A recent survey by British universities indicated a growing trend of large-scale plagiarism among graduating students.

According to the survey, this is because coursework is gradually replacing the traditional exam system for degree certificates.

The data reveals that the number of students graduating with first class has shot up to more than 15 percent compared to results of the past decade.

"Hundreds of courses are now 90 to 100 percent coursework, with first and second year exams and traditional finals abolished in subjects as wide ranging as history, English, psychology, philosophy, media, American studies, childhood studies and business management," reported The Telegraph, based on the date provided by universities.

The paper has revealed that a significant number of student population download previously written essays from the Internet and submit to the college as an easy way out.

Exams have almost disappeared and have been replaced by coursework in degree assessment in many universities.

The critics of the degrees by coursework claimed that students plagiarize their papers or download pre-written essays and pass them off as coursework. They also said that the figures showed that higher education is 'dumbing down.'

This will eventually take a toll on the creativity of the graduating students who are submitting coursework.

"A survey of 85 universities offering Bachelor of Arts degrees in history found that in more than half, 60 percent of the assessment is coursework. In one in five, 80 percent or more of the marks come from coursework," reported the news daily.

It also indicated that history assessment at Worcester University was completely done on the basis of coursework. "Last year, 20 percent of students gained a first-class degree, with a further 30 percent gaining a 2:1," the Telegraph said.

Meanwhile, a research report by Higher Education Academy has found that students who are being assessed though coursework fare well in terms of grades.

The report called as 'Coursework Marks High, Examination Marks Low: Discuss' has nailed that students on coursework-intensive courses score better grades than that achieved through traditional examination process.

"It is commonly believed that the standard of student performance in coursework tends to be higher than that achieved in formal examinations," the Higher Education Academy said in a statement, according to Daily Mail.

Degrees based on coursework also exist in the U.S.