If you use a Generative AI (Gen-AI) tool, such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot, when completing an assessment, you must declare your use. Additionally, if you have used Gen-AI to create content that you include in your writing, you must reference this use as a source of information.
It is important to understand that AI-generated content is considered a non-recoverable source. This means that the content produced is usually not accessible to anyone other than the person who generated it. Unless the Gen-AI tool provides a shareable link to the chat, other people cannot be directed to the exact location where the content was created. This makes it difficult to verify claims in the same way as traditional sources.
Gen-AI tools are also not considered scholarly sources at this time. Their responses are created from large training datasets, and the original source of the information is often unknown. For this reason, Gen-AI outputs should be used with care in academic work.
Read through the instructions below on declaring and referencing Gen-AI use and practice correctly declaring your use with the challenge, Terms of Engagement
Coursework students may be given permission to use content created with a Gen-AI tool in an assessment. If you have been given specific instructions on how to reference Gen-AI outputs in your unit, you must follow those instructions.
Higher Degree by Research students should discuss with their supervisors whether the use of Gen-AI is appropriate for their research and for writing their thesis.
If you are allowed to use Ge-AI in your work, you must include the following:
A written declaration
You must state which Gen-AI tool you used, how you used it, and what it helped you do. You may also wish to include the prompts you used as a list or by sharing a link to the chat.
An in-text citation
This is required if the generated text has been quoted, paraphrased or summarised in your written work.
A reference list entry
If your referencing style states that an entry is not required for Gen-AI in the reference list, list of works cited, footnote or bibliography, you should follow that advice.
Tip: The referencing style you are required to use may ask for the date you accessed the Gen-AI tool, as well as the model and version that were used, for example, ChatGPT 5.0 or Claude Sonnet 4.6. For this reason, it is good practice to record these details when you use a Gen-AI tool.
For more details, see the Gen-AI sections in our referencing guides:
If you do not say that you used Gen-AI, it may be seen as dishonest or unfair. This could be treated as academic misconduct.
If you use Gen-AI in your assessment, you must say how you used it and what it helped you do.
You can copy the template below and change it to suit your needs.
Declaration of Gen-AI use
I acknowledge the use of [AI tool or technology name, hyperlinked] in the preparation and/or writing of my assessment. I have used [insert AI tool] to assist with (delete items from the following list that do not apply):
I entered the following prompt/s:
or
[Insert link to specific Gen-AI chat]