University chiefs throw book at yobs and cheats

HUNDREDS of misbehaving students have been disciplined by university bosses for offences ranging from drug use to cheating on their exams, new figures show.

Edinburgh University took action against 384 undergraduates in the last academic year, handing out formal warnings or 250 fines to the culprits.

The overwhelming majority were for plagiarism or setting off fire alarms, but there were also criminal offences and those considered violent, indecent, disorderly or threatening.

Figures obtained using freedom of information laws show the number of students disciplined has risen from 111 in 2005/6 to 384 last year.

However, the figure represents just a small percentage of the university's overall student population, around 0.5 per cent five years ago and 1.4 per cent in 2009/10.

The university said students found using "illegal substances" or those damaging property were given formal warnings and 250 fines.

Liz Rawlings, president of Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA), said: "The number of offences represents a small minority of the whole student population.

"The most common kind of offence is academic misconduct such as plagiarism and this may be because the university has got better at identifying plagiarism.

"It may also be a result of the increase in international students, because referencing rules vary in different countries and international students may be more likely to inadvertently break the rules at Edinburgh if they are unaware that they are different to those back home."

She added: "EUSA provides academic advice to any student who finds themselves accused of academic misconduct. We see a very small number of students each year who are involved in disciplinary processes."

Earlier this year it emerged that the number of students investigated for cheating at Edinburgh University had more than doubled in just two years.

The university investigated 165 students for possible plagiarism in 2008-9, compared with just 68 in 2006-7.

Despite the figures, which come after new software was introduced to catch cheats, the university said no-one had been expelled in the last five years.

In a statement a university spokeswoman said: "Although the number of students subject to disciplinary action has increased in recent years, it is important to note that this still represents a very small minority of the total student population.

"The most common category of offence is academic misconduct, including plagiarism.

"This is followed by activities deemed likely to cause injury or impair safety in the vicinity of the university, the vast majority of which are incidents involving the covering of smoke detectors in university-owned accommodation, the deliberate setting off of fire alarms, or refusal to evacuate in the event of a fire alarm."