The Council, on the recommendation of the Board of Examinations and with the concurrence of the Board of Graduate Studies, has agreed to submit a Grace (Grace 1, p. 31) to amend Regulation 6 of the General Regulations for Discipline (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 196) so that it specifically refers to plagiarism. Subject to the approval of this Grace the Council has agreed that the statement concerning plagiarism published in the Schedule to this Notice should be attached to these regulations.
Plagiarism is defined as submitting as one's own work that which derives in part or in its entirety from the work of others without due acknowledgement.1 It is both poor scholarship and a breach of academic integrity.
Copying (using another person's language and/or ideas as if they are a candidate's own), by:
Colluding with another person, including another candidate, other than as permitted for joint project work (i.e. where collaboration is concealed or has been forbidden). A student who has received help from her or his supervisor, or from some other person, with the language and style of a piece of written work should include a general acknowledgement of that fact.
Duplication, by:
Plagiarism can occur in respect to all types of sources and media:
In the context of an examination Examiners will only mark original work, so failure to conform to the expected standards of scholarship (e.g. by not referencing sources) may affect the mark given to the candidate's work. In addition, suspected cases of plagiarism will be investigated by the University and may be brought to the University's Court of Discipline. The Court has wide powers to discipline those found guilty of using unfair means, including depriving such persons of membership of the University.
Acceptable means of acknowledging the work of others (by referencing, in footnotes, or otherwise) vary according to the subject-matter and mode of assessment. Faculties or Departments should issue written guidance on the relevant scholarly conventions for submitted work, and also make it clear to candidates what level of acknowledgement might be expected in written examinations. Candidates are expected to familiarize themselves with this guidance at the earliest opportunity, and to follow it in all work submitted for assessment. If a candidate has any outstanding queries, clarification should be sought from her or his Director of Studies or Course Director.
The University's plagiarism and good academic practice website (http://www.cam.ac.uk/plagiarism/) provides more information and guidance.
Examiners must be in no doubt as to which parts of the submitted work are the candidate's own original work and which are the rightful property of someone else.
1 Regulation 6 of the University's Ordinances for Discipline.