Mzuzu University (MZUNI) has withheld the graduation of 55 students after suspected irregular changes were detected in their academic records portals leaving the affected candidates in uncertainty as investigations continue.
The development follows social media reports alleging that some academic results at the public university were fraudulently altered.
While the institution has dismissed claims that fake degrees were awarded, it has confirmed that security features in its Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) flagged suspicious activity affecting 103 student portals in September last year.
In a statement issued on Monday, MZUNI said the detected discrepancies were immediately reversed and the affected portals were blocked to allow for investigations.
Of the 103 cases, only 55 involve students from the graduating class, whose graduation has since been withheld pending the outcome of the probe.
“The students concerned were informed of the situation and are cooperating with the investigating team,” the university said, adding that no final decision has yet been taken on their academic status.
University authorities stressed that none of the affected students is a first-class award candidate, countering claims circulating online that distinctions were fraudulently obtained.
The investigation is being handled by the Institutional Integrity Committee with technical support from the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the university’s legal counsel.
As part of the process, some members of staff have been suspended to allow investigations to proceed without interference.
For the affected students, the delay has created anxiety as they await clarity on their academic future. Graduation is a key milestone for many, often linked to employment opportunities and further studies.
MZUNI has reiterated its commitment to academic integrity, insisting it has never issued fake qualifications and that its systems are designed to detect and prevent manipulation.
The university also warned against what it described as deliberate misrepresentation of facts on social media.
The Institutional Integrity Committee is expected to conclude its investigations and present a report by the end of February 2026, after which the university says it will communicate key findings to stakeholders.
