When you submit work, it must be your own. Know how to avoid plagiarism and cheating.
In practical terms, it means developing, and submitting for assessment, your own academic work.
Complete these two short online courses for an introduction to the rules of academic integrity at RMIT.
Gain a credential while learning how to reference sources and the difference between cooperation and collusion.
A quick tutorial that provides an introduction to academic integrity and links to other resources.
Avoid accidental plagiarism by referencing all work that isn’t your own.
You must reference the following types of information:
You’ll use Turnitin when you submit your assessments. Turnitin is an online tool in Canvas that checks your assignments to ensure they're your own work, and that you've acknowledged the work and ideas from other sources. Go to the Canvas webpage to find out more.
It takes time to learn how to reference correctly and prepare assessments. The good news is there's help available! Browse our range of study supports, including a 24/7 online study support service called Studiosity, and one-on-one consultations with Academic Skills Advisors.
If you're in Vietnam, go to the student support webpages to find more resources.
We're here to help you get it right. If you don't understand something in class or about an assessment, talk to your teacher or lecturer as soon as possible. If you need other help, you can contact one of our support services, RUSU or the student conduct team.
Our support services are here to help you achieve your study and personal goals. If you're feeling stressed about study, we can help.
RUSU offers free and confidential support for students who have been charged with academic misconduct.
If you'd like to talk to someone about a case of misconduct, contact the Student Conduct Secretariat for a confidential discussion.
Email: student.conduct@rmit.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9925 8965
If you're an RMIT Vietnam student, contact: studentconduct@rmit.edu.vn
For serious breaches of academic integrity, students can be charged with academic misconduct. Possible penalties include cancellation of results and expulsion resulting in the cancellation of a student's program. Breaches of academic integrity include:
Contract cheating is the use of outsourced material for the purpose of submission by a student for assessment. The person submitting the work is being dishonest by representing it as their own. This differs from traditional forms of plagiarism, which more commonly involves copying of existing submitted or published work. Contract cheating can take on many forms and is not limited to the purchasing of assessment material from online sources. Students may obtain assessments from peers or ‘tutors’ and the arrangement may not involve a financial exchange.
Commercial cheating services, which are now illegal in Australia, are targeting students at RMIT. These services offer to provide answers or complete an assessment for you, sometimes asking for payment. These services may keep a student’s personal details to harass them and ask for more money. If you use these services, it's considered contract cheating and is a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy. To find out more information you can read the TEQSA information and resources. If you have any concerns or questions about this, email student.conduct@rmit.edu.au.
The following University policies provide more information about academic integrity and misconduct, including official definitions and penalties.
The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is Australia’s independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education. TEQSA has developed the following resources for use by students, academics and teachers to promote understanding of academic integrity.
Acknowledgement of country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business. - Artwork created by Louisa Bloomer
