Universities increase measures to combat academic fraud as websites offer to do work. A proliferation of online services for third-level students offering “pay as you go” essays has prompted universities to review their policies against plagiarism. DCU is one of a number of institutions that are altering their methods of assessment, in tandem with the rollout of “cut-and-paste” detection software, to combat the threat of academic fraud.

The chair of a universities' task force on reforming admissions procedures for third level has admitted colleges have been artificially inflating points by offering courses with a small student intake.