If you’ve received a message about academic misconduct, it can feel stressful, but you’re not alone. The first step is understanding what’s happening and what the process looks like, so you can prepare and respond confidently.

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We’ve broken everything down below so you know what to expect and what to do next.

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What is academic misconduct?

The University defines academic misconduct as anything that aims to:

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• give you an unfair advantage over other students

• deceive the marker.

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You’re expected to follow the principles of academic honesty, including:

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• giving full credit for other people’s work

• not falsifying results.

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What are common types of academic misconduct?

1. Plagiarism.
   This is when you present someone else’s work or ideas as your own without proper referencing. This might include:

• copying text without quotation marks

• not paraphrasing properly.

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Plagiarism is often classed as poor academic practice (a lower-level concern).

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2. Collusion
   This is when you work with someone else on an assignment without acknowledging their contribution. You can discuss your work with others — but what you submit must be your own work. Collusion is usually considered a more serious form of misconduct.

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3. Other types of misconduct
   For a full list, see Chapter 12 – Academic Conduct and Practice in the TQA Manual.

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Why have I received an investigation letter?

The University uses Turnitin to check for similarities in work. This can flag:

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• possible plagiarism

• possible collusion.

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Turnitin isn’t perfect, it can also highlight correctly referenced work. That’s why a staff member reviews your work before deciding next steps. You’ve received this letter because:

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• your work is being reviewed

• there may be a delay in releasing your results.

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What happens after I receive an investigation letter?

There are four possible outcomes:

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1. No case to answer

• no misconduct found

• no further action

• your results are released

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2. Academic honesty workshop

• no misconduct found

• some concerns about referencing

• you’re asked to attend a workshop

• your results are released

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3. Department-level meeting (poor academic practice)

• some concerns identified

• you’ll be invited to a meeting

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4. Faculty-level meeting (academic misconduct)

• more serious concerns identified

• you’ll be invited to a meeting

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We know this stage can feel stressful. Right now, you may need to wait for the next step.

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If you’re invited to a meeting, get in touch with us. We can help you prepare.

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If this is affecting your mental health, you can also contact Wellbeing Services for support.

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What is a viva voce?

A viva voce is used when the University suspects there may be an issue, but doesn’t yet have enough evidence to proceed. It’s a way for them to gather more information before deciding what to do next.

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What happens in a viva voce?

A viva voce is a short meeting where staff assess whether your work is genuinely your own. They will:

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• ask you questions about your assignment

• check your understanding of the content

• ask you to explain your ideas and sources.

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The aim is to:

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• confirm the work is yours

• understand how you completed it.

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The meeting usually lasts up to 30 minutes, and you can ask for a break if needed.

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What happens in a department or faculty meeting?

If you’re invited to a meeting, it means concerns have been raised about your work.The format is usually the same:

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• introductions from everyone in the meeting

• explanation of the concern and relevant TQA section

• overview of possible outcomes

• general questions about academic practice

• specific questions about your assignment

• discussion of parts of your work

• opportunity for you to ask questions

• input from your supporter (if you bring one)

• confirmation you’ll receive an outcome within 10 working days

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The meeting usually lasts around 30 minutes. The tone will be respectful, the panel is trying to understand what happened.

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Can I get support at the meeting?

Yes, our Advice Team are here to help. An advisor can:

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• attend the meeting with you

• help you prepare beforehand

• debrief with you afterwards.

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We can’t answer questions for you, but we can:

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• prompt you if needed

• help you feel more confident

• make sure you’re treated fairly.

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To arrange support, email advice@exeterguild.com or complete our enquiry form.

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How should I approach the meeting?

Be open and honest. This helps show:

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• transparency

• willingness to learn

• engagement with the process.

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How can I prepare for the meeting?

1. Retake the Academic Honesty module on ELE

This helps you refresh your understanding and show you’re taking things seriously.

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2. Go through your assignment and notes

Focus on areas that might raise concerns. Ask yourself:

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• have I missed quotation marks?

• have I missed references or footnotes?

• have I paraphrased correctly?

• have I used correct secondary referencing?

• have I clearly separated my ideas from sources?

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Understanding how you wrote the assignment will help you answer questions confidently.

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3. Prepare a written statement

You may be asked to submit a statement 24 hours before the meeting (but you can still provide one later if needed). There’s no fixed format, but you should:

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• keep it around half to one page

• briefly introduce what you’ll cover

• explain what went wrong

• acknowledge any mistakes (if relevant)

• give examples

• explain what you would do differently.

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If you’ve received a letter or are worried about academic misconduct, get in touch as early as possible. We can help you understand what’s happening and support you through each step.