The number of university students caught cheating using technology has soared by 42% over the past four years, with experts warning that the actual figure could be significantly higher. Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests reveals a sharp increase in cases involving mobile phones, smartwatches, and hidden earpieces.
Among institutions providing comparable data, Queen Mary University of London reported 54 instances of cheating, with two-thirds involving technology. Similarly, at the University of Surrey, 12 out of 19 caught students in 2016 were using devices. Newcastle University recorded 91 cheating cases, 43% of which involved technology.
Experts suggest that the actual number of students cheating with technology is likely considerably higher than reported figures. Thomas Lancaster, an associate dean at Staffordshire University and a leading expert on academic misconduct, noted that reported figures only reflect detected cases, and well-executed cheats often go unnoticed due to the prevalence of difficult-to-spot mini-tech.
Concerns have also been raised about the open availability of devices marketed specifically for cheating. Multiple websites were found openly targeting students with gadgets designed for covert use in exams. One online seller of a wireless micro earpiece, priced at approximately £11, listed its potential uses for students alongside private investigators and law enforcement.
University rules regarding electronic devices in exams vary, but the advanced nature of some devices, such as hidden earpieces, can make detection almost impossible without external tip-offs. One academic manager recalled a case only discovered when other students reported it.