman for Edinburgh University said: "The rise in the number of cases of unacceptable behaviour between 2006/07 and 2008/09 principally reflects a more robust approach to detecting plagiarism when it occurs.

"The university views any case of unacceptable behaviour extremely seriously and is committed to ensuring it is dealt with appropriately."