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Examination regulations, cheating and plagiarism

Cheating and plagiarism is a serious breach of trust that can be sanctioned by annulment of the exam and exclusion from the University College for up to one year. As a student, you are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the current rules for exams and assessments.

Your responsibility as a student

It is your duty as a student to familiarize yourself with the regulations that apply to exam candidates at Molde University College.

When submitting written work, such as bachelor's and master's theses, you must use sources correctly and include source references. Familiarize yourself with how this is done by reading here: How to use sources and refer to correct assignments.

Examination regulations

Cheating and attempted cheating are regulated by the Universities and University Colleges Act § 4-7 and § 4-8. Complicity to cheating is dealt with in § 4-8 third paragraph.

This is also regulated by Regulations for admission, examinations and studies at Molde University College § 36

For written school exams: Rules for exam candidates in a school exam.

When submitting written work: Guidelines for electronic submission

How cheating is detected

Cheating or attempted cheating can be detected in the exam room or by the examiner when assessing the exam. Molde University College also uses a text recognition program that checks all written submitted work against other students' assignments and previously submitted work and more as text from webpages etc.

What happens if you are suspected of cheating?

If cheating or attempted cheating is discovered, it can lead to annulment of the exam and exclusion from the University College for up to two semesters. The student will also be excluded from all Norwegian universities and colleges during the exclusion period. Complicity to cheating can be sanctioned by exclusion for up to two semesters.

Examples of cheating

It is considered cheating when the student acts in violation of the guidelines for the exam or the course of study in general.

Plagiarism If you fail to provide source references to text that is directly quoted from other literature, articles or the Internet in a written home exam or a compulsory assignment, you are committing plagiarism. Plagiarism is considered cheating.

Self-plagiarism Self-plagiarism is also considered cheating. An example of self-plagiarism is if you copy paragraphs or excerpts from your own assignments that have previously been submitted, without giving a source reference.

Illegal co-operation You are allowed to discuss and co-operate with others in the exam preparations, but when you are given an individual exam, you must work alone and answer the assignment independently. Collaboration with others during the exam is considered cheating.

The use of text created by AI (artificial intelligence) unless it is referred to or stated in the text.

Illegal aids on the exam To use or have available illegal aids on a written school exam. This can, for example, be to use or have an available mobile phone or other communication equipment in connection with the completion of the examination. It does not matter whether the student has actually used the illegal aids and whether the use has been discovered in that case. It is also considered cheating to have illegal aids available outside the exam room itself (toilet etc.).

Complicity in cheating An example of complicity in cheating is if a student shares his answers with a fellow student during the exam, or other actions that are intended to help a student during the exam.

Unlawfully obtained admission to the exam Cheating on mandatory work requirements.

False registration of study activity. For example, a fake signature on attendance registration, or that you send someone else to participate in your place.

The processing of cheating cases

The University College's Appeals Board handles cheating cases. Decisions in cheating cases are made on the basis of the Universities and University Colleges Act § 4-7 (1) and § 4-8 (3). The law also provides access to sanction complicity in cheating.

Read more about case preparation and processing of cheating cases.

The Study Office or the faculties at the University College will investigate and prepare the case and then forward it to the Appeals Board for processing. Read more about litigation in cheating cases.

The student's rights

If you are suspected of cheating, you have the right to see case documents, the right to explain yourself and to express your opinion in writing and orally. You are not obliged to speak.

When the University College has decided to submit the case to the Appeals Board, you have the right to use a lawyer or other assistant at the university college's expense. The legal expenses are covered according to the public fee rate. Throughout the process, you have the right to see the case documents and express yourself in writing and orally. You also have the right to know when and where the Complaints Board will meet to process the case.

If the Appeals Board makes the decision to exclude or annul an examination, you have the right to receive a justification for the decision and you have the right to appeal. The appeal deadline is three weeks from the time notification of the decision has reached the student. Appeals against decisions made in the University College's Appeals Board are processed by Joint Appeals Committee for Student Affairs.

Published Oct. 21, 2018 3:15 PM - Last modified Nov. 15, 2023 5:53 PM