What is academic misconduct?
The university takes examination and assessment offences very seriously, and sets out the procedures for dealing with any such allegations in the King's Academic Manual, the Academic Misconduct Policy and the Academic Misconduct Procedures.
Academic Misconduct is the adoption of working methods that are outside the spirit of King's regulations and the values of academic integrity and any actions which interfere with the integrity and rigour of assessment undermine the University’s reputation and education standards.
The Academic Misconduct Policy provides extensive information on what constitutes academic misconduct and provides detailed guidance on the use of proofreading services and writing technologies like generative AI. Students are advised to spend time to familiarise themselves with the policy.
What happens with suspected misconduct?
Any instances of suspected misconduct will be reported by the relevant staff member(s) to the Student Conduct & Appeals Office.
I’m concerned about another student
If you see any unfair academic practice or have concerns about potential academic misconduct committed by another student, please contact Student Conduct & Appeals and your department in the first instance.
What is an Academic Integrity Meeting (AIM)?
Academic Integrity Meeting is the meeting convened at Stage One of the Academic Misconduct Procedure. Your department will invite you to an AIM if they have concerns about the work you have submitted.
AIM is not a hearing. During this meeting, you will be alerted to the problems/concerns identified with the work and will have the opportunity to respond.
You will receive further guidance regarding good academic practice, including best practice on referencing or other important academic skills. The department will also discuss with you if there are other academic or non-academic support needs that King's can facilitate to ensure your future works are up to standard and to maximise your academic success.
After the meeting you will receive notes of the discussion and a copy of the materials that were discussed in the meeting. If you forgot to mention something in the AIM, or have other information that you want the department to consider before making a decision on your case, you may submit that within 5 working days from the date of which you were sent the meeting notes.
Can I be accompanied or represented in the AIM?
You may be accompanied by:
- Another King’s community member, including a member/staff of KCLSU
- Friend or family member
Your accompanying person may advise and assist you during the meeting but you are expected to communicate with the department representatives directly.
The Chair will invite your KCLSU Representative to make representation on your behalf at the end of the meeting.
If I don't attend the AIM with my department, what will happen?
Academic Integrity Meetings are important academic meetings that you are expected to attend. If you are unable to attend, please inform the the department immediately, outlining the reason(s) why you can't attend. The department will determine whether the meeting can be postponed.
Important to know: If you are absent from the meeting without permission, your department may proceed in making a decision of your case based on the evidence that they have. The outcome is not invalidated due to your unauthorised absence, provided that you have been given timely written notice of the meeting.
What are the possible outcomes under Stage One AIM?
After the end of the 5-working days, the ASB Chair (or their nominee) will review all information available to them and decide one of the following outcomes:
- No cause of concern, work will be marked as usual
- The concerns relate to poor academic practice but not academic misconduct – work will be marked in line with the assessment criteria
- Academic misconduct has occurred and an outcome should be applied locally
- The case should be referred to Stage Two for further consideration.
What can I do if I am not happy with Stage One (AIM) outcome?
You can't contest the Department’s decision to refer your case to Stage Two of the Academic Misconduct Procedure, but you will have further opportunities to present your case at Stage Two.
If the department concludes after the AIM Meeting that academic misconduct has occurred and ordered one or more outcomes, you may contest the outcome within 10 working days from the date of the written notification of the Stage One AIM Outcome using the Contestation of Academic Integrity Meeting (AIM) Outcomes form.
You should elaborate clearing in the contestation form why you think the case warrants further review and provide supporting evidence of it. In accordance with the Academic Misconduct Policy, the case would only be referred to Stage Two for further consideration if Student Conduct & Appeals is satisfied that:
- There is new evidence or information of sufficient significance that the case warrants further review;
- That a significant procedural or administrative error occurred during the Stage One consideration and the case warrants further review;
- The Stage One outcome cannot reasonably be sustained by relevant guidance on assessment, academic integrity or penalties or
- There are other compelling reasons supported by independent evidence
A contestation is not an appeal but a rehearing. Your case will be considered again by an independent member who has no prior involvement in the case.
What happens in Stage Two of the Academic Misconduct Procedure?
All information, including what you have submitted to your department and information gathered by department will be reviewed by Student Conduct & Appeals who will determine the appropriate next steps. This could either be:
a) Referral to a Misconduct Committee Chair for a decision under the Expedited Procedure
In situations where facts are not contested, such as the student accepting full responsibility for their actions. A full hearing might not be necessary and the case may be referred to a Misconduct Committee Chair to make a decision under the expedited procedure stated in paragraph 7.23 of the Academic Misconduct Policy.
Do I have the opportunity to present my case?
