The Australian National University has launched an investigation into an essay farm selling completed assignments to Chinese students in Canberra.

Concerns about the cheating service were raised by former students who believed someone within the university community was exploiting international students for profit.

The Australian National University will investigate an online assignment cheating service. Credit:Louise Kennerley

ANU deputy vice-chancellor, professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington, said any student caught using the service would face disciplinary action and possible expulsion.

The company, Assignment King, advertises its services in Mandarin on a community website and promises to deliver original assignments that cannot be detected by anti-plagiarism software.