For students: using AI in your courses
What instructors expect, how to disclose AI use, and what to do if your work is flagged.
Key takeaways
- Check each course and assignment for its AI rules, and ask when unsure.
- Disclose AI use honestly and keep drafts and notes.
- If your work is flagged, you have the right to respond and to human review.
Students often say AI rules are vague and hard to find (Education Sciences, 2026), and many are unsure what is acceptable (HEPI, 2026). Start with your syllabus and the assignment prompt. If they don’t say, ask before you use AI.
A good AI disclosure
- Names the tool you used.
- Says what you used it for.
- Says what you kept, changed or rejected.
- Says how you checked accuracy.
“I used ChatGPT to suggest counterarguments to my thesis. I kept two, rewrote them in my own words and checked both against the course readings.”
If your work is flagged
- Ask to see the score and any other evidence.
- Gather your drafts, notes and version history.
- Explain how you made the work, calmly and in writing if possible.
- Ask which procedure applies and whether you can appeal.
Rights found in institutional policies
- Written notice in advance if detectors may be used on your work.
- A detector score alone should not decide a case.
- A chance to respond before any finding.
- Review under your institution’s academic integrity process, including appeal where offered.
Rights vary by institution. Check your academic integrity policy.