Student cheats fail to prosper as plagiarism checks double

THE number of students investigated for cheating at Edinburgh University has more than doubled in just two years, new figures show.

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

The number of those given a formal warning plus an academic penalty also rose, from 47 to 90.

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.

Five per cent of Edinburgh University students have admitted they have cheated their way towards degrees.

Some students are cashing in by selling their own essays to so-called "cheat-sheet" websites for thousands of pounds.

Thomas Graham, president of Edinburgh University Students' Association, said the university had to do more to educate students from countries where working together and using someone else's work was the "norm".

He said: "Our view has always been that plagiarism is not acceptable and that people should not do it, but there is often a much greater incidence among foreign students, particularly those from the Far East.

"We're very much of the view that part of this is the university's inadequate induction of international students into a British university environment. There are huge cultural issues that need to be addressed properly."

A university spokeswoman said: "The University of Edinburgh views any case of plagiarism very seriously and is committed to ensuring that incidents of plagiarism are detected and dealt with appropriately."

Earlier this year, figures showed a surge in the number of students being disciplined for unacceptable behaviour at Edinburgh University.

A total of 343 were hauled before the dean for breaking rules in 2009, a near 250 per cent increase on 2006-7. While the majority were for plagiarism or cheating, ten incidents were criminal offences and another nine involved violent, indecent or threatening behaviour.