A university's zero-tolerance policy against cheating has been challenged as a student has won a court order to obtain his diploma, reports Guangzhou Daily.

The student, identified as Xiao Dong, was caught taking a cheat sheet into an exam in January 1996. But he was allowed to continue his studies after he showed remorse for his actions and later passed the exam at a second sitting.

But when he completed all of his course work in 2001, the university would only give him a graduation certificate, citing a university policy that denies diplomas to all students caught cheating on exams.

Xiao Dong sued the university last year on the grounds that the policy conflicted with national law.

The Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court recently announced its final verdict on the case - the university should grant a student a diploma as long as he or she has qualified for it.

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