How to read your university's AI policy, and what to ask your tutor
Short answer
Your university's AI policy is only the first layer. The rule that actually applies is usually set for each assessment, in the brief or module handbook, and it wins over general guidance. Read all three layers, look for a few key words, and ask your tutor in writing when it is unclear.
Where policies live
AI rules usually sit in three places: a university-wide policy or guidance page, often linked from the academic integrity or misconduct pages; a department or programme handbook; and the brief for each assessment. Search your university site for "generative AI", "academic integrity" and "academic misconduct", then check your virtual learning environment for the module page and brief.
Institution, course and assignment rules
UCL's guidance shows how the layers fit. It offers a framework of three categories of AI use, but says the final decision is up to the staff member setting the assessment, who may add conditions, and tells students that instructions in assessment briefs take precedence. Its Academic Manual, as quoted in the guidance, makes each module leader responsible for telling students how far AI may be used in each assessment.
The Russell Group's principles explain why: appropriate uses differ between disciplines, and universities encourage departments to apply institution-wide policy in their own context. So two of your modules can have different rules, and both are right.
Words that matter
| Look for | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| "Not permitted" or "category 1" | No AI in the assessment itself |
| "Assistive" | Limited help, such as feedback or proofreading, with you as the author |
| "Integral" | Using AI is part of the task and may be marked |
| "Acknowledge" or "declare" | You must state how you used it |
| "Cite" | You must reference it in a set style |
| "Unfair advantage" | The catch-all test for misconduct |
Also check what the policy says about entering data into tools. UCL warns students not to upload sensitive data without meeting data protection rules, and research funders such as UKRI say personal data about others must never be entered without consent.
Reading one rule closely
Imagine a module handbook, invented for this page, that says: "Generative AI may be used to support your learning but must not be used to produce assessed text. Any use must be acknowledged."
Read it word by word. "Support your learning" suggests tutoring, explanations and revision are fine. "Must not be used to produce assessed text" rules out drafting, rewriting and probably paraphrasing tools. "Any use must be acknowledged" means even the allowed uses need a statement. What it does not say is whether feedback on a draft counts as supporting learning or producing text. That is the question to put to your tutor, in writing, before you rely on it.
Most policies have a gap like this somewhere. Finding it before you use a tool is far easier than explaining it afterwards.
What to ask your tutor
If the brief is silent or unclear, ask before you use a tool, by email so you have the answer in writing. Useful questions:
- Which category, or level, of AI use applies to this assessment?
- Is using AI for feedback on my own draft allowed?
- Are grammar and paraphrasing tools treated as AI use?
- How should I acknowledge any use?
The Russell Group's principles commit its universities to an environment where students can ask about specific uses openly and without fear of penalisation. Then see is using AI plagiarism?, AI on a research proposal, AI in a dissertation and how teachers check work.
More on this in Integrity.
FAQ
Where do I find my university's AI policy?
Search the university site for generative AI and academic integrity guidance, then check your module handbook and assessment brief.
What if my module and university rules differ?
The assessment-level rule usually applies. Many universities say the brief takes precedence over general guidance.
What if the brief says nothing about AI?
Ask your tutor in writing before using any tool. Do not assume silence means permission.
Is acknowledging AI the same as citing it?
No. Acknowledging means describing how you used it; citing means referencing it in a set style. Policies ask for one, the other or both.
Can rules change during the year?
Yes. Policies are being updated often. Check the brief for each assessment rather than relying on last term's rules.
This guide explains common rules; your institution's policy decides what is allowed on your work.
Sources
- Three categories of GenAI use in assessmentUCL Teaching and Learning
- Principles on the use of generative AI tools in educationRussell Group
- Use of generative artificial intelligence in application preparation and assessmentUK Research and Innovation
