Prison sentences and fines of up to 125,000 lei for selling academic theses

People who prepare and sell bachelor’s theses, master’s dissertations, and doctoral dissertations to order could be fined up to 125,000 lei or sentenced to up to three years in prison if the offense is committed systematically, by several people, or through the use of an official position. The Ministry of Education and Research (MEC) is proposing amendments to the Criminal Code and the Contravention Code to sanction these practices.

The initiative was presented today during consultations with authorities and university representatives.

According to the draft law, people who prepare academic papers for the purpose of selling them, knowing that they will be presented in whole or in part by someone else as their own work, could be fined between 37,500 and 57,500 lei. Other proposed sanctions include unpaid community service of between 120 and 180 hours or imprisonment for up to one year.

If the offense is committed by two or more people, systematically, or through the use of an official position, the fine could reach 125,000 lei, while the prison sentence could range from one to three years. In all cases covered by the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, offenders could also be barred from holding certain positions or carrying out certain activities for a period of one to five years.

The draft also provides for sanctions for acts that would be regulated by the Contravention Code. Thus, preparing, at the request or for the benefit of another person, or making available an academic paper that is to be presented as the person’s own work could be punishable by fines ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 lei for individuals, from 6,000 to 12,000 lei for officials, and from 9,000 to 15,000 lei for legal entities.

The initiative does not target legitimate activities such as academic guidance, consulting, reviewing, proofreading, translation, formatting, or methodological support, as long as they do not involve preparing or providing a paper that is to be presented as the student’s or researcher’s own work.

The MEC says the new provisions aim to protect the integrity of academic assessments and the authenticity of papers submitted at universities, as well as confidence in diplomas issued by higher education institutions.

Measures already taken in this area include the approval of the Framework Regulation on Academic Integrity, the introduction of the mandatory course “Academic Ethics and Integrity,” attended by approximately 27,000 students during the 2025–2026 academic year, and anti-plagiarism checks for bachelor’s and master’s theses.

A study conducted by the MEC in 2025, involving 3,635 students and 419 teaching staff from six universities, showed that plagiarism, cheating, favoritism in assessment, and the unethical use of artificial intelligence continue to pose challenges to academic integrity.