As AI applications continue to develop, and technology rapidly progresses around us, we remain committed to our values around academic integrity at UNSW.
Your work must be your own and where the use of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, have been permitted by your course convener, they must be properly credited and your submissions must be substantially your own work.
How to reference and acknowledge the use of AI in your academic work
In cases where the use of AI has been prohibited, please respect this and be aware that where unauthorised use is detected, penalties will apply.
A simple principle to remember for all assessments, regardless of what level of AI-use is permitted, is:
If you use AI in the writing of your assessment, you should always clearly acknowledge this (e.g. via a footnote).
If you are still unsure about what degree of AI-use is permitted in your assessment after you have read the instructions, check with your teacher.
How do I know if AI is allowed in my assessments?
Read your assessment instructions carefully to understand what level of AI-use is permitted, and note that what is permitted will vary across different assessments.
- At some points in your learning, it will be important to assess your understanding without the use of AI tools
- At other points, you may be assessed on how well you have learnt to use the tools.
Your teachers will set the level of acceptable use of AI for each assessment based on course learning outcomes.
How does Turnitin's AI detection tool work?
All teachers marking assessments submitted through either Moodle Turnitin Assignment or Inspera now have access to a new AI detection tool. The tool is similar to the Similarity tool currently in use, providing teachers with the percentage of AI generated text and highlighting the relevant passages.
As with the Similarity tool, if there is a report that sections of the submission were AI generated this will not be seen as an automatic conclusion that academic misconduct has occurred. However, it will be a flag that triggers further investigation.
As this is a new tool, we recognise that there may be instances where the use of AI may be incorrectly identified. This tool will be used as one of a number of pieces of information that may indicate the unauthorised use of AI in assignments.
What happens if unauthorised use of AI is suspected?
If a Course Authority has a suspicion that there may be unauthorised use of AI you may be asked to:
- Provide drafts of your work to your Course Authority
- Meet with your Course Authority to explain how you prepared your assignment and/or your understanding of the assessment, otherwise known as an oral assessment or viva voce
- Meet with the Conduct & Integrity Office as part of a Courageous Conversation, or student misconduct process where a School has reasonable suspicions that there has been unauthorised use of AI.
What are the implications of unauthorised use of AI?
The unauthorised or unacknowledged use of AI in assessments is a form of cheating and is considered to be student misconduct at UNSW. When unauthorised use of AI in assessments is determined, penalties may include a fail and mark of zero for the course, through to suspension or permanent exclusion.
Where can I get assistance?
If you need help with your assessments, there are alternatives to unauthorised AI use. You can:
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Seek support from your teacher if you’re under too much pressure or apply for Special Consideration if you’re eligible,
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Seek help from the Academic Skills Team, the Student Support Team or from the Psychology & Wellness Team.
