Teaching & Learning
- Students may use generative AI in assessed work only when its use is explicitly permitted in the assessment guidance, module handbook, or by the teaching team
- Where it is not allowed, presenting AI-produced output as the student's own work is treated as academic misconduct, and where it is allowed students remain responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and proper acknowledgement of any AI-supported work
A student found to have used Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) inappropriately, to include without limitation where, in an assessment or assignment, the student represented work generated by AI as their own, or where the use of AI was not permitted under the assessment guidance or module handbook or as communicated by the relevant teaching team, may be subject to disciplinary action under the Student Misconduct Procedure.
Whether or not the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is permissible in relation to a specific assessment or assignment should be determined by the relevant teaching team and this information should be set out in the relevant assessment guidance or module handbook.
Even where the use of AI in the context of an assessment or assignment is authorised and permitted, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure the integrity and originality of all submitted work and to acknowledge and reference the use of AI.
- Use of generative AI in assessments is decided at the assessment level by the teaching team
- If AI use is not permitted under the assessment guidance, module handbook, or teaching-team instructions, using it can lead to disciplinary action under the student misconduct process
A student found to have used Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) inappropriately, to include without limitation where, in an assessment or assignment, the student represented work generated by AI as their own, or where the use of AI was not permitted under the assessment guidance or module handbook or as communicated by the relevant teaching team, may be subject to disciplinary action under the Student Misconduct Procedure.
Whether or not the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is permissible in relation to a specific assessment or assignment should be determined by the relevant teaching team and this information should be set out in the relevant assessment guidance or module handbook.
- The university encourages students to use AI as a study support tool for explaining concepts, brainstorming, checking understanding, and improving revision materials
- However, students are warned not to rely on AI outputs without checking them, and they remain responsible for verifying accuracy because AI can produce incorrect or fabricated information
Use AI to support your study. Some examples of how AI can help include:
- It can help explain concepts and topics if you’re struggling to understand a paper.
- It can act as a tutor, checking your understanding by asking you questions.
- It can help you brainstorm and begin the process of generating your own ideas.
- It can help improve your work with proofreading and giving suggestions for your own writing.
- It can help create realistic examples and practice questions to support your revision.
Double-check any work that AI has contributed to. Be sure to review and critically evaluate AI-generated responses, as they may be inaccurate or biased. AI can produce “hallucinations” (made up or false information) and can’t be considered fully reliable or authoritative. You should always cross-reference information obtained from AI with credible, academic sources before relying on it for your own assignments or research. Be especially cautious about citing AI generated references and data. These are often entirely fictitious.
- AI use is only allowed where the teaching team permits it in assessment guidance or the module handbook, and students remain responsible for integrity and acknowledgement
- For programming-related assessed work, there is no separate university-wide coding rule in the provided sources; instead, AI use follows the same assessment-specific permission model
Whether or not the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is permissible in relation to a specific assessment or assignment should be determined by the relevant teaching team and this information should be set out in the relevant assessment guidance or module handbook.
Even where the use of AI in the context of an assessment or assignment is authorised and permitted, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure the integrity and originality of all submitted work and to acknowledge and reference the use of AI.
Research
- Users must critically evaluate AI-generated material and verify it against credible academic sources before relying on it in research
- The university allows AI to support research-related writing tasks such as summarising literature, proofreading, drafting, and helping structure written work, but it warns researchers not to treat outputs as authoritative
Use AI to support your research. Some examples of how AI can help include:
- It can help summarise lengthy articles and synthesize key themes in your literature review.
- It can support your writing by proofreading and helping improve clarity and structure.
- It can support your writing by helping get words and ideas on to the page.
- It can support your writing by helping generate interview questions or structure survey questions.
Double-check any work that AI has contributed to. Be sure to review and critically evaluate AI-generated responses, as they may be inaccurate or biased. AI can produce “hallucinations” (made up or false information) and can’t be considered fully reliable or authoritative. You should always cross-reference information obtained from AI with credible, academic sources before relying on it for your own assignments or research. Be especially cautious about citing AI generated references and data. These are often entirely fictitious.
- The university requires users to critically review outputs and verify any AI-contributed information because references and data generated by AI may be false
- UCLan permits AI support for certain research design and analytic tasks, including generating interview or survey questions and helping with coding and data analysis
Use AI to support your research. Some examples of how AI can help include:
- It can support your writing by helping generate interview questions or structure survey questions.
