Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a normal part of university life and can be a really helpful study tool. It can support your learning, but it must never replace your own thinking, skills, or effort. Use this guide to make sure you are using AI in a way that is responsible, honest, and within university rules.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a normal part of university life and can be a really helpful study tool. It can support your learning, but it must never replace your own thinking, skills, or effort. Use this guide to make sure you are using AI in a way that is responsible, honest, and within university rules.
What AI Is (In Simple Terms)
AI means computer systems that can analyse information, spot patterns, and generate responses, such as text, images, or summaries. In education, AI tools can help you understand content, improve your writing, and organise your study materials.
AI should support your learning, not do your learning for you.
Helpful Ways to Use AI
You can use AI to:
- Summarise articles, lectures, or difficult concepts.
- Brainstorm ideas and plan essays or projects.
- Improve your writing (grammar, spelling, clarity, structure).
- Help with initial searching for sources (you must always check and verify them yourself).
- Quiz yourself and check your understanding.
- Create or refine a study timetable.
- Organise and summarise your notes.
- Practise critical thinking by asking questions and discussing different viewpoints.
- Develop your inquiry skills by learning how to ask better questions.
Ways You Must Not Use AI
You must NOT use AI to:
- Write or complete your assessments for you (or any part of them, unless your module explicitly allows it).
- Take exams, quizzes, or tests on your behalf.
- Generate ideas, arguments, or answers that you do not understand.
- Create fake citations, references, or data.
- Hide or lie about using AI in your work.
Be Honest and Transparent
- Always acknowledge and reference any use of AI, just as you would acknowledge other people’s help.
- Never submit AI-generated tex as if they were fully your own work. This is academic misconduct.
- Remember that AI can be wrong, biased, or incomplete. Always fact-check, read critically, and use your own judgement.
- You are responsible for anything you submit, even if an AI tool helped create it. Make sure you fully understand the content.
Use AI to Learn, Not to Shortcut
AI is a study aid, not a shortcut. Use it to:
- Structure your thoughts and plan your work.
- Check your understanding and spot gaps in your knowledge.
- Improve your writing while keeping your own voice and ideas.
- Test yourself and prepare for exams.
- Do not rely on AI so much that you skip practising key skills (reading, writing, analysis, problem-solving). If you can’t explain your work without AI, you are using it too much.
Know the Rules for Each Assessment
Different assessments may have different expectations about AI.
Always:
- Check your module handbook and listen carefully to what your Module Leader says about AI use for each assignment.
- Ask if you are unsure what is allowed.
Typical assessment designs include:
AI not used in the assessment itself
- The assessment makes AI use during the task impossible or irrelevant (for example, a live exam, viva, performance, or presentation).
- You may still use AI to prepare and study, as long as you follow this guidance.
- You must cite any AI used in line with your programme or university referencing guidance (for example, Cite Them Right or discipline-specific rules).
- Not citing AI when you have used it is considered plagiarism and may lead to penalties.
AI allowed, but not required
- You can (but are not required) to use AI while working on the assessment.
- Any use of AI must follow university and programme guidance.
- You must clearly acknowledge and reference AI use.
- AI must not complete the assessment for you.
AI required as part of the task
- You must use AI for part or all the assessment.
- Your Module Leader will tell you which tools to use, how to use them, and how to report and reference them.
- You must still cite AI correctly.
- Failing to acknowledge AI use is still plagiarism, even when AI is required.
Protect Your Personal Data
When using AI:
- Do not enter personal details such as your full name, student number, address, phone number, or private messages.
- Avoid uploading full assignments or sensitive documents into tools that do not clearly protect your data.
- Prefer tools recommended or provided by the university.
- Be cautious with links, sources, or claims generated by AI, as some may be inaccurate or made up. Remember, you are responsible to critically assess and check the AI output. Your submission is your responsibility.
Be Fair, Inclusive, and Balanced
- Not everyone can afford paid AI tools, so try to rely mainly on tools provided or approved by the university.
- If you are finding your work difficult, use AI alongside other support: tutors, academic skills services, and library staff.
- Do not let AI become your only form of help or feedback.
Think About the Environment
- Large AI systems use a lot of energy and have an environmental impact.
- Use AI when it genuinely adds value to your learning, not out of habit.
- Remember that AI can also be used in positive ways to support environmental research and sustainability, so using it thoughtfully is part of being a responsible learner.
Get Future-Ready
Employers expect graduates to understand how to use AI effectively, ethically, and safely.
Learning good habits now will help you in the workplace, where AI is already used in many roles and sectors. Use AI to build your skills—critical thinking, communication, analysis—rather than replacing them.
Quick Summary: Dos and Don’ts
Use AI to:
- Summarise complex materials and prepare revision notes.
- Brainstorm, plan, and organise ideas.
- Improve grammar, clarity, and structure in your writing.
- Find starting points for research (and then check out real sources yourself
- Quiz yourself and deepen your critical thinking.
- Prepare for exams and practise explaining ideas in your own words.
Avoid using AI for:
- Writing or completing assignments or exam answers for you.
- Making up references, quotes, or data.
- Faking understanding or replacing your own thinking.
Stay secure and ethical:
- Keep your account safe with strong passwords and, where possible, multi-factor authentication.
- Don’t upload personal or sensitive information into AI tools.
- Be careful with free tools that may use your data, voice, or images.
- Be transparent about any AI use in your work and follow your university’s citation rules.
- Always check AI-generated content for accuracy, bias, and relevance.
If you are ever unsure whether your use of AI is acceptable, ask your Module Leader, lecturer, or academic advisor before submitting your work.
Link to full university guidance: ld.php