In this blog we will discuss academic integrity at Edinburgh Napier University and the support that ENSA Advice can offer to students worried about the process, or experiencing an Academic Integrity investigation. If you are a current or recently graduated (2026) Napier student, please provide some feedback on Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence to help inform our work next academic year: ENSA Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence (AI) Survey – Fill out form
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Edinburgh Napier defines Academic Integrity as " acting in a way that is honest, fair, respectful, responsible, and courageous in your academic practice. These are values that are expected of both staff and students". You can read more about this, including examples, on MyNapier at: https://my.napier.ac.uk/Your-Studies/Academic-integrity
There are various types of Academic Integrity issue such as plagiarism, falsification, collusion, using essay mills or exam cheating. Sometimes this is obvious – e.g. copying someone else's work or paying someone to complete work for you and submitting it as your own. But sometimes breaches can be accidental – e.g. submitting work without properly citing (referencing) the original source, as this is also essentially copying someone else's ideas and submitting them as your own, even if you did not intend to. One of the newest areas in which students can have issues is Artificial Intelligence (AI). If you use AI without stating this in your assessment declaration or use AI in some way that is not permitted in assignment guidelines, this will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Regulations.
Adhering to the Academic Integrity Regulations means committing to good study practices, such as note-taking, careful planning and drafting of assignments, and consistent referencing. Failing to do so can have negative consequences for your studies. You can be formally investigated and, if found to have breached the academic integrity regulations, receive a penalty. Some of the more severe penalties can include having your assessment failed or in the most serious cases, such as repeated breaches or the fabrication of dissertation data, students can be referred to a university panel who can decide if it is appropriate for you to continue your studies.
The Advice team at ENSA can help students who are being investigated for possible Academic Integrity breaches. ENSA Advice are an independent, impartial, and confidential service. This means that we are not interested in whether you have breached the Academic Integrity regulations and anything that you tell us will not be used in your investigation. Our role is purely to help you to understand the process, your options, and advise you on next steps and sources of support.
If you would like help with an academic integrity investigation, we would suggest that you book an appointment for support: ENSA ADVICE. If you are unable to do so you can also email ensa.advice@napier.ac.uk.
You may request that an ENSA Adviser accompany you at an Academic Integrity meeting (if we are able to do so). Please let us know your time, date & location, as far in advance as possible so that we can advise you if there are any scheduling conflicts and suggest alternative support.
If you are being impacted by other issues that mean you are considering breaching the Academic Integrity regulations or using tools for your study that you are unsure about, please book an appointment with an ENSA adviser, and we will talk you through your other options and sources of support.
The university has some great guidance on
It is important to read this guidance as there are some issues you might not even be aware of. For example, did you know that collusion is a breach of the Academic Integrity regulations?
Collusion is when you share your work, firm ideas, plans and solutions with other people and they then submit the same work as you. For example, working closely with someone else on an individual assignment, or someone asking in WhatsApp what answer someone else put to a question, and that person providing their answer.
Many tools for study now use AI as part of their system, whether you are aware they are doing this or not. This includes, for example, Grammarly. Check any tools that you use which are making changes to your work, find out if any AI is used, and decide if that tool is appropriate for your assignment.
Instead of relying too heavily, or even inappropriately, on AI tools, you might consider these other sources of advice and support:
- If you have personal or health problems, consider an extension or deferral under the Fit to Sit processes. Not sure whether you can or where to start? Book an appointment with an ENSA adviser ASAP.
- Running out of time with your references, or not sure how to format them? Check out the MyNapier guidance, the university's recommended tools, or book an appointment with Academic Skills. Using AI for your references can sometimes make changes to your work without you realising, or cite things incorrectly, which can cause an academic integrity issue.
- Worried about your English language skills when producing assignments if English is not your first language? There are lots of sources of support to help you develop your academic English skills: English language support.
- Struggling to manage your studies due to a disability or learning difference? Speak to the Disability Inclusion team about study skills, approved learning technologies, or a personalised Learning Profile (support plan).
- If you are impacted by stress, worry or your mental health, seek support from the Counselling & Mental Wellbeing team.
If you do use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your academic work, make sure that you:
- Check your assignment guidance for what AI use (if any) is appropriate in that module.
- Check the University's guidance on Artificial intelligence tools.
- Get confirmation from your Module Leader in writing that the way you intend to use AI is appropriate for the assignment.
- Be confident that the work is still your own and that you understand all elements and can talk confidently about the content and about how you produced it.
- Consider keeping drafts of your work and notes. These can help to show how you approached your work and can separate the input of any AI tools from your independent work. You can seek guidance from your module leader on how to do this. For example, be prepared to provide a copy of your AI conversation as an appendix to an assignment.
- Remember that you must always declare AI use on your cover sheet. However, even if you have declared your use of AI, you still need to ensure that the extent is appropriate. You are responsible for ensuring your work reflects your own thinking, skills, and understanding.
- Be aware that an AI tool may give you answers which are incorrect or biased. You will need to use other sources and your own understanding of a topic to confirm the accuracy of any information provided.
ENSA are interested in your knowledge and experiences of the Academic Integrity process, whether you have been through it or not, and your understanding or concerns about how Artificial Intelligence can be used in assessments.
Please complete our anonymous survey here: ENSA Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence (AI) Survey – Fill out form
We will use this data to ensure that Student voice is at the heart of our work over the next academic year, and alongside our sabbatical officers (your President and Co-Presidents) and the rest of ENSA to both work with the university and to improve our own processes and support.
If you would like to provide further feedback or to share with us your name/story, please contact ensa.advice@napier.ac.uk with the email subject heading: Academic Integrity Feedback.