Yes. If SCA considers your case is capable to be considered under this expedited procedure, they will write to you to provide you with the opportunity to provide further information or evidence to the Chair in writing within 5 working days, before a decision is made on paper.
Who is the Committee Chair?
Misconduct Committee Chairs are senior academic staff who have extensive experience in hearing cases on the Misconduct Committee and other student committees like appeal committees.
If your case is considered under this expedited procedure, one of the Committee Chairs who is not affiliated to your department and has no prior involvement in your case will be nominated to consider your case independently.
How will the Committee Chair make a decision?
Even if a full hearing is not convened, the Committee Chair will still read all documents and prepare for the case in the exact same way they prepare for a Committee Hearing. If there is anything that they want to seek a clarification, they will instruct SCA to contact you or the department.
In the consideration of the cases under this expedited procedure. The Chair is supported by student casework specialists in Student Conduct & Appeals who will provide procedural advice to ensure all decisions are made consistently.
Can I request my case to be heard in a full hearing instead?
Yes. If you prefer to have a full hearing, this can be requested in the same 5-working day period. Further instructions can be found in the letter that is sent to you via your King's e-mail.
b) Misconduct Committee
Where facts are in dispute or that the case is complex, your case could be referred to a Misconduct Committee directly. A full hearing will be convened:
- You will normally receive at least 10 days' notice and will be invited to present your case to the Committee. Details of the allegation and all documentary evidence will be sent along with the Hearing invitation.
- You can request reasonable adjustments and have a friend or family member present with you for support, though they won’t be able to speak on your behalf.
- An appropriate staff member will present the case against you, on behalf of the university.
- You will be able to speak on your own behalf, or have a member of the University or an appropriate KCLSU representative speak on your behalf.
- The Committee will determine whether the charge(s) of misconduct have been substantiated.
- Where the Committee concludes that the charge(s) is/are upheld, it may order one or more of the measures available to it under the Academic Regulations.
Following the Committee's findings, the university may refer the case to the faculty, or to a professional, statutory or regulatory body, in accordance with the Academic Regulations.
The decision of the Committee will normally be communicated to you and the examiners within 7 days of the decision.
For further guidance on Committee procedures please refer to our article What can I expect at an Appeal Committee hearing?
Is it possible to appeal against the outcome of a Misconduct Committee?
You may appeal against the findings or order(s) of a Misconduct Committee. If you would like to appeal, you must submit a Misconduct Appeal Form to Student Conduct & Appeals within 14 days of the written notification of the Misconduct Committee's decision.
Appeal Forms received after this deadline will only be accepted at the Discretion of the Principal. If are submitting your appeal out of the stipulated timeframe, you must explain the reasons of the delay and submit relevant supporting evidence to prove your circumstances.
In accordance with the Academic Regulations the grounds for a successful appeal are meeting one or all the following:
- That there is new evidence that could not have been, or for good reason was not, made available at the time of the hearing, and sufficient evidence remains that the appeal warrants further consideration;
- That evidence can be produced of significant procedural error on the part of the university before or during the hearing, and sufficient evidence remains that the appeal warrants further consideration;
- Any other grounds, including grounds of compassion;
The Principal will determine whether the criteria for an appeal have been met. If they determine the criteria for appeal have been met:
- An Appeal Committee will be convened; otherwise the appeal will be dismissed.
- This decision will normally be communicated within 30 working days of receipt of the appeal.
What happens if an Appeal Committee is convened?
- You will normally receive at least 10 working days' notice of the hearing, and will be invited to present your case to the Panel.
- You can request reasonable adjustments and have a friend or family member present with you for support, though they won’t be able to speak on your behalf.
- You will be able to speak on your own behalf, or have a member of the University or an appropriate KCLSU representative speak on your behalf.
- The Committee will determine whether there is sufficient reason to challenge the decision of the original Misconduct Committee.
- Where the Committee concludes such justification is present, they can modify or reverse the findings or order(s) of the Misconduct Committee.
- The decision of the Committee will normally be communicated to you and relevant staff within 5 working days of the decision.
For guidance on the Committee process, please refer back to What happens in the Misconduct Committee?
I'm not happy with the outcome; can I get an independent review of my case?
When all internal procedures are complete, if you are dissatisfied with final outcome; you can request an independent review of your case by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA). You must submit this request within one year of getting the final outcome letter from the University.
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) is an independent body set up to review student complaints. It is free to students and deals with individual complaints against Higher Education Institutions in England and Wales.
Provided your complaint is eligible under the rules of the OIA’s complaints scheme, the OIA will look at whether King's has applied its regulations properly and followed its procedures correctly. It also considers whether any decision made by the King's was fair and reasonable in all the circumstances.
Are there some key resources I can refer to for guidance?
To learn more about our policies and for further guidance, please refer to the King's Academic Manual.