Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of everyday study life. It can support your learning, but using it incorrectly can lead to serious academic misconduct penalties.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of everyday study life—from predictive text to tools that generate explanations, summaries, or even whole essays. At Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), AI can support your learning, but using it incorrectly can lead to serious academic misconduct penalties.
What is AI?
Generative AI tools—like ChatGPT, GrammarlyGO, Bard, Co-Pilot and others—can create text, images, or suggestions. They can be great for learning how to do something, organising your thoughts, or breaking down complex ideas.
But remember:
AI can’t think, fact‑check, or take responsibility for your work. Only you can.
When in Doubt, Ask Yourself:
“Is the work I’m submitting genuinely my own?”
If the honest answer is anything other than yes, stop and double‑check the rules before you submit.
AI can be a brilliant learning aid—but it must never replace your own academic thinking.
If you’re new to the concept, start with QMUL’s “Student Guide to Generative AI”:
👉 https://www.qmul.ac.uk/library/academic-skills/student-guide-to-generative-ai/
PGR students have dedicated guidance from the Doctoral College. Make sure to check the PGR‑specific expectations, especially around generating research content:
👉 AI Guidance for PGRs – Doctoral College
Academic Integrity Comes First
Any use of Generative AI at QMUL must follow the University’s Academic Integrity & Misconduct Policy. This isn’t optional. It’s part of the shared culture that protects the value of your degree.
The policy is very clear:
❗ Submitting work that isn’t wholly your own—including unacknowledged AI‑generated or AI‑altered text—is academic misconduct.
This includes things like:
AI has already been here for a long time, with features such as predictive text, and more tools are incorporating generative AI so seamlessly that you may not realise you’re using it. The key question is ‘Am I sure this is this my own work I’m submitting?’
Misconduct outcomes can be serious—like failing the assignment or even the whole module—so it’s really important to stay on the safe side.
Read the full policy here:
👉 Academic Integrity & Misconduct Policy
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/governance-and-legal-services/media/dgls-media/policy/current-policies/Academic-Integrity-&-Misconduct-Policy.pdf
If you want a deeper understanding of how academic integrity works, QMUL has a dedicated training module you can take before submitting anything:
👉 https://qmplus.qmul.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=24311
When determining misuse of AI or Integrity breaches QMUL looks for two things:
- Was the AI use was unauthorised or unacknowledged.
- Did the AI use undermine the integrity of the assessment.
Check What’s Allowed: It Varies Widely
Different Schools. Different Programmes. Different Modules. Different Assignments.
Some modules may encourage the use of AI for brainstorming, planning, or coding. Others may ban AI completely including for small tasks like grammar checking.
Approaches and outcomes will differ for each school, module and assessment. The same approach that’s used in one won’t necessarily be the same in other modules
Remember the principle that any work submitted in an assignment to be marked should be your own, so acceptable use of AI should be about helping you to learn, so that you can do well in your assignments, but not about completing the assignment for you.
Never assume permissions carry over. Always check.
If you’re unsure:
Referencing Your Use of AI
If your module does allow AI, you may still be expected to acknowledge how you used it—just like citing any other source.
QMUL’s Academic Skills Centre has clear guidance:
👉 Referencing guides and resources - Library Services
AI Isn’t Always Accurate
We’ve seen many students run into trouble because AI:
AI also can’t access most academic journals or library‑only resources.
To get reliable academic information, continue using:
👉 Academic Skills Centre resources
Final Tips
Used correctly, AI can help you develop skills, structure ideas, and boost your understanding. Used incorrectly, it can lead to serious academic consequences. Make smart, informed choices—your degree is worth it.
If You’re Accused of Academic Misconduct
The QMSU Academic Advice Service is here to support you — we can explain the process, help you understand the allegation, review your evidence and support you before meetings.
Contact us via the online form: https://forms.office.com/e/j2b5M08HAS and we will reach out to you.