Cheating is seeking to gain unfair advantage, usually violating regulations, of which plagiarism is one type. At the University of Nottingham it is an academic offence to present someone else's work as being one's own. Note that plagiarism has to do with work, and copyright violation has to do with words. These are often confused.

Here is a range of cheating behaviours:

1. False citation
2. Plagiarism
3. Using unauthorised sources or notes in examinations or tests.
4. Dishonestly obtaining materials or information prior to examinations.
5. Copying from other students.
6. Permitting other students to copy your work.
7. Soliciting work from others (e.g. individuals, 'editors' or essay banks etc).
8. Submitting your own previously assessed work without acknowledgement (auto plagiarism).

Unauthorised Collaboration, or collusion occurs where:

1. Collaboration became collusion
2. The work submitted has resulted from collaboration with others whose contribution has not been acknowledged.

Fabrication may take various forms but is essentially concerned with manufacturing aspects of the work produced. For example, the insertion of made-up information, data, sources, quotes, anecdotes or analysis would all amount to fabrication.

Recycling or unauthorised, multiple submissions. It is normally expected that work submitted will be prepared specifically for that purpose unless the course materials or tutor explicitly state otherwise. Examples of unacceptable recycling include:

1. Submitting work that has previously been assessed and marked in the same course, module or programme.
2. Submitting work that has previously been assessed and marked in a different course, module or programme.

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