The structure is implicit in arguments and purpose of procedures and functions, the data structures, and the logic of the program as determined by the sequence of statements, conditional constructs and loops. It is not acceptable merely to take another person's program and modify the variable names. It is usually the case that identical or near identical program structures indicate plagiarism and are relatively easy to detect. It is particularly easy to copy computer files. Unauthorised copying is stealing .
Severe penalties exist to punish instances of theft.
If a student suspects that some work has been stolen, the unit coordinator should be informed immediately. If a possible case of plagiarism is detected, the students concerned will be interviewed by the unit coordinator and at least one other staff member not involved in the teaching of the unit. Should plagiarism be confirmed, then appropriate measures will be taken, and applied to all students involved in the plagiarism except that no penalty will be applied to an innocent party who did not permit the copying of his or her work. Penalties for plagiarism will range from a mark of zero in the particular assignment or project to a mark of zero in the unit as a whole. In extreme cases, acts of plagiarism will be reported to the Associate Dean and may be dealt with by a Board of Discipline under University Statute 17.