University of Buckingham AI Policy

The University recognises the educational value of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools when

used appropriately. To ensure fairness and uphold academic standards, students must follow the

guidance below when using such tools. Unless explicitly prohibited in the assessment brief or rubric,

students should assume that the use of GenAI in summative assignments is permitted, but only in

line with the general guidance below. Always check the assessment rubric if unsure.

Typical acceptable uses (unless explicitly prohibited in the assessment brief or rubric):

• Generating ideas or outlines for a topic

• Summarising lecture notes for revision

• Improving grammar or clarity of self-written text

• Brainstorming structure or key points

Unacceptable uses (unless explicitly authorised in the assessment brief or rubric):

• Using GenAI to write whole sections of an assignment

• Copying and pasting material directly from GenAI

• Paraphrasing source material using AI to avoid citation

• Generating citations or references that were not read/verified

• Submitting AI-generated images or code as original work

AI shall not be used for the following purposes:

• Generating complete assignments, essays, or research papers.

• Substituting the critical thinking and analysis required in academic work.

• Any form of cheating or academic dishonesty as defined by the university's

Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures.

This includes the

possession or use of unauthorised material or technology

during an examination and accessing unseen assessment

materials in advance of an examination. For example, this

includes the circumvention of proctoring software such as

ExamSoft.

All other items and materials are unauthorised and are not permitted at the

examination desk or on or about the student’s person.

Students bringing electronic devices into the examination room must ensure that

alarms/ other sounds are cancelled and the device is switched off*. The use of any

type of alarm clock is prohibited.

Any item suspected of being an electronic or smart device—or an accessory to one—

may be inspected and, if necessary, confiscated by an invigilator. This includes, but is

not limited to, watches, Fitbits, pens, glasses, wristbands, and other wearable items.

Students must switch off and hand in mobile phones and other unauthorised electronic

devices, to a member of staff upon entering the examination room.

AI tools may include the following purposes:

• To assist and inform you with:

▪ Initial research, planning and output development.

▪ A literature review and sourcing academic materials.

▪ Structuring output

▪ Data analysis and interpretation in research

▪ Enhancing creativity and generating ideas

▪ Grammar and spell checking.

Understand the AI tool’s limitations and therefore use it in conjunction with other

sources to ensure the information you present is credible and reliable. You need to

check the accuracy of all information generated by AI tools.

Typical acceptable uses (unless explicitly prohibited in the assessment brief or rubric):

• Generating ideas or outlines for a topic

• Summarising lecture notes for revision

• Improving grammar or clarity of self-written text

• Brainstorming structure or key points

Unacceptable uses (unless explicitly authorised in the assessment brief or rubric):

• Using GenAI to write whole sections of an assignment

• Copying and pasting material directly from GenAI

• Paraphrasing source material using AI to avoid citation

• Generating citations or references that were not read/verified

• Submitting AI-generated images or code as original work

AI tools may include the following purposes:

• To assist and inform you with:

▪ Initial research, planning and output development.

▪ A literature review and sourcing academic materials.

▪ Structuring output

▪ Data analysis and interpretation in research

▪ Enhancing creativity and generating ideas

▪ Grammar and spell checking.

Any use of AI must be properly referenced – see Appendix to this policy.

AI shall not be used for the following purposes:

• Generating complete assignments, essays, or research papers.

Ensure that you appropriately cite and reference any text or output generated by AI in

your work, along with any other sources you use. You should indicate clearly where

in your work you have used AI-generated material. This disclosure should include

the nature and extent of any AI assistance.

Any use of GenAI must be acknowledged. For short assignments, include a declaration at the end of the

document. For longer assessments such as dissertations or projects, this should be in the methodology

or appendix section.

AI tools may include the following purposes:

• To assist and inform you with:

▪ Initial research, planning and output development.

▪ A literature review and sourcing academic materials.

▪ Structuring output

▪ Data analysis and interpretation in research

Understand the AI tool’s limitations and therefore use it in conjunction with other

sources to ensure the information you present is credible and reliable. You need to

check the accuracy of all information generated by AI tools.

