Those setting summative assessment must
- declare whether and how students can use AI in summative assessment, e.g. by a category system for different assignments on courses.
- review their summative assessment design and criteria by task to ensure alignment with the permitted use of AI (see the three principles, below).
- where students must use AI tools for their summative assessments, ensure that all students have equitable access to the appropriate AI tools.
- specify the forms of declaration expected of students when they make use of AI, where permitted.
- only identify suspected unauthorised use of AI in summative assessment through the marking process or through AI detection tools that have university endorsement. NB. as at the date of the last page update no such tools had received university endorsement.
- handle all cases of potential academic misconduct under the usual disciplinary Regulations and using the associated processes.
Students undertaking summative assessment must
- complete summative assessment in line with the declaration as to whether and how AI can be used in each specific assignment they will complete for their course.
- acknowledge their use of AI as part of the summative assessment submission and use a formal declaration in the format prescribed by the assessment setter.
- be aware that submitting work that breaches the specifications defined for a particular assignment constitutes cheating and may constitute plagiarism; cases of suspected unauthorised use of AI will be handled under the usual disciplinary Regulations and using the associated processes.
The policy is based on three principles for acceptable use of AI which were endorsed by Education Committee during Trinity term 2025:
- Educational practice in teaching and assessment must be grounded in values of integrity, honesty and transparency. These values need to be clearly articulated and frequently discussed.
- Every discrete unit of assessment must be carefully designed to be fit for its specific purposes. These purposes need to be clearly articulated to students. The purpose of the assessment should inform the decisions made regarding authorisation of appropriate assistance for each piece of assessment.
- Every element of summative assessment must be accompanied by a clear explanation of what appropriate assistance is permitted and what is forbidden. Where assistance is permitted, the assignment should specify exactly how students should report the assistance they have received.
Last updated: 26 June 2025
