At UCC, the question of what someone else may do to your dissertation has two answers, depending on your degree. For research master's theses, UCC's regulations rule out paid proofreading and copy-editing. For taught work, including projects and minor dissertations, the rule on undeclared help from a third party applies. Here is what UCC publishes on that, on ethics approval and on the Skills Centre, checked 22 October 2026.
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UCC's regulations on the Submission and Examination of Theses for Research Master Degree (version 4.0, approved by Academic Council on 11 October 2024) are explicit: "The use of external professional individuals or organisations for proof-reading, copy-editing of theses or other services on a paid basis is not permitted." The next sentence spells out the consequence: "Candidates found to have engaged such assistance in preparing their thesis will be deemed to be in breach of examination regulations."
This rule sits in the regulations for research master's degrees. It is not stated in this form for undergraduate projects or taught master's dissertations, so do not read it as a rule for every UCC dissertation. The same regulations ask supervisors to make students aware of all aspects of plagiarism, and ask candidates to follow their School's norms on structure, style and referencing.
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Try the free previewFor taught work, UCC's policy on Academic Integrity for Continuous Assessments is the relevant text, and it covers projects and minor dissertations. Its definition of contract cheating describes a student who "uses an undeclared and/or unauthorised third party, online or directly, to assist them in dishonestly producing work for academic credit or progression, whether or not payment or other favour is involved." Payment is not the test; undeclared or unauthorised help in producing the work is.
The same policy draws the boundary with research degrees: "It does not apply to allegations of academic misconduct in Research Theses (Doctorates and Masters by Research), which are handled by the UCC Code of Research Conduct." If a friend or a paid service offers to go through your taught dissertation, ask your supervisor or Programme Director first, and declare whatever help you accept.
The Skills Centre's handout Planning Your Dissertation advises you to settle your topic, research questions and main argument early, and adds: "Make sure to confirm those with your supervisor before you start working." It also warns that departmental guidelines, format and citation style differ by subject and by supervisor, so the handout cannot replace what your department sets.
The School of English and Digital Humanities sets out its approach in its ethics guidelines for staff and student research: "Ethics approval must ALWAYS be obtained IN ADVANCE of carrying out the research and ethics approval CANNOT, under any circumstances, be granted retrospectively." Undergraduate applications are handled at School or Department level, because the university's Social Research Ethics Committee does not review them.
The form is something you complete yourself, but not alone: "the following application should be completed in full by students and signed by their project supervisor(s)". It then goes to the School's Ethics Officer. Other Schools have their own route, so ask your supervisor which one applies to you.
In the MA in Film and Screen Media, the dissertation is written under the guidance of a supervisor or co-supervisors, and the module includes a presentation: "Students will present their dissertation in the form of a presentation to a panel of staff from the Department, prior to the final submission date." For the thesis proposal the handbook gives a plain instruction: "Submit via Canvas using the relevant Turnitin link." The extension policy is set out in the department's separate booklet, Assessment Guidelines and Procedures, so read it before you need it. The same handbook lists the use of AI and generative software as prohibited by the department: if that is your programme, do not upload your work to an AI tool, Esmond included.
A presentation before submission is a chance to hear the questions your work raises while you can still act on them. Not every UCC programme has one; if yours does not, a supervisor meeting can serve a similar purpose.
The Skills Centre runs free workshops, sessions and online resources for UCC students, including workshops for postgraduates on mapping out a dissertation and writing a literature review. Its one-to-one service is described in one line: "The Skills Centre offers students personalised feedback on essay structure & style."
Its handout on proofreading treats proofreading as a skill you build yourself: "Proofreading is the last stage in the editing process." It suggests making a checklist of your own recurring errors, drawn from the feedback your tutors have given you.
Esmond evaluates; it does not write. You upload your own draft and get comments in the margin plus a report that shows where your argument, method or use of sources is weaker, and why. It does not write or rewrite your text: it points to the weak spot and offers guidance on how to revise it. Where a comment includes an example, it illustrates a principle; the sentence you submit is one you write yourself.
UCC has no connection with Esmond and has not endorsed it. Esmond uses language models, so using it counts as AI use. Rules on AI vary by university, programme, module and assignment. Check your module or programme handbook before you upload, and if it is unclear, ask your supervisor or module coordinator and declare the use if your institution asks you to.
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Esmond evaluates your work and writes nothing for you. Each comment points to a passage, explains what a supervisor or examiner might question, and offers guidance on how to revise it. You decide what to change, and every sentence stays yours.
This page summarises published institutional guidance and links to the original sources. It is not legal advice and not a ruling on your assignment: what your programme, module or supervisor sets always comes first.
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For a research master's thesis, no: UCC's regulations say paid external proofreading and copy-editing are not permitted. For taught dissertations that rule is not stated in the same form, but undeclared or unauthorised third-party help can count as contract cheating. Ask your supervisor or Programme Director first.
Undergraduate applications are handled at School or Department level, not by the university's Social Research Ethics Committee, and your supervisor signs the application. Approval always comes before the research starts.
No. UCC has no link with Esmond and has not endorsed it. Esmond is an AI tool and does not write or correct your text; check what your module allows on AI and disclose any use the way it asks.
Official regulations, School pages and Skills Centre material, checked 22 October 2026. Quotations are word for word; the rest is our summary. Read the full text at the source.
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