International students: your real experiences with essay mills & writing services in 2026?
Seeing more crackdowns on contract cheating, but curious how it's actually playing out for us internationals.
Many unis now treat paid writing services/ghostwriting as serious misconduct (possible expulsion, visa issues, permanent record stain), especially in UK, Australia, US, Canada. But let's be real: pressure is insane – language barriers, tight deadlines, cultural differences in writing style, plus fear of failing and losing scholarship/visa. Questions for those who’ve been through it (anonymously of course):
Have you ever used (or been tempted by) essay mills/ghostwriters?
Got caught or almost caught? What happened?
How strict is enforcement at your uni for internationals vs. domestics?
Better alternatives you found (tutoring, writing centers, AI tools with heavy editing)?
Do you think the policies are fair given the extra challenges we face?
No judgment – just want honest stories from the trenches.
As an international student in 2026, most people I know are much more cautious with essay mills than before. The risks are clearer now—policy enforcement is stricter, and oral checks make shortcuts dangerous. Some students still use services, but mainly for structure examples, editing, or language support, not full submissions. Tools like 99Papers.com are often discussed as references rather than copy-paste solutions. The real challenge is balancing language barriers with academic integrity. From real experiences, those who treated services as learning aids stayed safe; those who crossed the line usually regretted it.