Understanding Turnitin: A Guide for Australian Postgraduate Students

Dr Sarah Mitchell · 2025-09-22 · 7 min read · Academic Integrity

Learn how Turnitin works in Australian universities, what similarity scores really mean, and how to ensure your thesis maintains academic integrity.

Introduction

Turnitin is used by virtually every Australian university to check submissions for textual similarity. For postgraduate students working on a thesis or dissertation, understanding how Turnitin works is essential — not just to avoid academic misconduct allegations, but to ensure your work meets the highest standards of academic integrity.

How Turnitin Works

Turnitin compares your submitted text against:

**A database of student papers** submitted to Turnitin globally

**Academic journals and publications** (via CrossRef and other databases)

**Web content** indexed by Turnitin's web crawler

It produces a **Similarity Report** highlighting matching text and providing an overall **similarity percentage**.

What the Similarity Score Means

A common misconception is that a high similarity score equals plagiarism. This is **not** the case. The similarity score simply indicates how much of your text matches other sources.

What's considered acceptable?

There's no universal threshold, but general guidelines for Australian postgraduate theses:

**0–15%:** Generally acceptable — includes properly cited quotes and common phrases

**15–25%:** Worth reviewing — check that all matches are properly attributed

**25%+:** Requires attention — investigate whether paraphrasing is adequate

**Important:** Your supervisor and examiner will review the Similarity Report in context. A thesis with 20% similarity that is entirely properly cited is fine; one with 5% that contains a single uncited paragraph is problematic.

What Turnitin Flags (and What It Doesn't)

Turnitin WILL flag:

Direct quotes (even if properly cited)

Closely paraphrased text

Your own previously submitted work (self-plagiarism)

Common methodological descriptions

Reference lists and bibliographies

Turnitin WON'T detect:

Contract cheating (using a ghostwriter) — unless the text appears elsewhere

Translation plagiarism (translating from another language)

Ideas taken without attribution (only textual matches)

Images, charts, or code

Tips for Reducing Your Similarity Score

1. **Paraphrase effectively:** Don't just swap synonyms. Restructure sentences and integrate ideas in your own voice.

2. **Use direct quotes sparingly:** Reserve quotation marks for particularly impactful or precise language.

3. **Cite everything:** Even common knowledge in your discipline should be supported if you're unsure.

4. **Exclude reference lists:** When running a self-check, exclude your bibliography from the comparison.

5. **Don't submit drafts to external tools:** Some "plagiarism checker" websites store your text, making it appear in Turnitin later.

Self-Checking Before Submission

Most Australian universities allow students to run a Turnitin self-check through their LMS (Canvas, Blackboard, or Moodle). Some important notes:

**Wait 24 hours** between resubmissions for the report to regenerate

**Review each match** individually — don't just look at the overall percentage

**Check with your faculty** about specific requirements or thresholds

Academic Integrity Policies in Australia

Australian universities take academic integrity extremely seriously. Consequences of plagiarism can include:

**Warning and resubmission** (for minor, unintentional cases)

**Grade penalty or failure** of the unit

**Suspension or exclusion** from the university

**Degree revocation** in severe cases

All Australian universities are signatories to the *Australian Academic Integrity Network* principles, and many use the *Academic Integrity Policy* framework developed by TEQSA (the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency).

Conclusion

Turnitin is a tool for ensuring quality, not a trap. Understanding how it works empowers you to submit with confidence. DissertlyPro offers professional plagiarism checking and paraphrasing services to help ensure your thesis meets Australian university standards.