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A recent BBC investigation has revealed that essay cheating continues to be widespread at universities across the UK, despite legal measures introduced to curb the practice. Since April 2022, it has been illegal in England to provide essays for students aged 16 and over, yet there have been no prosecutions under this legislation so far. The investigation included interviews with a former university lecturer who described essay cheating as an “open secret,” alongside a businessman who claims to have earned millions by selling “model answer” essays to students. Universities UK, representing 141 institutions, emphasized that severe penalties exist for students found submitting work that is not their own.
An international student, referred to as Alia to protect her identity, shared her personal experience studying for a master’s degree at the University of Lincoln. She and her twenty classmates from overseas faced significant challenges completing lengthy essays due to language barriers and lack of engagement. Alia reported that many students resorted to essay-writing companies, which were easily accessible online and typically charged around £20 for 1,000 words. Despite her commitment to genuine work, Alia was mocked by peers urging her to “just pay someone” instead of sacrificing sleep and well-being. By the second module, a third of her cohort reportedly stopped attending classes, sometimes only appearing briefly to register attendance.
While it remains legal for students to cheat, providing, arranging, or advertising for-profit cheating services has been unlawful since 2022 under the Skills and Post-16 Education Act. Nevertheless, the BBC discovered numerous companies still openly advertising essay-writing services through websites and social media. Both the Crown Prosecution Service and the Department for Education confirmed to the BBC that no cases have yet proceeded to a magistrate’s court under this law. One prominent figure in this industry, Barclay Littlewood, based in Dubai but originally from Huddersfield, stated he has made millions since initiating his essay-writing business in 2003. His enterprise claims to employ a network of 3,000 freelance writers, including some lecturers, covering various subjects. Prices reportedly start at £200 for basic essays and can escalate to as much as £20,000 for doctoral-level work.
Mr. Littlewood insists his services provide “model answers” meant to serve as guides rather than completed assignments. He has also developed AI technology capable of generating university-level essays within minutes, reportedly guaranteeing a high grade. A former lecturer, Steve Foster, who evaluated one such AI-produced essay, recognized the lack of a “human touch” but acknowledged the work was of a 2:1 standard with no mistakes. Mr. Foster, who taught at the International Study Centre affiliated with the University of Lincoln before moving to the business school, said widespread cheating in universities was one of the reasons for his departure from academia in 2024. He raised concerns over the disproportionate cheating among international students, citing examples of suspiciously high essay marks that contrasted dramatically with poor exam results. According to Mr. Foster, many educators tolerated cheating, allowing the issue to grow unchecked, and he questioned the competence of students who relied on dishonest methods, especially in professions where public safety and trust are at stake. Universities UK noted that English language proficiency requirements are set by the Home Office as part of visa conditions, and that all universities maintain strict codes of conduct with harsh penalties for academic misconduct.
International students represent a significant portion of the UK university population, making up 25% in 2023-24, and have become increasingly important as universities seek to offset financial challenges due to stagnant domestic tuition fees. The BBC’s Freedom of Information requests found that of 53 universities responding, 48 reported international students were overrepresented in academic misconduct investigations. These penalties range from warnings to expulsion. While Universities UK refrained from speculating on why international students accounted for a higher proportion of investigations, one university suggested that many cases involved poor academic practice rather than intentional cheating. The University of Lincoln highlighted that 78% of its 387 investigations involved non-UK students, despite such students constituting only 22% of its enrolment. The institution stated that academic misconduct is a sector
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