Story perspectives

Essay Cheating Persists in UK Universities Despite Law

12/17/2025

Center

BBC Investigates Cheating

A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) investigation finds essay cheating at UK universities despite a 2022 law prohibiting essays to students.
No prosecutions have occurred under this law.
Steve Foster, a former lecturer, notes cheating is prevalent among international students, due to language barriers.
The BBC found essay-writing companies continue to operate openly.
Universities UK says penalties exist for academic misconduct, with international students disproportionately involved.

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Pines Cleared of Plagiarism

University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines was cleared of plagiarism allegations after a yearlong investigation.
The review by Ropes & Gray found no evidence of misconduct but noted attribution errors.
The accusations centered on lifting text from a tutorial website for a 2002 co-authored paper after claims by The Daily Wire.
The investigation reaffirmed support for Pines's leadership, while critics, including the original author, maintain the actions constituted plagiarism.

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BBC Investigates Cheating

A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) investigation finds essay cheating at UK universities despite a 2022 law prohibiting essays to students.
No prosecutions have occurred under this law.
Steve Foster, a former lecturer, notes cheating is prevalent among international students, due to language barriers.
The BBC found essay-writing companies continue to operate openly.
Universities UK says penalties exist for academic misconduct, with international students disproportionately involved.

1 / 2