The university uncovered the scam involving students on a postgraduate economics course using 'essay mills' to hoodwink lecturers and secure passing grades.

Also known as 'contract cheating', essay mills are services which enable students to pay other people to write their assignments on their behalf.

Officials at the UEA say the cheating was related to two of the course's modules and, when detected, led to a major internal investigation.

An aerial view of the University of East Anglia (Image: Newsquest)

Essay mills were made illegal in 2021 in a nationwide bid to crack down on cheating in higher education.

However, the UEA confirmed there had been no police involvement in the investigation, with issues dealt with internally.

The university refused to confirm what sanctions, if any, were taken against the students.

The one-year Masters course consists of taught modules in economic theory and advanced econometrics.

Students can also choose to focus on behavioural and experimental economics, finance........

© Eastern Daily Press