Review date: July 2027
We are committed to maintaining high academic standards and ensuring that every qualification is earned through genuine learner effort. To support this, all submitted massage treatment logs, case studies and course-associated assignments are automatically checked using an AI and Plagiarism Detection Tool.
The reasoning behind this is twofold:
- It helps us confirm that your work is original, properly researched, referenced, and authentically yours.
- The integrity checking process also supports adherence to the programme’s Total Qualification Time (TQT) requirements, by ensuring that learners produce their own work.
It also reinforces the expectation that study continues beyond scheduled Guided Learning Hours (GLH) and that learners engage meaningfully with independent learning activities.
Why We Use Integrity Checking Tools
These checks are in place to:
- Uphold academic integrity – ensuring all learners produce their own work.
- Improve academic writing – helping you develop strong writing and referencing skills.
- Identify accidental mistakes – such as missing citations or unclear paraphrasing.
- Detect AI-generated text – protecting the value of your learning and qualification.
These tools are not designed to penalise you, but to support your development as an ethical and competent practitioner.
Understanding the Benchmarks
Plagiarism & Similarity Benchmark: 40%
Similarity scores reflect how much of your assignment matches existing sources.
- Score of 40% or higher: Your assessor will contact you with their feedback and you must rewrite the flagged sections in your own words and resubmit.
- High scores caused by references: If your bibliography or reference list pushes your score above 40%, this is not a problem. You must resubmit with correct referencing, and your assessor will re-mark your work before feeding back to you.
AI Detection Benchmark (case studies, treatment logs and assignments): 20%
Our policy strictly prohibits using AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) to generate, edit, or reword any part of your assignment.
- Score of 20% or higher: Your assessor will inform you, and you will be required to rewrite the affected sections and resubmit.
Even using AI to “tidy up” or “rephrase” your own writing counts as AI-generated content and is not permitted.
Artificial Intelligence in Assessment
You must use these principles to inform your own choices about the use of AI in assignments and written and recorded work such as case studies. You are responsible for your choices and the consequences of them.
| Not Acceptable | Acceptable |
|---|---|
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Using AI to create content which you then edit into your work, or submit it all as your own work – even if it has been edited or paraphrased by you, in part or in full. This applies to set assignments, case studies and single treatment logs. |
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What You Need to Do
Submit your assignment, case study or treatment report. We will pre-read the work and then operate the checking system.
Respond honestly if contacted. If your assessor raises concerns about plagiarism or AI use, you must respond openly and transparently. SNT is committed to academic honesty, and we expect the same from all learners.
Handling occurrences.
- First occurrence: You will be allowed to revise and resubmit your assignments, case studies or treatment logs, once the issues are addressed.
- Repeated occurrences: Multiple breaches may trigger a formal investigation under our academic guidelines.
Serious consequences. Academic misconduct is taken very seriously by SNT and by our Awarding Organisations.
- Investigations: Significant or repeated plagiarism or AI use may lead to a formal investigation. Final decisions rest with the Awarding Organisation – VTCT/ITEC or the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA).
- Deregistration: In previous cases, learners have been removed from their course and prevented from completing their qualification.
Why This Matters
Maintaining your own academic voice is essential for your professional development. These checks help you build the skills you will need, should you progress to a higher-level qualification, where academic honesty and independent writing become even more important.
Use the feedback from our integrity tools as an opportunity to strengthen your writing, referencing, and confidence in your own academic abilities in advanced study.
Lastly, the absence of genuine independent study hours – evidenced when case study work is produced or influenced by AI-generated content – is detrimental to meeting the programme’s required Total Qualification Time (TQT) and undermines compliance with the National Occupational Standards (NOS).
Submitting inaccurate or artificially generated evidence of study hours or case-based work to the Awarding Organisation may be considered a form of maladministration. This includes presenting AI-generated case studies or reflective work as genuine learner activity. Maladministration is treated as a serious breach of assessment regulations and can result in significant consequences for the school, including formal investigation, sanctions, or loss of centre approval.
Learners must therefore demonstrate authentic engagement with all assignment, treatment report and case study activities, to ensure that the qualification reflects true competence and applied learning.
