Teaching & Learning
- Aston University provides university-level guidance for students on the ethical use of generative AI in study and assessment, including how to acknowledge AI correctly
- However, the provided sources do not set a single explicit university-wide rule in these materials stating whether AI use in coursework is permitted, prohibited, or left to instructor discretion
### Artificial Intelligence for study and assessment
Follow this online course, designed by Aston University students and staff, to increase your understanding of the expectations related to academic integrity and the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in assessment. Clarifying the University's stance on the use of Generative AI in study and assessment you will:
* Get tips on constructive and ethical use
* learning about risks and limitations
* find out where to look for information about acknowledging AI correctly
* find out how to get support when needed
- The provided sources do not include a specific exam regulation in these materials explicitly allowing or banning AI use during examinations
- Aston University states that its AI study-and-assessment guidance addresses expectations on academic integrity and the ethical use of AI in assessment
### Artificial Intelligence for study and assessment
Follow this online course, designed by Aston University students and staff, to increase your understanding of the expectations related to academic integrity and the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in assessment. Clarifying the University's stance on the use of Generative AI in study and assessment you will:
* Get tips on constructive and ethical use
* learning about risks and limitations
* find out where to look for information about acknowledging AI correctly
* find out how to get support when needed
- Aston University offers students an online course about AI for study and assessment
- The course is positioned as support for constructive and ethical use, awareness of risks and limitations, correct acknowledgement, and where to get help
### Artificial Intelligence for study and assessment
Follow this online course, designed by Aston University students and staff, to increase your understanding of the expectations related to academic integrity and the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in assessment. Clarifying the University's stance on the use of Generative AI in study and assessment you will:
* Get tips on constructive and ethical use
* learning about risks and limitations
* find out where to look for information about acknowledging AI correctly
* find out how to get support when needed
Research
- The provided sources do not set a specific rule in these materials on using AI to draft or edit research papers, theses, or manuscripts
- The university-wide AI policy applies to AI-related projects that underpin research outputs, but states that some research outputs may instead be governed by external funder or discipline-specific codes of practice
• AI-related projects, including those underpinning research outputs (subject to separate
Research Governance provisions).
This Policy does not apply to research outputs governed by external funder or discipline-specific codes of practice.
- Aston University requires AI projects to be assessed using a risk-based framework
- Medium- and high-risk uses require data privacy impact assessment and ethics review, and the code of conduct bars disclosure of personal, confidential, or third-party proprietary data to public AI services without written approval from both the CIO and Data Protection Officer
AI systems are classified by potential impact and data sensitivity:
Category Description Examples
Low Risk Non-sensitive tasks, minimal impact Spell-check, generic content
generation
Medium
Risk Limited transparency; non-critical data Chatbots, non-sensitive image/video generation
High Risk Impacts health, safety, education,
employment; sensitive data
Admissions scoring, medical triage
systems
Unacceptable Activities posing fundamental rights
violations
Un-targeted personal data
scraping; deepfake abuse
• Assessments: All AI projects require an AI Risk Assessment; Medium/High
risk mandates Data Privacy Impact Assessment and Ethics review. RAAC may
put in place project requirements based on the risk rating.
• Do not disclose personal, confidential or third-party proprietary data to public AI services
without the written approval of the Chief Information Officer and Data Protection Officer.
- Aston University requires AI projects to undergo risk assessment, and medium- or high-risk projects must also undergo data privacy impact assessment and ethics review
- The policy also requires human oversight for significant decisions and states that AI is an augmentation tool rather than a replacement for professional judgment; supervisors must review and oversee ethics application submissions from researchers under their supervision before submission
• Assessments: All AI projects require an AI Risk Assessment; Medium/High
risk mandates Data Privacy Impact Assessment and Ethics review. RAAC may
put in place project requirements based on the risk rating.
6. Human Oversight & Accountability: Maintain human-in-the-loop for significant
decisions and provide mechanisms for challenge and redress.
• Maintain human oversight; AI is an augmentation tool, not a replacement for professional
judgment.
It is also the role of the supervisor to review and have oversight of the content of ethics application
submissions from researchers under their supervision and to check the researcher’s documentation,
ensuring that any inaccuracies including spelling and grammar are corrected, before signing the
application off and authorising its submission to the ethics committee.
Academic Integrity
- Aston University directs students to guidance on acknowledging AI correctly in study and assessment
- At the institutional policy level, it also requires transparency and clear disclosures of AI use to stakeholders
3. Transparency & Explainability: Ensure AI decision-making processes are
explainable to stakeholders, with clear disclosures of AI use.
### Artificial Intelligence for study and assessment
Follow this online course, designed by Aston University students and staff, to increase your understanding of the expectations related to academic integrity and the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in assessment. Clarifying the University's stance on the use of Generative AI in study and assessment you will:
* Get tips on constructive and ethical use
* learning about risks and limitations
* find out where to look for information about acknowledging AI correctly
* find out how to get support when needed
- The provided sources do not mention AI detection tools specifically
- Aston University treats academic offences as including several forms of academic and intellectual malpractice, and assigns Academic Offences Officers to investigate suspected cases and determine whether there is sufficient evidence to charge a student
This page collates contacts, resources, and other useful information for all staff involved in academic offences processes. Academic offences cover many forms of academic and intellectual malpractice, including cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the commissioning or purchasing of work, falsification of data, and the impersonation or allowing the impersonation of a student for the purposes of assessment attendance.
