The latest University guidance (printable version) shows what you can and must not do when it comes to generative AI (GenAI).
Remember, it is essential that you acknowledge any use of GenAI in your assessments and that you understand how to incorporate it into your studies effectively. In Academic Misconduct, the more cases you have, the stricter the penalties become. You can access support from the Student Union’s Help and Advice services on the SU website.
| You can :) | You mustn't :( | Academic misconduct offences :| | |
| Idea generation | You can often use it to brainstorm and develop your own ideas, with acknowledgement. | You mustn’t represent GenAI ideas as your own or use GenAI where the assignment requires you to create the ideas yourself. | Using GenAI ideas, images, plans and/or summaries as your own without acknowledgement. The minimum penalty is Academic Naivety, the maximum is 5 (see policy). |
| Planning your work | You can generate suggested structures, based on your assessment brief, while critiquing the results yourself. | You mustn’t use GenAI in your work, without acknowledging it. | Using GenAI ideas, images, plans and/or summaries as your own without acknowledgement. The minimum penalty is Academic Naivety, the maximum is 5 (see policy). |
| Finding sources | You can perform initial scoping searches, using GenAI, to identify keywords and concepts. Then use academic and library tools for your literature search. | You mustn’t use sources without reading them, incorporate references that do not exist or generate reference lists with GenAI for materials you have not read. | Fake Referencing, where the citation is fabricated, or the citation does not include the information indicated. The minimum penalty is 3, the maximum is 6 (see policy). |
| Summarising | You can summarise readings with GenAI where copyright permits, so you can decide if they are relevant, and then read the original sources yourself. | You mustn’t submit GenAI summaries as your own work, submit work you do not understand, or rely on GenAI summaries and syntheses. |
Using GenAI ideas, images, plans and/or summaries as your own without acknowledgement. The minimum penalty is Academic Naivety, the maximum is 5. Extensive use of GenAI ideas, images, plans and/or summaries as your own without acknowledgement (over 50%). The minimum penalty is 3, the maximum is 6 (see policy). |
| Editing and proofreading | You can use GenAI tools to check the spelling, grammar and readability of your work. | You mustn’t submit work that has been changed so much through GenAI that it changes the meaning and content, and/or that you can no longer understand and explain it. |
Using GenAI or other proofreading tools to alter work to the extent that you can no longer understand and explain it. The minimum penalty is 2, the maximum is 5. Extensive use of GenAI or other proofreading tools to alter work to the extent that you can no longer understand and explain it (over 50%). The minimum penalty is 3, the maximum is 6 (see policy). |
| Generating feedback | You can use GenAI to get feedback on drafts of your work, alongside input from modules and guidance from University of Worcester staff. (Always check the terms of use and privacy policy for the tool you are using). | You mustn’t accept GenAI feedback uncritically, without referring to assessment briefs or learning outcomes. | |
| Generating images | You can use AI image generation to create unique images for written assignments or presentations and acknowledge the source you have used. | You mustn’t use a generated image without acknowledgement or where the assignment requires you to create the image yourself. |
Using GenAI ideas, images, plans and/or summaries as your own without acknowledgement. The minimum penalty is Academic Naivety, the maximum is 5. Extensive use of GenAI ideas, images, plans and/or summaries as your own without acknowledgement (over 50%). The minimum penalty is 3, the maximum is 6 (see policy). |
| Analysing data | You can use GenAI (if permitted for your assessment) to analyse data and identify patterns in non-sensitive data, but remember that it has limitations, in terms of analysis and potential bias. | You mustn’t use GenAI to fabricate your data, or to analyse your data where it is not permitted for your assessment. | The presentation of data in laboratory work, projects etc. based on work purporting to have been carried out by the student but which has been invented, altered or falsified.The minimum penalty is 3, the maximum is 6 (see policy). |
| Using data | You can use data that is depersonalised and non-sensitive, but remember that GenAI has limitations, in terms of analysis and potential bias. | Do not enter personal or sensitive data into GenAI, especially information from emails or records, as this poses privacy and security risks. Misuse may raise fitness to practise (FtP) concerns, which relate to maintaining professional standards, professional competence, and health. | The FtP procedures aim to protect students and those around them, and to safeguard public trust in the professions. Upon receiving a relevant concern, the Head of Department will conduct an initial review to determine if further investigation is warranted. |
| Testing your knowledge | You can use GenAI to complement revision strategies, e.g. explain concepts and generate quizzes to test your knowledge. | You mustn’t assume that GenAI will generate accurate revision materials – always check it. |
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human thought processes by computers. AI has been around for a while. It powers the predictive text on your phone, spell checks your Word document or recommends items for your online shop. AI can be a useful tool.
Generative AI (GenAI) is a more recent development. With your prompts, tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can process large amounts of data and create content. However, it is important to use these tools effectively and ethically, and to recognise their limitations. GenAI cannot think or create anything original. Those skills are up to you.
GenAI like ChatGPT and deepfake tools raises ethical issues:
Many AI tools are free, but an increasing number require payment and quality and availability can be variable. You should not be required to subscribe to an AI tool as part of your course.
For more information see: