Requirements for acknowledging, describing and referencing the use of Generative AI tools in assessed work
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the use of AI to create new content, such as text, images, music, audio, and videos. There are many Generative AI tools, but common tools are ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, DALL.E and Google Gemini.
You are expected to practice good scholarship and uphold academic integrity in all of your assessments. This involves being honest and transparent about any elements of your work or ideas which have come from elsewhere. Often this will be other academic sources, such as published papers, which you may feel used to referencing, but this also includes output from Generative AI.
If you have used Generative AI tools when producing your work, it is important that you acknowledge this when submitting your work for assessment. This includes if you have used it to generate materials for background research and independent study, or if you have used it to produce materials which you have subsequently adapted and included in your work.
If you are suspected of inappropriately using AI or have failed to acknowledge its use, this will be regarded as academic misconduct by the University and you will be referred to one of its Academic Misconduct Committees.
If using AI tools to correct spelling and grammar, you must follow the Guidance note for Proofreading Written Work and you should acknowledge their use when submitting your work for assessment.
(Step 0. Check what's allowed)
Before you start each assignment, always check the assessment brief which will outline how you are and aren’t allowed to use GenAI in that particular piece of work. You can contact your Module Leader if you have any questions about this.
Step 1. Save your AI outputs and drafts of your work
You must retain the developmental work (plans, drafts, sketches etc.) that you have produced when working on your assignment so that you can demonstrate, if requested, the process you undertook to produce the work submitted for assessment.
For example, if you used Generative AI tools as your initial background search, you must keep the outputs they generated and (if requested) be able to show through a version history how you developed and moved on from the content to create your own independent work.
Step 2. Acknowledge the use of Generative AI tools
If you have used Generative AI tools when producing your work for assessment, you must include a statement in your work, acknowledging their use by naming the tool(s) and how it was used, using the following statement:
I acknowledge the use of (insert name of AI tool(s) and link) to generate materials for background research and independent study and/or that I have adapted to include within the work submitted for assessment. I confirm that all use of AI content is acknowledged and referenced appropriately.
Step 3: Describe their use
You must describe how the information or material (including images, computer code, video content etc) was generated, including the prompts you used, and how the output was changed by you. You do not need to submit the AI outputs as part of your declaration, however you must keep copies of these as outlined in Step 1. You should use the following style of wording, depending on the nature of use:
The following prompts were input into (name of AI tool: [Provide details])
Full detail of how the output was adapted: (explain how you adapted the output for use in your work)
Step 4. Reference them correctly
When the content created in Generative AI tools cannot be replicated by another person and cannot be linked to, in many referencing styles you must reference the outputs in the same way that you would a personal communication or correspondence.
Since this is a fast-evolving area, please ensure you follow up-to-date guidance on Cite Them Right or provided by your School/department for referencing content created in Generative AI tools. Where School or department guidance is available, this should take precedence.
For example, at the time of writing (October 2025), referencing content only available to you in the Harvard Style is as follows according to Cite Them Right Online:
In-text Citation:
Format: (Corporate Author, Year)
Example: (OpenAI, 2025)
Reference list:
Format: Name of AI (Year) Medium of communication to Receiver of communication, Day Month of communication.
Example: OpenAI (2025) ChatGPT response to John Stephens, 2 April.
More guidance on Academic Integrity
The University's guidance on Academic Integrity shows you how to conduct your academic work:
- Demonstrate honesty in your work – if we read something that does not seem trustworthy, we are unlikely to engage with it effectively
- Take responsibility for the research you undertake and the skills you need to develop
- Conduct ethical practice and make good choices throughout your degree
- Fairly give credit to others when using their words and ideas to support your arguments and research
This includes the GenAI checklist which you should be using to ensure you use GenAI responsibly.