Teaching & Learning
- Presenting AI-generated work as one's own is treated as academic misconduct
- Use of AI in coursework is not allowed unless the module lead explicitly permits it
- Where it is permitted, students must use it only within the stated module guidance and must acknowledge any AI use
The use of AI is permitted in any module where explicit permission from the module lead has been given and this should be clarified in the module handbook. Any use of AI should be properly acknowledged.
This means that, unless your module lead has stated that AI tools can be used in relation to your studies, the default is that AI generated content should not be used in your work and to present the output of an AI generated answer as your own work would amount to plagiarism.
Producing academic work by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and presenting this as if it were your own work. AI can only be used where permission has been expressly given in the module specification or handbook and all use must be properly acknowledged.
- AI use in exams is prohibited
- Unauthorized AI use in assessments is also classified as academic misconduct
- Students may not use AI or machine translation in physical or online exams, and in online exams they must not search for, access, or use unauthorized materials or aids
Students are not permitted to use AI software and/or machine translation in either physical or online examinations.
You must not copy or use text generated by GenAI or another person in your work, as if this was your own.
It is Academic Misconduct to make use of unauthorised material and/or aids in an online exam. This includes, but is not limited to:
• searching for and/or using unauthorised websites, including essay banks or model answer sites,
• copying and pasting text from websites or documents,
• using your own notes where this is not authorised, and/or
• communicating online or offline with another person.
- Students are encouraged to treat AI critically and to verify information independently
- The university allows AI for personal study support such as clarifying concepts, revising text, and checking grammar, but warns students not to rely on AI outputs as accurate or use them as substitutes for their own assessed work
As long as AI is used in line with relevant guidance, there are lots of useful things it can do to support your learning.
There are many ways in which AI can support your learning – for example, if you ask the AI tool to explain a difficult concept in simple terms or to reword a text to be more concise or with correct grammar.
You should not, however, solely rely on AI generated output for your work. This is because AI generated output can often contain false or misleading information, or references that don't exist.
Like many online tools, the information generated is not guaranteed to be accurate. It may include bias, result in nonsensical answers, or provide references that do not exist.
- There is no university-wide rule specifically for AI code generation in taught programming assignments
- Any use of AI for assessed work, including coding tasks, follows the general rule that it is only allowed where the module lead has expressly permitted it and the use is acknowledged
The use of AI is permitted in any module where explicit permission from the module lead has been given and this should be clarified in the module handbook. Any use of AI should be properly acknowledged.
This means that, unless your module lead has stated that AI tools can be used in relation to your studies, the default is that AI generated content should not be used in your work and to present the output of an AI generated answer as your own work would amount to plagiarism.
Research
- Doctoral work may use AI only with explicit supervisor approval, and any use must be described and critically evaluated in milestone documents and thesis sections where relevant
- For research students and researchers, AI may be used to support writing tasks such as summarising, proofreading, editing, and improving readability, but it cannot be listed as an author and users remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of what they submit
AI technologies can assist with a wide range of research activities, from searching and synthesising literature and writing code to refining prose and generating summaries.
Several publishers permit AI to improve readability and language in manuscripts. Such use should always be disclosed in the acknowledgements section and generated content checked carefully for error and bias.
Manuscript drafts generated wholly or in part by AI must always be checked carefully for inaccuracy and bias before submission.
AI tools should not be listed as an author on a paper.
You are entirely responsible for the writing and all content in your paper. AI software can not be held responsible in the same way as a human can. This is true whether you are using AI software to assist with manuscript development or for another publication related purpose.
The use of generative AI in examinations is not permitted. However, AI tools may be used with supervisor approval in relation to progression, transfer and award, where this is approved by the Faculty DPGR.
The student should make a declaration in any report submitted for progression/transfer/award as to what use has been made of AI tools and critically discuss any AI generated content in the report.
All forms of generated content should be critically analysed and not accepted at face value. In all cases, responsibility for the original content and views expressed lies with the named author.
Section 7 of any transfer report should state whether and to what extent any artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, have been used in preparation of the report and state why this was appropriate. If AI generated content is included in the report, this should be critically discussed and justified.
- Researchers may use AI in research workflows, including coding and analysis-related activities, but only with careful human oversight
- The university requires researchers to understand the limitations of AI tools, validate outputs, and avoid entering confidential, personal, or commercially sensitive data into public AI systems unless approved safeguards are in place
AI technologies can assist with a wide range of research activities, from searching and synthesising literature and writing code to refining prose and generating summaries.
You should understand the strengths and limitations of the technology and the possibility that generated outputs may be inaccurate and include bias, fabricated information and references.
Information should not be entered into an AI system where to do so would breach any law, ethical, funding or contractual requirement or duty of confidentiality. This includes personal information, commercially sensitive information, protected intellectual property and confidential information such as unpublished findings in manuscript drafts or grant proposals.
Manuscript drafts generated wholly or in part by AI must always be checked carefully for inaccuracy and bias before submission.
- The research code of practice also requires honesty in authorship and proper acknowledgement of contributors
- The university requires AI use in research to comply with law, ethics, contracts, funding conditions, and confidentiality obligations
- Researchers must not use AI in ways that breach those requirements, and research integrity remains the responsibility of the human researcher; AI tools cannot take responsibility or authorship
Information should not be entered into an AI system where to do so would breach any law, ethical, funding or contractual requirement or duty of confidentiality. This includes personal information, commercially sensitive information, protected intellectual property and confidential information such as unpublished findings in manuscript drafts or grant proposals.
You are entirely responsible for the writing and all content in your paper. AI software can not be held responsible in the same way as a human can. This is true whether you are using AI software to assist with manuscript development or for another publication related purpose.
AI tools should not be listed as an author on a paper.
Researchers should ensure all contributors to the work are appropriately identified and acknowledged in line with disciplinary norms, publisher requirements and funder requirements where relevant.
Academic Integrity
- The library also directs students to cite and reference generative AI using specific guidance
- Disclosure of AI use is required wherever AI is permitted in taught work, and students must acknowledge such use
- For research and postgraduate milestone submissions, the university requires explicit declarations describing the extent of AI use and why it was appropriate, with critical discussion of any generated content
Any use of AI should be properly acknowledged.
The student should make a declaration in any report submitted for progression/transfer/award as to what use has been made of AI tools and critically discuss any AI generated content in the report.
Section 7 of any transfer report should state whether and to what extent any artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, have been used in preparation of the report and state why this was appropriate. If AI generated content is included in the report, this should be critically discussed and justified.
This guide will explain more about what Generative AI is, when to cite and reference it and how to do this using the referencing style required for your assessments.
- The provided sources do not define a university stance on AI detection tools themselves
- Undisclosed or unauthorized AI use is enforceable through the university's academic misconduct process
- Exeter classifies submitting AI-generated work as one's own, or using unauthorized aids in exams, as academic misconduct or plagiarism
Producing academic work by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and presenting this as if it were your own work. AI can only be used where permission has been expressly given in the module specification or handbook and all use must be properly acknowledged.
This means that, unless your module lead has stated that AI tools can be used in relation to your studies, the default is that AI generated content should not be used in your work and to present the output of an AI generated answer as your own work would amount to plagiarism.
It is Academic Misconduct to make use of unauthorised material and/or aids in an online exam.
Institutional & Administrative
- The position is strategic and developmental rather than a detailed university-wide conduct policy for all staff tasks
- The university's AI strategy states that staff should be enabled to use AI effectively and responsibly in their work, but the provided sources do not set detailed operational rules for grading, feedback, recommendation letters, or teaching administration
To unlock the transformative potential of AI, our University must enable our students, staff and our communities to understand AI and use it effectively and responsibly.
Our people are our greatest asset and the University’s key role in enabling AI will be to support our staff and students in the safe and ethical exploration and use of AI.
- The provided sources do not identify a single approved platform list in the extracted text
- The AI policy also requires compliance with university information governance and data protection requirements when using AI
- The university prohibits entering confidential, personal, commercially sensitive, protected intellectual property, or unpublished research information into AI systems when doing so would breach legal, ethical, contractual, funding, or confidentiality obligations
Information should not be entered into an AI system where to do so would breach any law, ethical, funding or contractual requirement or duty of confidentiality. This includes personal information, commercially sensitive information, protected intellectual property and confidential information such as unpublished findings in manuscript drafts or grant proposals.
This Policy should be read and applied in conjunction with the University’s Information Governance Framework, including but not limited to the Data Protection Policy, Information Security Policy, Records Management Policy, and Data Classification Policy.
- Exeter has a formal institution-wide AI strategy and AI policy focused on enabling safe, ethical, and effective adoption of AI across the university
- Its strategy frames AI around research, education, operations, and engagement, while the policy establishes governance expectations and links AI use to existing legal, ethical, and information-governance frameworks
Our Vision is to become a sector leading AI-enabled University, where AI enhances the education we offer, the quality and impact of our research, the efficiency of our operations, and strengthens our partnerships and engagement with our communities.
The purpose of this policy is to support the safe, ethical, effective, and efficient use of AI at the University of Exeter.
This Policy applies to all staff, students, workers, visitors, and contractors of the University, including those working at or studying in overseas campuses, and those undertaking placements and other activities off campus, using AI in connection with their University role or study.
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 Exeter's AI Policies
University of Exeter has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
Disclosure of AI use is required wherever AI is permitted in taught work, and students must acknowledge such use. For research and postgraduate milestone submissions, the university requires explicit declarations describing the extent of AI use and why it was appropriate, with critical discussion of any generated content. The library also directs students to cite and reference generative AI using specific guidance.
Undisclosed or unauthorized AI use is enforceable through the university's academic misconduct process. Exeter classifies submitting AI-generated work as one's own, or using unauthorized aids in exams, as academic misconduct or plagiarism. The provided sources do not define a university stance on AI detection tools themselves.
The university prohibits entering confidential, personal, commercially sensitive, protected intellectual property, or unpublished research information into AI systems when doing so would breach legal, ethical, contractual, funding, or confidentiality obligations. The AI policy also requires compliance with university information governance and data protection requirements when using AI. The provided sources do not identify a single approved platform list in the extracted text.