How to Complete the ANU Academic Integrity Module for International Students

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Since 2023, the Australian National University (ANU) has required all newly enrolled international students to complete the Academic Integrity Module within 28 days of enrolment. The module is designed to systematically reduce the incidence of academic misconduct — according to ANU’s internal 2022 data, about 14.7% of first-time violations occurred within the first 6 weeks of enrolment【ANU Academic Skills, 2022, Academic Integrity Annual Report】. As of 2024, students who have not completed the module have their access to the Wattle course system locked, leaving them unable to submit assignments or view grades, which directly affects the academic progress requirements attached to their visa status: the Australian Department of Home Affairs requires international students to maintain “satisfactory course progress”【Australian Department of Home Affairs, 2024, Student Visa Conditions】. This article breaks down the module’s completion steps, common obstacles, and what happens afterwards.

Accessing the Module and Logging In

Entering the Module via Wattle

All ANU international students must log in to the Wattle learning management system with their student account (Uni ID). On the Wattle homepage, a course named “Academic Integrity Module (AIM)” is automatically added to the “My Courses” list. If it does not appear, click “Site Home” and search for “Academic Integrity” to find it manually.

When the Module Is Triggered

The module is triggered only once, when a student first enrols at ANU or transfers into the university. According to ANU Academic Skills, all new students and transfer students have been automatically enrolled since Semester 2, 2023 — no manual application is needed. After logging in, the module status shows “Not yet attempted” until you begin.

Module Content Structure

Four Core Learning Units

The module consists of four interactive units, each taking about 15-20 minutes:

  • Unit 1: Fundamental principles of academic integrity — covers ANU’s honour code and citation rules
  • Unit 2: Common types of violations — including 12 specific case types such as plagiarism, collusion, and contract cheating
  • Unit 3: Correct citation practice — based on the two main citation systems, APA 7th and AGLC4
  • Unit 4: Consequences and appeal mechanisms — explains the five-level penalty process for academic misconduct, from warning to expulsion

Knowledge Quizzes

Each unit ends with 5 multiple-choice questions, and you must score at least 80% (4 out of 5 correct) to move on to the next unit. If you fail, the system allows unlimited retakes, but each retake randomly swaps out 30% of the questions in the question pool. According to ANU’s 2023 Student Experience Survey, about 62% of students failed Unit 3 on their first attempt【ANU Student Experience Survey, 2023】.

Proof of Completion and Submission

Getting Your Completion Certificate

After passing all four units, the system automatically generates a Certificate of Completion in PDF format showing your name, Uni ID, and completion date. Download and keep this certificate — it serves as one of the credentials for subsequent course registration.

Submitting to ISIS

Log in to the ISIS student information system and upload the certificate under the “Academic Integrity” section. The system usually verifies it automatically within 24 hours. Once the status shows “Completed”, the module is officially recorded. If the status has not updated after more than 48 hours, contact Student Central or the Academic Skills team (email: academic.skills@anu.edu.au).

Common Technical Issues and Fixes

Browser Compatibility

The module runs on the Moodle 4.1 platform and is best supported on Chrome 115+, Firefox 118+, and Edge 117+. Safari users may find that videos fail to load; switching to Chrome is recommended. If the module still will not load on campus Wi-Fi (such as eduroam), try connecting through a VPN, as some overseas IPs may be rate-limited by the module’s CDN provider.

Lost or Reset Progress

In rare cases, a network interruption can cause your progress to be lost. ANU IT Services recommends clicking the “Save Progress” button manually after completing each unit. If progress has been lost, contact the IT Service Desk (phone: 02 6125 5000) with your Wattle login logs, and technicians can restore your progress to the most recent save point.

Consequences of Not Completing the Module

Course Access Restrictions

Under ANU’s 2024 academic policy revisions, students who do not complete the module within 28 days have their Wattle course pages automatically locked. Once locked, you cannot view course materials, submit assignments, or join discussions. To regain access, complete the module and wait for the system to unlock it automatically — this usually takes 1-2 business days.

Visa Compliance Risks

The Australian Department of Home Affairs requires international students to meet the “satisfactory course progress” requirement. If failing to complete the module prevents you from submitting assignments and therefore affects your course grades, you may trigger a Section 20 notice (a “student not meeting requirements” notice). According to 2023-24 financial year data, ANU issued 47 such notices, 12 of which were directly or indirectly related to non-completion of the Academic Integrity Module【Department of Home Affairs, 2024, Student Visa Compliance Data】.

Ongoing Obligations After Completion

Annual Confirmation Requirement

After completing the initial module, students must complete an Annual Integrity Confirmation before the start of Semester 2 each year. It takes about 5 minutes and is pushed out through Wattle. Students who miss the confirmation also face course access restrictions.

Retraining After a Violation

If a student commits an academic misconduct violation later in their studies, the ANU Academic Board may require them to redo the module, plus an additional one-on-one interview component. According to the ANU Discipline Committee’s 2023 report, about 34% of retraining cases involved international students, with contract cheating and collusion being the most common types【ANU Discipline Committee, 2023, Annual Report on Academic Misconduct】.

For cross-border tuition payments, some student families use dedicated channels such as Flywire tuition payments to complete the currency exchange, ensuring funds arrive on time and avoiding course registration issues caused by payment delays.

FAQ

Q1: How long is the Academic Integrity Module certificate valid?

The certificate is valid permanently, but students must complete an Annual Integrity Confirmation (about 5 minutes) each year. If you miss the confirmation, your Wattle course access will still be locked. As of 2024, ANU has not set an expiry date for the certificate.

Q2: Will I be expelled if I don’t complete the module within 28 days?

Not expelled directly, but it will trigger a course access lock. If you remain incomplete for more than 60 days, you may receive a written warning from Student Central, and your visa compliance could be affected. According to ANU’s 2023 data, about 8% of new students did not complete the module within 28 days, and 95% of them finished it within 7 days of receiving the warning.

Q3: Does the module count toward my GPA or course grades?

No. It does not count toward your GPA or any course credit. The module exists purely as a compliance requirement, and completion is recorded only as “Pass/Fail”. Not completing it will not affect grades you have already earned, but it will block future assignment submissions.

References

  • Australian National University Academic Skills. 2022. Academic Integrity Annual Report.
  • Australian Department of Home Affairs. 2024. Student Visa Conditions.
  • Australian National University Student Experience Survey. 2023. Academic Integrity Module Feedback.
  • Australian National University Discipline Committee. 2023. Annual Report on Academic Misconduct.
  • UNILINK Education. 2024. ANU International Student Compliance Database.