The University of Sydney has launched an investigation following revelations that hundreds of New South Wales students bought essays from the now defunct MyMaster site.
An estimated 60 essays were purchased by the University of Sydney students, but only five students have been identified.
Vice Chancellor Michael Spence said the students, who believed they had purchased original works, were caught using plagiarism programs.
“They weren't all original essays and that's the reason that this software picked [it up],” he said.
“But if people are being given original essays, the software isn't going to detect the identity of the student.”
Dr Spence said using online services was a new in cheating, but said it was unlikely that there had been an increase in the number of students trying to swindle the system.
“Universities have always had to deal with notes on the palm of your hand or notes in the cistern of the loo,” he said.
It has been claimed that some of the biggest users of these websites are international students, but Dr Spence said no nationality or group of students had been targeted during the university’s investigations.
President of the Council of International Students, Thomson Ching, also dismissed concerns that that the online cheating site had been frequented by overseas students in particular.
“Thus is an issue generally, in a broad area of within the Higher Education Sector,” he said.
The University of Sydney has launched a taskforce, investigating how best to catch cheats.
