What is cheating?

Cheating is when you violate the conditions for your examination. Cheating may include

• Presenting someone else’s ideas, expressions, statements or content as your own,
• Quoting sources without sufficient reference to the source (applicable to all forms of sources: written, oral, published/not published and digital).
• Unauthorized cooperation.
• Using examination support materials that are not permitted.
• Violate other conditions for the examination.

Remember to always state your sources when you obtain ideas, information, arguments and reasonings, etc. from literature, syllabus, websites or lecture notes.

Copying and pasting someone else’s work without source referencing will be regarded as cheating. Extracts of text quoted word by word must be marked so that it is evident that it is a quote. All sources you use must be included in the reference list.

The university uses the electronic plagiarism prevention system Urkund to check that submitted assignments do not include text copied directly from a source.

To avoid being suspected of plagiarism, you must learn to use source referencing and quotations correctly.

The guidelines apply to both compulsory coursework requirements and study requirements, in addition to written examinations with invigilation and written examinations without invigilation (written assignments, home examinations etc.).The guidelines apply to all students and external candidates.

What are the consequences?

Cheating or attempt at cheating is taken very seriously and may among other things lead to

• your examination being annulled and you will be registered with one examination attempt
• you being expelled from all higher education institutions in Norway for up to one year

Consequences of cheating are stipulated in the Norwegian Act relating to Universities and University Colleges §§ 4-7 and 4-8.

Examination support materials in connection with written examinations with invigilation

It is your responsibility to make sure that you only use permitted support materials. The examination invigilators will check the support materials. If you are in possession of support materials that are not permitted, you will be reported and suspected of cheating. Permitted support materials are listed in Studentweb and will also be printed on the front page of the examination question paper.

Please note that

• notes or other preparation work that may be of use during the examination are not permitted.
• you are not allowed to communicate with fellow students during the examination or when you are taking breaks and leave the examination premises.
• mobile phones and other electronic equipment not permitted during the examination shall be turned off and placed in the designated area.

Violation of these rules will be regarded as a suspicion of cheating or attempt at cheating.

Home examinations and submission of assignments

You may be suspected of cheating even when you are working on an assignment at home.  Examples of cheating in this connection may include:

• Not stating your sources.
• Submitting an answer paper that you or others have used at a previous examination or a paper that is already published by you or others.
• Cooperation with other students, unless something else is stated in the course description (group examination).
• Having someone else prepare the assignment for you.

This applies to all types of written assignments, portfolios, coursework or study requirements, reports and examination answer papers in all courses/subjects and at all levels of study.

What happens if I am suspected of cheating?

Cases related to cheating or attempt at cheating are decided by the Appeal's Committee at Oslomet. If you are suspected of cheating you shall be informed of the suspicion and the basis of the suspicion as soon as possible and be summoned to a meeting at the faculty to express your opinion. In this meeting, you will receive information relating to the further proceedings and your rights. You may also attend the Appeals Committee’s meeting in order to state your opinion. The Appeals Committee’s decision may be appealed to the National Appeals Committee.

Regulations relating to cheating

It is your responsibility to make yourself familiar with regulations relating to examination support materials, source referencing and quotation. You are not exempt from responsibility if you lack knowledge about the regulations.

Rules relating to cheating or attempt at cheating are stipulated in Regulations relating to Studies and Examination at Oslo Metropolitan University § 7-5 and Guidelines for Dealing with Cheating/Attempt at Cheating in Connection with Examinations at Oslo Metropolitan University.