"Do you need to write your final degree project? We'll do it for you": The offers already reaching Catalan university students

BarcelonaDirectly and without subterfuge. In recent days, social media has started to see viral content from companies that, without hesitation, offer their services to university students to complete their final degree projects (TFG), master's final projects (TFM), or even doctoral theses. Although the number of offers of this type is considerable, one has drawn particular attention because it directly addresses students at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC).

"Hey, UOC student: your TFG is due now. Don't worry, we'll do it for you (You're welcome)." This is the message that appears on a story An Instagram ad that, if clicked, redirects you to the TUTFG website. The company presents itself as a group with "more than 600 professionals," which is exactly what students "need" to complete their TFG, TFM, thesis, or "any other academic project."

In this way, personalized treatment is promised, and it is assured that the student will receive "partial advances [of the work in question] so that they can "request all the corrections" they need. Furthermore, given the student's "concern" about whether the university detects a case in the work they submit, the company assures that In fact, they explain that they use a tool called Turnitin which, according to the company, is "the leading tool for detecting similarities and plagiarism used by thousands of universities."

Given the viralization of this announcement, sources from the UOC insist on the commitment to transmit, generate and acquire knowledge in an honest and ethical manner." They assure that, "although the majority of students make this commitment, unfortunately copying and fraud are practices present in the evaluation processes of all educational contexts, in person or online, and not only at the university."

For all these reasons, they warn that the UOC "considers that a possible form of plagiarism is trying to pass off another author's work as one's own, and even hiring a third party to do the work," and they warn that the university's commitment to academic integrity "also includes initiating appropriate legal action."

Flood of similar offers

However, this isn't the only such offer circulating online. Once you click on this first ad, Instagram's algorithm causes similar ads to appear the next time you visit the social network, with messages like: "We'll write your final project, thesis, or thesis today," "Your final project is just a click away," or "The difference between failing and graduating."

These companies offer everything from support for completing university assignments similar to what you might receive at a tutoring school to the option of having your previous work reviewed to ensure the university won't detect any plagiarism. Some even go so far as to guarantee that a team of professionals will "write" your final project. Regarding fees, none of the websites consulted by the ARA detail the price a student must pay to have a university assignment written. They all insist that it's necessary to contact them to obtain a quote, as each assignment and student have different needs.

Faced with this situation, sources from the Department of Research and Universities consulted by ARA warn that "the proliferation of companies offering to carry out final degree or master's theses in exchange for money is "a direct attack on the credibility of the university system" and "an alarming example of how certain sectors commercialize the issue in which they only reproduce the academic effort." The value of university degrees and undervalue the work of the vast majority of students who do take on the challenge of learning and growing through their work."

The same government sources emphasize that final theses "are an essential part of the educational journey," because they allow the acquired skills to be put into practice and "demonstrate." To undertake this process means giving up on learning."