Turnitin Removal FAQ
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Turnitin Removal
Newcastle University has decided not to renew its contract with Turnitin beyond the end of the 2026/27 academic year. The University Education Committee reached this decision in September 2026, taking into account several factors including the student experience and concerns arising from changes to Turnitin’s End-User Licence Agreement (particularly around the potential use of colleague and student data for AI purposes from next year).
We will continue to evaluate alternative options to ensure that appropriate academic integrity standards are maintained throughout and beyond the transition.
What does this removal mean for me?
The withdrawal of Turnitin will mean moving to Canvas assignments for submission, marking and feedback. We will keep you updated at every stage, and training will be available to support you through the change.
We are seeking an alternative similarity-checking tool that will work in much the same way as the current service. Moving to Canvas assignments will also make assessment more consistent across Canvas, improving the experience for students.
Can I still use Turnitin Feedback Studio?
You can continue to set up assignments using Turnitin and Feedback Studio for Semester 1 and Semester 2 assessments in the 2026/27 academic year. However, we recommend using Canvas assignments for any assessments with a due date after the Semester 2 assessment period. This will ensure that submissions remain available for marking and review by exam boards. Please see guidance on Canvas assignments.
Can I still use Turnitin Similarity Checker?
For the 2026/27 academic year, you can continue to use Turnitin to generate similarity reports for submissions to both Canvas assignments graded through SpeedGrader and Turnitin assignments. Work is underway to identify a suitable alternative for generating similarity reports from the 2027/28 academic year onwards.
Do I need to change assignments I have already set up?
You do not need to change existing Turnitin assignments for Semester 1 or Semester 2 assessments in the 2026/27 academic year.
However, if an assignment has a due date after the Semester 2 assessment period, we recommend setting it up as a Canvas assignment to ensure submissions remain available for marking and review by exam boards.
What alternatives are there to Turnitin?
Canvas assignments provide an alternative to Turnitin assignments. Built into Canvas, they offer additional features, including support for multiple file submissions, larger file sizes, and video and audio submissions. A replacement service for generating similarity reports has not yet been selected, but we plan to have one in place before Turnitin is withdrawn.
Can I transfer my rubrics, QuickMarks and feedback banks?
We are still investigating the options for transferring rubrics, QuickMarks and feedback banks from Turnitin to Canvas. We will provide guidance on what can be transferred and what may need to be recreated, along with training to help you prepare for the change.
Where can I find more help moving to Canvas Speedgrader?
Please see our guidance on how to use Canvas assignments and Speedgrader.
If you would like to arrange a school specific training session to support you and your colleagues with the transition from Turnitin to Canvas assignments, please email ltds@newcastle.ac.uk.
Will the replacement tool check against previous student submissions?
Yes. We plan to transfer our existing Turnitin submission data to the replacement service so that previous student submissions remain available for similarity checking. We will share further details once the new service and transfer arrangements are confirmed.
What happens if marking or moderation continues beyond the withdrawal date?
We are still confirming arrangements for marking and moderation that continue beyond the Turnitin withdrawal date. All student submissions, grades and feedback will be retained, and we will share guidance on how to access them and complete any outstanding work.
If you expect marking or moderation to continue beyond the withdrawal date, we recommend using Canvas assignments when setting up your assessments.