More than 40 Masters students met with representatives of the School of Business about the referral of up to 60 students from two City Campus courses to the plagiarism officer.

The affected students are mostly international students studying Masters of human resources, marketing, business or finance, and claims come from subjects in management and organisational behaviour and branding and development.

Newcastle University Students Association president Heather Richards said they were told that managers’ hands were tied and procedures had to be followed.

While the university had committed to expediting the process Ms Richards said that still left students in an uncertain situation, some of whom were close to graduating or could not enrol in new subjects.

It will be up to plagiarism officers to process the claims, which could take months, she said.

‘‘It’s looks like the policies and procedures have enabled a situation whereby the system is overwhelmed,’’ she said.

Some students have also been accused of plagiarism for a second assignment in one course, which many felt was a reprisal for their complaints, which the university denied.

A Chinese human resources student who only wanted to be known as Jo said he felt the university was being insincere and bureaucratic.

A university spokeswoman said the work of a number of students contained a range of possible problems.