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Salford SU
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SU Advice Centre
If you’re facing academic issues, you don’t have to deal with them alone. Our SU Advice Centre has advisors who can offer guidance and support.
We’re here to help – reach out if you need us!
You can book an appointment here, or access our referral form here.
Library Support
Need help with referencing, academic writing, or avoiding plagiarism? The Library runs workshops to boost your confidence and skills. These sessions will help you keep your work up to standard and avoid common mistakes.
ASK Us Service
Got questions about university policies and procedures? The ASK Us service has an online chatbot, and you can also speak to someone in person at the desk in University House.
We get it – academic integrity might not be the most exciting topic, but it’s super important! Knowing the dos and don’ts can help you avoid unnecessary stress and keep your work up to standard.
Here’s a quick rundown of what counts as academic misconduct, and how to steer clear of it…
Plagiarism
This is when you use someone else’s work or ideas without giving them proper credit. That includes not referencing correctly, paraphrasing without citing, or not using quotations properly.
This applies to written work, ideas, music, research data – you name it!
Self-Plagiarism (Double Submission)
Reusing your own work for a different assignment without making it clear? That’s self-plagiarism. You can’t submit the same work twice unless it’s a resubmission for reassessment.
Collusion
Working together is great, but if you and a mate submit the same work as your own, that’s a no-go. Sharing your work with someone else can also land you in trouble – so keep your assignments to yourself!
Falsifying Data
Making up research results, tweaking data to fit your argument, or using uncredited data? That’s academic misconduct. Your work should be based on real and honest findings.
Falsification of Authorship
- Getting Someone Else to Do Your Work – Whether it’s a mate or an essay-writing service, passing off someone else’s work as your own is a big no.
- Using AI Without Permission – AI tools are handy, but if they’re not allowed in your assessment, using them could land you in trouble.
- Breaking Exam Rules – Bringing unauthorised notes, using devices, or chatting with others during an exam is a definite no.
Bribery
Offering money or gifts to staff to influence your grades? That’s not just wrong – it’s also a serious offence.
Skipping Necessary Approvals
If your research or assessment needs ethical or institutional approval, make sure you get it first! Skipping this step could give you an unfair advantage. Other Misconduct If something isn’t listed here but still undermines academic integrity, it could still count as misconduct – so always check if you're unsure!
Fit to Sit & Personal Mitigating Circumstances (PMC) Policy
- By submitting coursework or sitting an exam, you’re confirming that you’re well enough to do so – this is known as being ‘fit to sit or submit.’
- If you start feeling unwell during an exam or presentation, let the invigilator or examiner know straight away.
- In exceptional cases where you weren’t able to recognise that you were too unwell to complete an assessment, you may be able to submit a PMC request to have your assessment considered as a non-submission.
For the full details, check out the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Academic Misconduct Procedure (Version 4.4, effective from 1 October 2024).