Australian university students are outsourcing their assignments as cost of living pressures bite - and experts say it could have dire consequences once they enter professional life. 7NEWS
Contract cheating, whereby students pay someone else to complete their assignments for them, is becoming more prevalent.Watch the latest News on Channel 7 or stream for free onWebsites advertise the services, in some instances promising a 1000-word essay that will pass plagiarism audits, for as little as $20.
“So that just amps up the pressure for students to either put themselves in a position where they think they can’t do a good enough job, or they need help.”Universities have strict requirements, particularly for international students, to prove their proficiency in English before being accepted to a course.
“Otherwise, we should be picking up on students who have unsatisfactory English and discontinuing their enrolment.”With accommodation, food and education expenses rising with increasing inflation, students are needing to work more hours. The Department of Home Affairs has financial requirements for international students to acquire a visa to study in Australia.Inflation also currently sits at 6.1 per cent and is expected to have risen again when updated data is next released in October.Curtis said students are commonly introduced to contract cheating online.
The six-year degree is ranked as the best medical degree in the world by Times Higher Education and is one of the most competitive to enrol in.