Academic Offences Officers are the Authorised Officers within their Colleges to investigate any cases of potential academic offences raised by colleagues and decide whether the evidence presented is sufficient to charge a student with a suspected offence.
Institutional & Administrative
- Aston University’s AI policy applies to staff as well as students, and staff working with AI must complete mandatory ethical AI and data protection training
- The university also states that all staff will receive Microsoft 365 Copilot with training and support, and that academic staff will have tools intended to support research; across the policy, human oversight remains required and AI is not to replace professional judgment
This Policy applies to all Aston University campuses and operations, and covers:
• All staff, students, contractors, honorary and adjunct personnel.
• Mandatory Training: All staff and students working with AI must complete the
University’s Ethical AI and Data Protection e-module.
• Maintain human oversight; AI is an augmentation tool, not a replacement for professional
judgment.
Aston University has become one of the first universities in the UK to offer Microsoft 365 Copilot to all staff with training and support, as well as providing access to Copilot Chat for all students.
* The initiative will provide students with work-ready skills, and academic staff tools to boost their research.
- The university has also adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot institutionally for staff and Copilot Chat for students
- The policy prohibits entering personal, confidential, or third-party proprietary data into public AI services unless there is written approval from the CIO and Data Protection Officer
- Aston University requires privacy-preserving AI adoption, uses a risk-based framework tied to data sensitivity, and requires additional privacy and ethics controls for medium- and high-risk AI projects
This Policy establishes Aston University’s commitment to fostering cutting-edge AI
innovation while ensuring the ethical, safe, and privacy-preserving adoption and use of AI
across all University activities.
AI systems are classified by potential impact and data sensitivity:
Category Description Examples
Low Risk Non-sensitive tasks, minimal impact Spell-check, generic content
generation
Medium
Risk Limited transparency; non-critical data Chatbots, non-sensitive image/video generation
High Risk Impacts health, safety, education,
employment; sensitive data
Admissions scoring, medical triage
systems
Unacceptable Activities posing fundamental rights
violations
Un-targeted personal data
scraping; deepfake abuse
• Assessments: All AI projects require an AI Risk Assessment; Medium/High
risk mandates Data Privacy Impact Assessment and Ethics review. RAAC may
put in place project requirements based on the risk rating.
• Do not disclose personal, confidential or third-party proprietary data to public AI services
without the written approval of the Chief Information Officer and Data Protection Officer.
Aston University has become one of the first universities in the UK to offer Microsoft 365 Copilot to all staff with training and support, as well as providing access to Copilot Chat for all students.
- The policy also explicitly prohibits agentic AI systems that can act independently of human oversight or control
- It uses a Responsible AI Adoption Committee chaired by the CIO to review and approve new AI initiatives, monitor compliance, and support continuous improvement
- Aston University has a university-wide AI policy intended to support AI adoption across teaching, research, and operations while embedding ethics, privacy, fairness, transparency, and accountability
This Policy establishes Aston University’s commitment to fostering cutting-edge AI
innovation while ensuring the ethical, safe, and privacy-preserving adoption and use of AI
across all University activities. It balances enabling sector-leading research, teaching, and
operational excellence with robust safeguards against bias, discrimination, data misuse, and
potential harm.
The main objectives are to:
1. Enable Innovation: Support novel AI solutions that drive educational, research, and
administrative impact in a sustainable manner.
2. Protect Rights and Privacy: Adhere to data protection, privacy, and intellectual
property laws.
3. Uphold Ethics and Safety: Embed human-centred values, fairness, transparency, and
accountability.
4. Manage Risk: Apply a proportionate, risk-based governance framework for AI systems
and solutions.
4.1 Responsible AI Adoption Committee (RAAC)
• Chaired by the CIO, reporting to University Executive.
• Reviews and approves new AI initiatives.
• Monitors AI portfolio, ensures compliance and continuous improvement.
• Policy updates: Review annually as a minimum, or upon significant legislative,
technological or organisational changes.
• Maintain human oversight; AI is an augmentation tool, not a replacement for professional
judgment. As part of our commitment to the responsible adoption of AI, the university
explicitly prohibits the development, deployment, or integration of agentic AI systems —
defined as AI entities that exhibit autonomous decision-making capabilities with the
potential to act independently of human oversight or control.
DocuMark: Responsible AI Use for Academic Integrity
Knowing your institution's AI policy is step one. DocuMark helps enforce it fairly by empowering universities to manage AI-generated content, prevent cheating, and support student writing through responsible AI use.
Common Questions About Aston University's AI Policies
Aston University has defined AI policies in 11 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 92%.
Aston University directs students to guidance on acknowledging AI correctly in study and assessment. At the institutional policy level, it also requires transparency and clear disclosures of AI use to stakeholders.
Aston University treats academic offences as including several forms of academic and intellectual malpractice, and assigns Academic Offences Officers to investigate suspected cases and determine whether there is sufficient evidence to charge a student. The provided sources do not mention AI detection tools specifically.
Aston University requires privacy-preserving AI adoption, uses a risk-based framework tied to data sensitivity, and requires additional privacy and ethics controls for medium- and high-risk AI projects. The policy prohibits entering personal, confidential, or third-party proprietary data into public AI services unless there is written approval from the CIO and Data Protection Officer. The university has also adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot institutionally for staff and Copilot Chat for students.