Dozens of students on the same university course have been caught up in a cheating scandal by using ‘essay mills’, where other people are paid to produce work on their behalf.
The widespread scam occurred on a postgraduate economics course at the University of East Anglia and related to two modules in particular.
Essay mills, also known as ‘contract cheating’ were made illegal by the government in 2022 in a bid to crack down on students inflating their marks.
This made it a criminal offence to provide, or arrange for another person to provide, such services to students for financial gain.
The UEA, based in Norwich, said police had not been involved in its internal investigation into the scandal and refused to say what sanctions, if any, were taken against those found cheating.
It also refused to specify exactly how many were exposed as cheats on the one-year Master’s course, which costs £11,800 for UK students and £22,700 for international students, although it is understood to number in the dozens.
Figures released under a Freedom of Information request about academic misconduct showed the university recorded 69 cases of contract cheating, including the use of artificial intelligence, in 2023-24, up from fewer than five the year before.
Other types of cheating have also soared, with examples of plagiarism going from 196 to 239 over the same period and collusion rising from 61 to 95. Combined plagiarism and collusion went from fewer than five cases to 12.
Dozens of students at the University of East Anglia have been caught up in a cheating scandal by using ‘essay mills’. Pictured: The campus at the University of East Anglia
The widespread scam occurred on a postgraduate economics course at the University of East Anglia and related to two modules in particular (Stock image)
A UEA spokesman said: ‘In 2023-24, the university detected a significant increase in the suspected use of essay mills – where the student pays someone to write their essay – within the postgraduate taught economics cohort.
‘This was observed in two modules and led to an in-depth internal investigation, whereby the students involved were appropriately dealt with in accordance with the university’s policy on plagiarism and collusion.
‘The policy helps to ensure the academic integrity of the university’s learning, teaching and assessment is maintained.’
The spokesman added: ‘UAE’s policy on plagiarism and collusion, which includes inappropriate use of AI, details the types of penalties that can be imposed on students depending on the case.
‘This includes a range of sanctions up to and including potential suspension and expulsion.’
The postgrad economics course involves taught modules in economic theory and advanced econometrics, with the opportunity to focus on behavioural and experimental economics, finance and data science.
As well as coursework, students are required to complete a 12,000-word assignment.
The course is described as the ‘ideal choice’ for those planning to pursue a career as a professional economist in government, industry or financial institutions.
In 2019-20, just 117 UAE students were found to have plagiarised, while there were only 29 examples of collusion and five of plagiarism and collusion. There were fewer than five instances of contract cheating.
Last year, MailOnline revealed how thousands of students were using artificial intelligence to sit tests for them, with lecturers finding it increasingly difficult to catch them.
The Department of Education was contacted for a comment.
