Deakin University marking fiasco: Assignment copied from exam

Deakin University has launched an investigation after discovering a property law assignment was based on last year’s exam, with hundreds of students caught up in the “shameful” breach.

The Deakin University marking system is under investigation after hundreds of law students were impacted by a breach. Pictures: Janine Eastgate

The Deakin University marking system is under investigation because an assignment set for law students was based on a 2024 exam, the Herald Sun can reveal.

Professor Marilyn McMahon, dean of the Deakin Law School, confirmed the breach was uncovered in property law this week, affecting hundreds of students.

She said the university on Wednesday “became aware of an unacceptable overlap between the MLP327 Property Law assignment questions and the unit exam from last year”.

“The similarities compromised the integrity of a significant component of the assessment because some students might have been familiar with the content and task.”

The students in the subject still have to sit the exam on Monday amid confusion over the marking and status of the assessment component, which was due to count for 40 per cent of the marks.

Many took to social media to vent about the situation.

One student said in a TikTok that has been viewed 50,000 times, the university told students the exam would now count for 100 per cent of the marks in the subject.

“Instead of addressing the issue, or providing clarity, or providing a fair remedy, the university instead decides to send a hyperlink to mental health support,” he said.

Deakin students have taken to social media to vent about the situation.

Another student wrote on his post that many pupils have been impacted by the “laziness and dishonesty” of the assignment setter.

“There are law students who have worked so hard to get into this course, to achieve their dreams, to do well on the assignment so they could feel less stressed for the exam,” they wrote.

“Now so many students are burdened with the outcome of your decision. Three days out from exams, no less! It is cowardly, disgusting and shameful.”

Another said: “I got the highest score I’ve ever got for law and now it’s void!”

And another: “One student doing the assignment had to do it while taking care of her newborn.”

Professor McMahon said the university was “listening to the feedback and concerns of our students and are revising alternative assessment options to ensure no one is disadvantaged or worse off.”

“I have conveyed my most sincere apologies for the disruption and will remain in regular contact to provide updates and support. The integrity of our assessment processes is our highest priority. We are investigating how this occurred and taking steps to prevent it from happening again,” she said.

Originally published as Deakin University marking fiasco: Assignment copied from exam