Changes to Assignment Submission from Semester 2 2026/27 – Frequently Asked Questions for Students

From the start of Semester 2, February 2027, the University will stop using Turnitin for online assignment submission. Instead, you will submit all your assignments through Blackboard Assignment, the submission tool that is already built into the Blackboard courses you use every day.

This change applies from the start of Semester 2 of the 2026/27 academic year. You will be given clear guidance about how to submit work via Blackboard Assignment before the change affects any of your modules.

Blackboard Assignment is already used for many modules at the University. Moving to it for all modules means you will have a consistent experience - one system, one place to submit, one place to find your feedback - rather than switching between Turnitin and Blackboard depending on the module.

The submission process is similar to Turnitin. You will still submit your work online, receive confirmation that your submission has been received, and access your feedback and grade in Blackboard. The main difference is that you will no longer need to leave Blackboard to submit your work through a separate system.

Yes. Blackboard Assignment includes an originality checking tool called SafeAssign. It compares your submitted work against a database of sources and produces a similarity report. Your tutors will use this report as part of the marking and academic integrity process.

Blackboard Assignment accepts common file types, including Word documents, PDFs, PowerPoint files, and text files.

Yes. Blackboard Assignment records the exact time of your submission and generates a submission receipt, just as Turnitin does. Keep your receipt as proof of submission.

Your tutor will provide feedback directly within Blackboard - this may include written comments on your document, an overall feedback statement, and a completed marking rubric. You will be notified when your feedback is available, and you can access it through the same Blackboard course where you submitted.

Yes. Blackboard's marking tool allows tutors to add comments, highlights, and annotations directly on your submitted document, similar to how feedback appears in Turnitin.

Your grade will appear in the Blackboard Gradebook for your module.

When the Turnitin contract ends on 31 July 2027, you will no longer be able to view past submissions or feedback made to the Turnitin system. If there are submissions or pieces of feedback you want to keep, we recommend downloading them before the contract ends. We will remind you of this in good time with guidance on how to download your work.

Yes. The University is required to retain records of student work for a defined period after submission. We are making arrangements to archive relevant submissions and feedback before the contract ends, particularly for final-year undergraduate work and dissertations.

No. The University's commitment to academic integrity is unchanged. Submitted work will still be checked for originality through SafeAssign, and the same expectations around your own work, referencing, and the use of generative AI tools apply regardless of which submission system is used.

Please speak to your module leader or programme team, who can advise you. Any relevant records will be preserved by the University before the Turnitin contract ends.

The Student Centre is your first point of contact for any technical issues.

Yes. Guides, video walkthroughs, and FAQs will be published and accessible via Blackboard and the Learning Innovation and Digital Engagement (LIDE) blog well ahead of the 2027/28 academic year. If Blackboard Assignment is new to you, it is quick to get familiar with.

Start with the Student Centre. For module-specific questions, speak to your module leader.