ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

While the use of AI in assessments has previously been prohibited unless otherwise stated, we are now moving to per-assessment AI guidance. This means that there will be specific permissions and instructions for each assessment on the use of AI.

What are the key things to know?

For each assessment, your module handbook and/or assessment documents should specify which uses of AI are essential, optional or prohibited.

The assessment-specific information should also tell you how to acknowledge and provide evidence of any AI use.

If you can't find this information, check with your module convenor. Do not make any assumptions about uses of AI in your assessments.

Why are we introducing this approach?

As a student and in work or life outside university, you will need to hone a critical and informed approach to AI use. This means working both with and without AI; making ethical judgments about when to use it; and making informed judgements about its outputs. That is why in your academic work, we will sometimes ask you to use AI in specific ways to support your learning and sometimes to complete certain tasks without AI. On other occasions you will have some choices to make in how and when you use AI.

Many of you have told us that you are already using AI and would like clearer guidance to support you in your studies. The move to per assessment AI guidance aims to provide this. This approach has been developed in consultation with staff in each academic school, with students, and by consulting research and guidance from expert organisations.

Creating assessment-specific guidance in response to AI is new for your lecturers and for the university, so there is a process of adaptation in both teaching and learning. You should find that there is AI guidance – as to how to use or not use AI – in relation to each assessment. As always, please ask your lecturer or module convenor if you have any questions.

Why and how do I provide evidence of AI use in my assessments?

Transparency and proper acknowledgement are crucial to academic work. Readers should be able to see easily how you have used ideas from elsewhere: whether that's from academic journals, news media, artificial intelligence or somewhere else. Remember that assessments are designed for you to develop your skills and demonstrate what you have learned. Transparency about the role of AI in your work can help you and your tutors observe and track your learning.

There are currently no standard conventions on how to reference AI use. Nevertheless, you should provide clear information about where and how you have used AI in each piece of work. Assessment documents and tutors should set clear expectations from the start of the module, so that you know what information and evidence to collect as you work through each piece of work. Note that the information and amount of detail you are asked to provide might vary, depending on the purpose and type of assessment, so again, always check the per assessment AI guidance.

Where can I find more information?

For guidance around using AI in your assessments, consult your assessment brief, module handbook and/or documents for each assessment. Do not assume that if AI is permitted in one assessment, then that is the same for all. If you can’t find the relevant AI information for your assessment, check with your tutor or module convenor.

There’s more general guidance here:

Guidance for students on responsible AI use in assessments and/or study support:

Optional