Academic Integrity and AI

For the purposes of this policy, Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to digital systems, tools, or applications that can generate, process, or modify content (such as text, images, code, data, audio, or video) in response to human input, using techniques such as machine learning, natural language processing, or automated decision-making. Examples include, but are not limited to, tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, GitHub Copilot, image generators, and automated data analysis platforms. While some AI outputs are reliable, others contain “hallucinations” of fabricated and/or incorrect information, including false references. 

QMUL has produced general guidance on AI to students and staff, in which students are referred to School-specific guidance.  This SBBS guidance document outlines the School’s position on use of AI in undergraduate and postgraduate studies. 

SBBS’s guidance aligns with QMUL’s Academic Misconduct Policy, which states that students are responsible for “ensuring that any work they submit or present is a genuine reflection of their own ability, skills and knowledge, and that it complies with the relevant assessment requirements” (paragraph 23).   

SBBS’s guidance also aligns with the science disciplines’ practice of supporting factual claims beyond common knowledge with valid, reputable source(s) of information.  Sources should be acknowledged using citations and referencing in either the Vancouver or Harvard formats, or APA formatting in psychology. 

Consequently, although AI may typically be used in the early stages of preparing an assignment (see below), all facts must be verified by finding, reading and reporting scientific sources in the student’s own words. 

Some modules may require the use of AI tools in specific exercises or assignments.  Some modules may explicitly forbid the use of AI in specific assignments.  Such instruction will always be made clear by the Module Organiser. 

In the absence of instructions to the contrary, in SBBS students are permitted to use AI for: 
- understanding challenging concepts through plain English explanations or examples, 
- exploring general ideas about a topic to identify search terms and keywords for finding peer-reviewed sources, 
- developing code or data analysis methods, 
- planning and/or structuring their work, 
- revision by preparing summaries of their own notes, and 
- simple checking of spelling and grammar. 

In SBBS, students are not allowed to directly input raw data (for example from practicals or research projects) into AI tools.  Such actions potentially breach data protection guidelines with legal consequence for individuals and QMUL. 

In SBBS, students are not allowed to copy or paraphrase output, including code, from AI and submit it as their own work.  This constitutes academic misconduct in the same way that copying or paraphrasing from any source is considered academic misconduct. 

Furthermore, students are not allowed to submit a draft of their work to AI for it to translate between languages or refine the written style, then copy or paraphrase the output and submit it as their own work.  This constitutes academic misconduct in the same way that copying or paraphrasing from any source is considered academic misconduct.   

This guidance aligns with QMUL’s Academic Misconduct policy which states that academic misconduct includes “unauthorised or unacknowledged text manipulation that undermines the integrity of an assessment, including the use of paraphrasing software, generative artificial intelligence or machine translation such that the work submitted cannot be considered wholly the student’s own” (paragraph 31e). 

In SBBS, all written assignments must include an appendix on the role of AI in the preparation of the assignment; this appendix will not count towards the word count.  The appendix should state: 
“During the preparation of this assignment, I have not used any AI tool to either find material or help write or translate any portion of the assignment which I am submitting as my own work.” 
                                 or 
“During the preparation of this assignment I have used AI tool(s).  The following information is exhaustive and describes the full extent of AI use.  I have used [NAME TOOL / SERVICE] in order to [REASON].”. 

Where a student does not include an appendix stating the extent of AI use, it will be assumed that no AI tools have been used.  Should the work be investigated subsequently for unauthorised use of AI tools (see below), the defence of forgetting to include the appendix will not be accepted. 

Where it is suspected that AI has been used but not acknowledged, or used in a way which is contrary to the assessment guidelines (both literally and in spirit), this will be investigated by the Module Organiser, an academic with delegated responsibility for the assessment, and/or the relevant SBBS Academic Misconduct Officer.  The investigation may include an interview or oral assessment (known as a viva or viva voce), which could be recorded.  Students may be asked to provide their AI search history as part of the investigation. 

The penalty for unauthorised or unacknowledged use of AI in assignments is determined on a case-by-case basis and described in QMUL’s Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy.  Applicable penalties range from resubmission of the work, through failing the assessment or module with no chance to retake it, to capping all modules in the year to the lowest pass mark. 

All academic misconduct penalties are noted on the student record and will be taken into consideration if further incidences of academic misconduct are investigated. 

Students with disabilities should be reassured that, in line with QMUL policy, it is permissible to use assistive software or other relevant technology as advised by the Disability and Dyslexia Service to access teaching and learning, even though it may use AI.  Nonetheless, the use of such tools must still adhere to the Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy. 

This guidance will be reviewed in line with developments in the technology and QMUL regulations and policies.  Once implemented, the guidance will typically remain unchanged for the duration of that academic year.