Sydney bans students caught with fake doctor’s certificates

Scores of students at one of Australia’s leading universities have been caught using fake doctor’s certificates in a bid to get extra time in assessments or examinations.

The University of Sydney said that 65 students were found to have used forged or illegally purchased professional practice certificates in applications for special consideration over the past three years, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Only 10 of the cases resulted in expulsions, ranging from one year to a permanent ban, according to data released under the Government Information (Public Access) Act. The remainder of offences led to suspensions for one or two semesters, although the penalties were suspended in 40 cases.

Providing falsified documents was the common reason for suspension or expulsion at Sydney, the Herald reported, running at almost twice the number of disciplinary actions for academic dishonesty.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com