Falsification Any attempt to knowingly present and/or make use of fictitious

or distorted data, evidence, references, experimental results or

other material in assignments.

23. Breaches of Academic Integrity in research include any of the above breaches in

relation to examinations, supervised research and coursework including a failure to

comply with regulatory, legal and professional obligations such as a breach of

confidentiality, infringement of intellectual property rights, failure to take due care for

participants in research or of personal data, and abuse of research subjects or

materials (including artefacts).

Breaching ethical

standards

Examples include but are not limited to:

i. Collecting data without first securing formal ethical

approval.

ii. Collecting data for ethically approved studies without

obtaining informed consent from the participants.

iii. Falsifying data or fabricating fake data.

iv. Breaching participant confidentiality.

22.Ethical standards, particularly in research, are extremely important, and a breach of

these standards should be investigated as with any other breach of academic

integrity. This is relevant to both postgraduate research students and undergraduate

students carrying out research on taught modules. A breach of ethical standards

covers failing to comply with ethical obligations when carrying out academic work as

set out in any Institutional and discipline-specific Ethical Guidelines, such as failing to

obtain free and informed consent.

23. Breaches of Academic Integrity in research include any of the above breaches in

relation to examinations, supervised research and coursework including a failure to

comply with regulatory, legal and professional obligations such as a breach of

confidentiality, infringement of intellectual property rights, failure to take due care for

participants in research or of personal data, and abuse of research subjects or

materials (including artefacts).

Any use of AI must be properly referenced – see Appendix to this policy.

Ensure that you appropriately cite and reference any text or output generated by AI in

your work, along with any other sources you use. You should indicate clearly where

in your work you have used AI-generated material. This disclosure should include

the nature and extent of any AI assistance.

Any use of GenAI must be acknowledged. For short assignments, include a declaration at the end of the

document. For longer assessments such as dissertations or projects, this should be in the methodology

or appendix section.

Referencing AI Tools

Where AI-generated content is included, cite the tool using your discipline’s standard referencing style.

Example (Harvard): OpenAI. (2025). Response generated using ChatGPT on [date] via

https://chat.openai.com

A typical reference would be:

OpenAI ChatGPT (2023) ChatGPT response to Your Name, 10 July 2023.

In your text you would include (OpenAI ChatGPT, 2023).

AI detectors are not used within the University’s VLEs. If any are used by staff elsewhere, their results will

never be used on their own to refer a case for academic misconduct investigation (see paragraph 25).

Students may be asked to demonstrate their understanding of submitted work, especially where GenAI

use is suspected. This may include an oral discussion or authorship viva.

Any breaches of this policy will be dealt with using the Academic Integrity

Policy and Procedures

1.1 This policy aims to guide students and staff on the ethical and responsible use of

artificial intelligence (AI) in academic work. It seeks to harness the benefits of AI

while maintaining academic standards and integrity.

5.1 Processing University Data

Our Cyber Essentials accreditation requires that University data is processed on University-owned

devices or software platforms. Staff needing to work from a personal device must therefore sign into

the Staff Remote Access system before working with any data or use online software only.

When using a personal device, staff can:

• Use web-based versions of applications such as Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook

• Use the online editors for Word, Excel, and other documents

• Use the Staff Remote Access system for complete safety and security

When using a personal device, staff cannot:

• Download any University data

It is anticipated that during routine business there will be a requirement to share data with colleagues

and external agencies. Before doing so, ensure that you are aware of the sensitivity of the data, and

who the intended audience is. Do not share more than required and ensure that sharing will not cause

a breach of GDPR, Copyright, or other elements of section 1. Guidance can be sought from IT Services

or Legal Services.

Academic Artificial Intelligence Policy

Policy owner: University Assessment Learning and Teaching Committee

Implementation date: 1

st March 2024

Review date: Each Term

This policy draws on those developed at Deakin University, Australia and the University of Edinburgh, UK, the

addition, the “Russell Group principles on the use of generative AI tools in education” was considered.

a. This policy is produced by the University Assessment, Learning and Teaching

Committee (UALTC).