Coursework sites

What are coursework sites?

‘Coursework sites’ are sites which encourage students to share course materials including:

• lecture notes
• essays
• lab reports
• exam questions

The University does not support the use of these sites. You may face disciplinary action from the University in line with the Student Discipline Regulations if you use them.

We encourage you to learn with and from other students, however, it is important to recognise the differences between appropriate opportunities for this and the role of coursework sites. This page includes information and guidance to engage in appropriate collaborative learning opportunities whilst avoiding potential academic misconduct. 

Be aware of social media posts from coursework sites offering these services. These organisations frequently use social media or email to target students. Always consider if what a company or individual is offering you is in line with the University's academic misconduct policy. Speak to staff in your school (for example, your academic tutor) for advice if you are concerned.

Any email received to your University Gmail account in relation to these services should be reported to: phishing@sheffield.ac.uk

Copyright

All materials that are prepared by our staff and shared with you as part of your studies are to be used for your own studies only. You do not have permission to share them with others. Sharing would be an infringement of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

If you choose to download learning materials such as slides, lecture notes or assessment materials, they are strictly for personal use only. 

If you are found to have shared or uploaded teaching materials to a coursework site or public repository, including recorded online sessions, disciplinary action may be taken.  

For more information on copyright, visit the University of Sheffield Library pages:

Visit the University of Sheffield Library Copyright pages

Plagiarism and coursework sites

Coursework sites may include copies of completed essays or other forms of assessment materials that have been uploaded by other students. Taking these in part or full for use in your own assignment may constitute plagiarism.

If you make your assessments, notes and other materials available via a coursework site, they may be used by other students to plagiarise. These are serious forms of academic misconduct and may result in disciplinary action.

For more information about how to avoid plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct:

Visit StudySkills@Sheffield How to avoid plagiarism

Essay mills

Essay mills are websites that offer to produce personalised assignments for you for a fee. 

Buying or commissioning part of or a whole piece of work from a website and submitting it as your own work is an extremely serious form of academic misconduct. 

It is illegal to provide and advertise these services to students, and students who use these services are at risk of blackmail, including threats to report them to the University. 

Any email received to your University Gmail account in relation to these services should be reported to: phishing@sheffield.ac.uk 

Getting further support with your studies

Please be aware that there are a number of ways you can get further support for your studies.

301 Academic Skills offers 1:1 Study Skills, Maths or Statistics appointments and workshops covering a wide range of academic skills.

Visit 301 Academic Skills (login required)

The University of Sheffield Library offers a range of workshops focusing on developing your research skills.

Visit the University of Sheffield Library Research Skills workshops (login required)

The English Language Teaching Centre offers classes to support your use of English.

Visit the English Language Teaching Centre Language Support (login required)     

You should also consider asking for a meeting with your module lead or academic tutor as they will be able to provide discipline-specific guidance and support.

Collaborative learning

Collaborative learning is encouraged, and there will be opportunities to engage in such activities within your study programme. 

However, it may not always be appropriate to work collaboratively on assignments. For more information on the line between collaboration and collusion, visit the StudySkills@Sheffield page on How to avoid collusion.

Visit StudySkills@Sheffield How to avoid collusion

Nest steps

• How to question information

• How to think critically

• How to study independently