Plagiarism is a serious academic breach and may result in penalties, including removal from the programme. It is essential to have a clear understanding of what constitutes plagiarism and how it is perceived within Learna and your University.

Tutors are required to report any suspected academic misconduct, and plagiarism-detection software is integrated into the learning platform to support the decision-making process for academic misconduct.

Defining Plagiarism

Plagiarism happens when another person’s work (this could be from an author, colleague, published source, television programme, or audio recording) is presented as your own. Failure to reference sources correctly constitutes academic misconduct and may result in disciplinary action.

Academic integrity underpins all ethical practice and evidence-based decision-making. All written work must adhere to appropriate citation standards. Your University’s referencing guide (found in your student handbook) provides comprehensive guidance on referencing expectations. Additionally, Day 3 of Study Skills talks about proper academic citation and plagiarism avoidance.

To Ensure Proper Academic Practice

• Read and understand your sources.

• Present your own observations and conclusions.

• Cite all sources appropriately.

Penalties for Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct may lead to a reduction in marks, a grade of 0%, or more severe disciplinary measures, depending on the severity of the breach. Examples of misconduct include:

• Late submissions without approved extenuating circumstances.

• Plagiarism detected in written assignments.

• Failure to meet key assessment criteria.

• Submission of incomplete work, missing required components.

• Lack of engagement in group-based assignments or collaborative work.

Tutors actively monitor for plagiarism and will give you a formal warning where necessary. If you continue to plagiarise, the case may be escalated to an academic misconduct panel for investigation, which could result in programme withdrawal.

Academic integrity is essential—not only for success but also for maintaining professional and ethical standards.