Academic integrity top tips

Supporting friends or classmates is a great way to build a positive learning environment. However, support means encouraging independence, not doing someone else's work or sharing your own.

Avoid sharing assignments, specific ideas, or posting your work online. Instead, help others by pointing them toward the module and academic support services. These are designed to help everyone succeed on their own merits.

Time management at university can be challenging, especially when juggling multiple deadlines and responsibilities. However, you should try to avoid leaving assessments until the last minute, as this can increase the risk of making poor decisions.

Develop effective time management strategies such as using planners, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and setting realistic goals. This can help you stay on track and support both your academic integrity and long-term success.

You can find resources to help on our Resilient skills page.

Academic integrity breaches are often unintentional, but that doesn't make them any less serious. It's your responsibility to understand what academic integrity means and to follow the instructions and guidance provided for each assessment. Being aware of expectations helps you avoid mistakes and ensures your work reflects your own effort and understanding.

Complete our academic integrity course on Moodle to learn more about how to study with academic integrity.

You are advised not to upload your work to any external website. You are also not permitted to upload any learning materials such as class slides and lecture notes. These materials are the intellectual property of Edinburgh Napier University and should not be uploaded to any website.

Failure to adhere to this may result in a University student conduct matter.

Your work should reflect your own understanding, insights, and effort. Always produce original content and give proper credit when using ideas, quotes, or data from others.

Copying without attribution or submitting someone else's work as your own, whether intentionally or not, is a breach of academic integrity regulations and can have serious consequences. Staying true to your own voice and learning process is key to your success.

Acknowledging the sources that have influenced your work is a key part of academic integrity. Whether you're quoting directly, paraphrasing ideas, or drawing on research, it's essential to give credit where it's due.

Always cite and reference your sources accurately using the required citation style for your programme or school. This not only shows respect for others' work but also strengthens the credibility of your own.

Feedback from your lecturers and tutors is a valuable tool for growth. Take time to reflect on their comments and use their suggestions to improve your academic skills and guide how you approach future assignments.

Understanding what worked well and what could be improved helps you develop your skills, avoid repeated mistakes, and produce stronger, more informed work.

Recognising areas where you need improvement is an important part of academic growth. If you identify any skill gaps, whether in writing, research, time management, or study techniques, reach out to the Academic Skills team. They offer tailored support and resources to help you strengthen your abilities and succeed in your studies.

If personal issues are affecting your ability to complete assessments or sit exams, it's important to let someone know as early as possible. This could be your module leader or PDT, but please ensure you talk to someone.

Sharing this information allows staff to offer appropriate support, guidance, or adjustments. Being proactive helps protect your academic progress and ensures that your situation is considered fairly.

For more information, visit the Fit to Sit and extenuating circumstances page.