Assessment categories for research degrees

For research degree programmes there are some activities (examples below) where the use of Gen AI tools is not appropriate and is not permitted and doing so would be considered an academic integrity offence and would be investigated under the PGR academic misconduct procedures.

Any work contributing to the practice element in a practice-based PhD would come under the red category examples below, unless the specific nature of the research project required used of Gen AI tools (such as an exhibition looking at difference between human-generated and AI-generated content).

Where the specific nature of the research project requires you to use Gen AI tools you should discuss with your supervisor if you should follow the guidance in the green category examples.

Reasonable adjustments

The process for identifying and agreeing support and reasonable adjustments for PGR assessments can be found in the guidance on support and reasonable adjustments for PGR assessments. We are currently working on what it means to provide reasonable adjustments outside of this guidance. Contact your Graduate School and Disability Services to discuss this further.

Red category examples

Examples of assessments where Gen AI is not allowed include:

• generating new text for any work you are submitting
• taking text you have written yourself and using Gen AI to re-write this. This would include any substantive changes to your original text, for example adding, condensing or re-writing any your sentences or sections of work.
• paraphrasing work from other authors that you want to refer to as part of your work
• translating work you have written in another language into English, which you then submit as your own writing
• help you to answer questions during your transfer or thesis viva
• alter the substance of any ideas and arguments put forward within the work.

If your research topic does not require you to develop or demonstrate your use of AI, then other examples of activity where Gen AI tools are not allowed could include:

• analysing content
• creating artwork or any work contributing to the practice element in a practice-based PhD (eg images, audio and videos)
• developing code
• translating content
• researching and seeking answers.

In the amber category, the use of Gen AI is not in itself an outcome for the research, but there may be parts of the research process where using Gen AI is appropriate.

You may use Gen AI tools to enhance and support the development of specific skills in specific ways, as agreed in discussion with your supervisors. For instance, you might use Gen AI for tasks such as data analysis, pattern recognition or generating insights.

If you use Gen AI tools in these ways you must:

• conform to the University of Leeds guidance
• engage with the ethics review processes and obtaining authorisation from a faculty research ethics committee where appropriate and necessary
• acknowledge any use of Gen AI tools in your thesis.

Amber category examples

Examples of where you may use Gen AI in an assistive category include:

• to help you identify and correct issues with spelling, grammar and punctuation, formatting and presentation before you submit work for assessment, in accordance with the PGR Proof-reading policy and guidance
• to help you prepare for your transfer or final viva by generating mock questions that you might be asked
• data analysis, pattern recognition or generating insights
• supporting a particular process such as translating or testing and debugging code.

There are some specific areas of research where the development or use of Gen AI tools will be integral to answering the research question. In these cases, the use of Gen AI is fundamental to both the research process and the assessment and the green category applies. Your supervisors can support and guide you in the use of Gen AI.

For the green category, your research question will require you to demonstrate your ability to use Gen AI tools effectively and critically to tackle complex problems, make informed judgments and generate creative solutions.

The use of Gen AI and your critical appraisal of its output will explicitly form part of the research. Your thesis submission and oral examination will provide an opportunity to demonstrate effective and responsible use of Gen AI.

If you use Gen AI tools in these ways you must:

• conform to the University of Leeds guidance
• engage with the ethics review processes and obtaining authorisation from a faculty research ethics committee where appropriate and necessary
• acknowledge any use of Gen AI tools in your thesis.

Green category examples

If your research is in the green category, you may use Gen AI in the following ways (in consultation with your supervisors):

• during your viva if you need to demonstrate to your examiners the tool you have developed or worked with during your research process
• comparing content (AI generated and human generated)
• creating content in particular styles
• researching and seeking answers
• analysing content
• creating artwork (eg images, audio and videos)
• translating content
• developing code – see additional guidance below.