Contract cheating

Contract cheating is a very serious form of academic misconduct. Under CCCU’s Academic Misconduct Policy it is treated as Level 3, Gross Misconduct, which can result in expulsion from the university.

Contract cheating occurs when someone else writes all, or part, of your assessed work for you and you submit it as your own. Money does not need to change hands, and it includes work written by family and friends, as well as purchased services (such as from essay mills).

Whilst a majority of students will gain their degrees on their own merits, some will be tempted to cheat. Those who are tempted should understand the real, lasting and devastating risks they are taking:

• Companies that make their money tempting students to cheat are not ethical. Students who engage a 3^rd party open themselves to blackmail, under the threat to pay more or tell the university what they have done. This threat can continue beyond university, with details kept and contact made with students who later have successful careers. If it is proved you cheated in your degree, your award can be rescinded (taken back). The choice to cheat can haunt a student for a long time.

Whilst CCCU does not condone cheating, if you are being blackmailed, we will help you. Contact Student Wellbeing or use Support and Report. You must, however, expect to face the implementation of CCCU’s Academic Misconduct procedures.

QAA (2020) Contracting to Cheat in Higher Education: How to Address Essay Mills and Contract Cheating. 

(Accessed: 12 October 2021).