Thesis and papers
When writing a thesis or paper you must make good use of the insights you have gained during your lectures and studies so far. You should also refer to relevant literature and carry out your own research on the topic.
One of the most important things you will learn during an academic study programme is how to write an interesting piece of work that meets the criteria of scientific quality, whilst also being accesible to the broader public.
Refer to our Study skills pages for more information on academic writing skills.
Academic Fraud and Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a form of academic misconduct, comparable to cheating in an examination or deliberately falsifying research data. It constitutes a violation of another person’s intellectual property rights. In general, plagiarism is understood to mean presenting, whether intentionally or unintentionally, words, ideas, analyses, arguments, images, techniques, computer programs, or other material originating from someone else as your own work.
Because plagiarism is a form of deception and, by definition, undermines the very foundations of academic scholarship, cases of plagiarism are regarded as extremely serious by both the university and the Institute of Security and Global Affairs. Sanctions apply to acts of plagiarism and, in the most serious cases, students may face permanent termination of their enrolment in their degree programme.
If a student is uncertain whether something may constitute plagiarism, they should always consult the lecturer concerned.
Regulations regarding academic misconduct and plagiarism
The course description for the relevant course unit specifies which versions of an assignment, in addition to the final version, may be assessed. Students are therefore required to submit the relevant written assignments in both digital and printed form, in accordance with the guidelines published on Brightspace.
Where there is a suspicion of academic misconduct or plagiarism, the Board of Examiners will suspend the awarding of a grade and appoint a disciplinary committee from among its members and the examiners. This committee will consist of three members and will not include the examiner(s) or invigilators involved in the assessment concerned.
The disciplinary committee will, in any case, provide both the examiner(s) and the student concerned with the opportunity to be heard.
If the disciplinary committee determines that academic misconduct has been proven, the assessment will be declared invalid. The Board of Examiners may then impose a range of disciplinary measures. Different sanctions may be applied depending on the nature and severity of the offence.
Repository
Bachelor’s and Master’s students are required to submit their theses via the Leiden Repository. Academic misconduct relating to theses is treated with the utmost seriousness and is subject to severe penalties.