We spoke to a Leeds student about their experience being accused of plagiarism- from the initial panic to the support they received from LUU Advice. Their story shows how vital these services are and why students should know they’re there.
What happened when you were accused of plagiarism- how did you feel?
It was in January of my second year, and I was sitting in the Leeds Student Radio office when I got an email from my school concerning one of my assessments from the previous semester. It told me that I had been accused of plagiarism but never said what type of plagiarism or any further details in the initial email.
I was absolutely devastated and completely broke down in floods of tears in front of everyone in the office. On the walk home I called both of my parents who were just as confused by the email’s wording as me. At home it was the same cycle of crying to all of my housemates and I felt like I was in the midst of the closest I’d been to a panic attack since I was in sixth form.
The entire day I was frantically emailing my personal tutor, the plagiarism coordinator, and my seminar leader for any sort of explanation or advice, unfortunately as it was the very beginning of the procedure they couldn’t tell me anything which furthered my spiral.
How did LUU support you?
On the same day, I tried to pull myself together and plan for what was to come. In the email it said to contact LUU’s advice and support service if I was struggling with the news. My housemate drove me back to uni and I went to the LUU’s walk-in Advice service. I explained my situation and showed all of the emails.
The staff at LUU Advice were genuinely amazing and calmed me down so much. They assured me that these cases are far more common than I thought and a lot of the times it is genuine mistakes or ill informed referencing. The staff also chatted to me about how they were here to support me as an individual and were happy to represent me in any sort of dispute or trial. It felt so reassuring to have someone in my corner.
Was anything about the process confusing, and how did LUU help you through it?
There was little to no clarity in the initial email. I remember just mass emailing anyone who could help me, but all the lecturers seemed very reluctant as it was only the initial stages. They all kept explaining how it was only the first stage of the investigation but wouldn’t further explain the next stages. Honestly, unless I had it explained to me by LUU Advice, I would have just been sitting there waiting completely clueless. They also explained how due to some of the confusing language in follow up emails from my seminar leader I could have reported the incident and they would have represented and supported me through the process. They reassured me that I shouldn’t be embarrassed and genuinely wanted to help.
What did you learn from the experience, about yourself or the support available?
I learned a lot about my confidence in my own voice- I think the reason why I was looking at these extra readings but not understanding referencing well enough was completely tied to my insecurity of my academic voice. Although it was genuinely the hardest experience I’d ever had at university it strengthened my academic writing drastically. It showed me how easy it was the go to LUU advice and how well trained and informed the staff are- I was completely surprised.
LUU are running the Strategy Survey – what do you think they should focus on to better support students?
From my experience, I think LUU should focus on making students more aware of the support that already exists and how easy it is to access. Before my plagiarism case, I had no idea how approachable or effective the LUU advice team was. It would really help if this kind of support was talked about more in lectures or induction sessions, especially around academic integrity and wellbeing.
I also think clearer communication between schools and LUU could make a big difference- so that when something stressful like an academic investigation happens, students get consistent guidance rather than confusing, formal emails.
Lastly, I’d love to see LUU continue prioritising mental health support during academic challenges. Having someone calmly explain the process and reassure me made all the difference, and it showed how vital emotional as well as practical support is for students under pressure.
Make your voice heard. By completing the LUU Strategy Survey, you can help shape the support available to students and ensure experiences like this are met with guidance, clarity, and care.
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