Using Generative AI in your studies

Generative AI (GenAI) is increasingly present in our lives, so you may be wondering what the University allows and how to use it to positively support your studies. This page is designed to give you an overview of the different GenAI policies, training and support available to you as a student at Loughborough.

Can I use GenAI in my assessments at Loughborough?

Our approach is on an assessment-by-assessment basis, for example some assignments may be designed around using GenAI and critically evaluating its output, and others may not allow it at any stage of your submission.

For each assessment, your Module Leader should provide guidance explaining to what extent GenAI can be used. In addition to this, the University has created a Responsible Use checklist outlining the general principles to which you are expected to adhere (see Step 1 below).

Copilot is the University’s recommended GenAI tool. It is covered by the University’s Microsoft enterprise licence - just make sure you're signed in with your university credentials to use it. 

Please note: Even where GenAI is allowed, it’s important to remember that its use must be acknowledged (see Step 4 below). AI should not be used to such an extent that you can no longer reasonably be considered the author of the work.

Where do I start?

Ensure you understand how Generative AI works, key terminology, and both the benefits and risks of its use, by exploring the following resources:

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Developed for students, this provides an introduction to what GenAI is and discusses its limitations, potential uses, critically evaluating outputs and some real-life scenarios to consider.

Responsible Use Checklist
Developed for students as part of our Academic Integrity microsite, a webpage outlining what GenAI is and Loughborough’s expectations for using it responsibly.

AI Practices for everyone
Aimed at both staff and students from our IT team, these pages include general principles, common “do’s and don’ts” and tips on using GenAI.

You are expected to complete this test in every year of your studies. The test checks your understanding of academic integrity expectations more widely (for example understanding the concepts of plagiarism and how to reference correctly). It includes some questions specific to using GenAI.

The test also includes through the GenAI Responsible Use checklist, which you must agree to as a Loughborough student.

Your School administers the test on Learn, and they will let you know when and where it is available at the start of each academic year.

GenAI Responsible Use checklist

Your Module Leader should outline whether GenAI can be used in each assessment, and if it can, in what part of the assessment, and to what extent.

This guidance may be different for each assessment. It may be provided in teaching sessions or in the assessment brief, often on the module’s Learn page. If you are unsure about where to find this guidance for a particular submission, consult your Module Leader first.

It is important to consider how the assessment specific guidance overlaps with wider academic integrity expectations as a student:

Proofreading
Loughborough’s proofreading policy for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Academic Integrity
A microsite focused on ensuring you understand what Academic Integrity is, and practical skills to demonstrate good scholarship.

Using ideas or text generated by GenAI and not declaring their use is plagiarism. You must appropriately acknowledge and reference its use according to the guidance below, as failure to do so may result in a referral to the Academic Misconduct Committee.

Remember to save AI outputs and drafts of your work to show the development of your own ideas.

Requirements for acknowledging, describing and referencing the use of Generative AI tools in assessed work
A step-by-step guide on how to appropriately acknowledge and reference your use of GenAI in assessed work.

Referencing
Detailed referencing support, including guides and tutorials from our Academic Librarians.

When you submit, your School may require you to complete a separate declaration of AI use (in addition to the acknowledgement and references within your work).

These requirements may differ from School to School, so make sure you are familiar with what’s expected. If you are sitting a module outside of your usual School (e.g. you are a Geography student taking a Maths module), ensure you are familiar with any local arrangements. Ask your Module Leader if you’re not sure.

We suggest considering the following before submitting your final version:

  • Has the use of GenAI tools been approved by my tutors for this assessment?
  • Did I use it within the boundaries outlined in the assessment brief?
  • Have I evaluated and fact checked the output from any AI tools I used?
  • Have I considered the potential biases of the output?
  • Have I acknowledged/referenced the use of GenAI as required?
  • Have I saved copies of the prompts and outputs in case I need to demonstrate their use?