Who owns your work?

As an undergraduate or taught postgraduate student, you generally own the intellectual property (IP), including copyright, of the work you create during your studies. This means essays, dissertations, creative projects, software, or any original material you produce for your degree belong to you.

However, there are some important exceptions to keep in mind:

• Jointly Created Work: If your work has been co-created with university staff (for example, a research supervisor or lecturer), the intellectual property might be jointly owned by you and the university.
• Group Projects: When collaborating with fellow students, ownership might be shared among group members. It's wise to discuss IP ownership clearly with your team and document agreements.

Understanding your IP rights can help you confidently manage and protect your work during your studies and beyond. For more guidance, see the University of Sussex.

Using other people’s work

When using materials created by others, it’s crucial to respect intellectual property rights and follow good academic practice.

Exceptions

Under fair dealing (in the UK), you may legally use portions of copyrighted materials without permission, provided it's for educational purposes, commentary, criticism, or research. Always use minimal amounts necessary and acknowledge the original author.

Guidelines for quoting, summarising, and referencing

• Quoting: Use quotation marks around exact words and provide a reference to the source.
• Summarising: Restate information concisely in your own words and acknowledge the original source.
• Referencing: Consistently follow the referencing style recommended by your department e.g., APA, Harvard, MLA to credit sources.

Using online materials

Materials found online, including images, articles, and social media content, are usually protected by copyright:

• Licenses - always check for usage permissions; look for a Creative Commons license.
• Attribute the original creator.
• Avoid using images with unclear ownership or terms; if unsure, select a different image or seek permission directly from the copyright holder.