- It can help understand and apply coding and data analysis methods.
Double-check any work that AI has contributed to. Be sure to review and critically evaluate AI-generated responses, as they may be inaccurate or biased. AI can produce “hallucinations” (made up or false information) and can’t be considered fully reliable or authoritative. You should always cross-reference information obtained from AI with credible, academic sources before relying on it for your own assignments or research. Be especially cautious about citing AI generated references and data. These are often entirely fictitious.
- They only provide general cautions about checking AI-supported research work
- The provided sources do not set out a specific policy for AI use in grant proposals, ethics applications, IRB materials, or formal research-integrity declarations
not defined
Academic Integrity
- When AI use is permitted in assessed work, students must acknowledge and reference that use
- The university also directs students and staff to existing citation guidance for AI-generated content, including Harvard and APA-style resources
Even where the use of AI in the context of an assessment or assignment is authorised and permitted, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure the integrity and originality of all submitted work and to acknowledge and reference the use of AI.
The following guides provide advice on appropriate citation of GenAI generated images and text:
• Cite them Right Online: Harvard style and AI generated content
• American Psychological Association (APA) style: How to cite ChatGPT
- The sources provided do not state a university position on AI detection tools such as Turnitin or GPTZero
- Undisclosed or otherwise inappropriate AI use in assessments may be pursued as disciplinary misconduct under the Student Misconduct Procedure
A student found to have used Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) inappropriately, to include without limitation where, in an assessment or assignment, the student represented work generated by AI as their own, or where the use of AI was not permitted under the assessment guidance or module handbook or as communicated by the relevant teaching team, may be subject to disciplinary action under the Student Misconduct Procedure.
Institutional & Administrative
- The provided sources do not establish a formal policy on staff use of AI for grading, recommendation letters, or administrative communications
- The university provides staff-facing guidance and support for AI use, including workshops, online guidance, and sharing good practice in teaching and learning
A range of support is available to UCLan staff:
- The University AI Community Community Hub is a collaborative space for staff to share experiences and good practice.
- UCLan’s Digital Learning team offer AI workshops and online guidance for AI use in teaching, learning and assessment.
- Further support is available through the University’s Learning and Information Services (LIS).
- UCLan requires users not to upload personal, confidential, sensitive, copyrighted, or commercially sensitive information into public AI tools
- It also points users to institutionally supported options such as Microsoft Copilot, Adobe Firefly, and Gamma for safer access to AI functionality
Never enter any confidential or personal information into a GenAI tool. This includes your own data, as well as information relating to others such as UCLan staff and students, patient data and commercially sensitive information.
Please also be aware that it may not be lawful to use copyrighted works to train generative AI software, or to share copyrighted works with generative AI tools, without permission.
Microsoft Copilot is included within UCLan’s Microsoft 365 package and can be used for a variety of tasks, including answering questions, generating ideas and summarising content.
Adobe Firefly is available to UCLan staff and students and provides AI-powered image generation and creative support.
Gamma is a generative AI presentation tool, licensed and supported for use at UCLan.
- Its overarching position is that AI should be used as a support tool rather than a replacement for human judgement or original work
- UCLan has institution-level AI governance and implementation structures, including an AI working group, a university AI community hub, and service teams that provide AI guidance
The University has an AI working group who are constantly developing the support and guidance we offer on AI. This page will be updated with further information and links over time.
The University AI Community Community Hub is a collaborative space for staff to share experiences and good practice.
Use AI as a support tool, not a substitute. AI should be used to supplement and support your work and learning, not replace your own critical thinking or original effort.
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 University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)'s AI Policies
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
When AI use is permitted in assessed work, students must acknowledge and reference that use. The university also directs students and staff to existing citation guidance for AI-generated content, including Harvard and APA-style resources.
Undisclosed or otherwise inappropriate AI use in assessments may be pursued as disciplinary misconduct under the Student Misconduct Procedure. The sources provided do not state a university position on AI detection tools such as Turnitin or GPTZero.
UCLan requires users not to upload personal, confidential, sensitive, copyrighted, or commercially sensitive information into public AI tools. It also points users to institutionally supported options such as Microsoft Copilot, Adobe Firefly, and Gamma for safer access to AI functionality.