A senior academic is under investigation for allegedly plagiarising the dissertation of one of his students.

Dr Remco Polman, a 'practitioner psychologist', is facing a conduct and competence hearing at the Health Professionals Council (HPC) next week, over allegations that he plagiarised a dissertation by Jeannette Cohen. He denies the allegations.

Ms Cohen, 33, from Bushey, finished her Master's in sport and exercise science at Leeds Metropolitan University in 2002. She wrote a dissertation entitled Mood States and the Home Advantage in Professional Sport, for which she received a distinction.

In November 2007, an article on the same subject was published in the Journal of Sports Sciences, for which Dr Polman was named as lead author. Ms Cohen was also named, but she says that she came across the article by chance, realised there was an overlap with her dissertation and then complained.

The HPC is now looking into claims that Dr Polman, who was Ms Cohen's dissertation supervisor, "reproduced substantial sections" from her dissertation without permission, failed to take steps to make contact with her, and signed an Agreement for the Transfer of Copyright form without her consent.

Dr Polman is currently a professor at the University of Central Lancashire and sits on a number of British Psycholigical Society committees, including its Professional Practice Board and Ethics Committee.

If proven, the charge could lead to Dr Polman being suspended or struck off.