Skip to main content

Assessment criteria for research degrees and Gen AI

As a postgraduate researcher (PGR), how you use Generative AI (Gen AI) could affect how your work is assessed under each of the assessment criteria.

Different assessment criteria will apply to Master of Philosophy and Masters by Research degrees. Please see the Programme of Study for guidance on the assessment criteria

The criteria for award (and learning outcomes) for your doctoral programme will expect you to demonstrate:

  • originality
  • independent critical ability
  • publishable quality
  • spoken and written communication skills.

Different assessment criteria will apply to Master of Philosophy and Masters by Research degrees. Please see the Programme of Study for guidance on the assessment criteria.

Originality

Originality is your ability to discover, interpret and communicate new knowledge through original research and/or scholarship.

For doctoral level study your examiners will be looking for evidence of your novel contribution to your field of research. This novelty needs to come from you and your research approach.

Gen AI output imitates or summarises existing content. Whilst this may give the appearance of originality it will limit opportunities for you to be able to demonstrate your innovation and creativity. This may compromise the novelty expected for the award of your degree.

Independent critical ability

You demonstrate your independent critical ability when you present and defend your research findings. You must be able to explain how your work relates to other research, using your own words and reputable citations.

Avoid citing Gen AI in your thesis as it's not clear where its information comes from, which prevents accurate citation of primary sources. Gen AI’s content may lack peer review and academic rigour. It can reference non-existent or questionable academic sources.

Focus on finding and citing recognised academic sources, such as peer-reviewed journals and scholarly texts, to contextualise your work and support your arguments.

Your thesis assessment will consider your critical engagement with relevant scholarship. Relying on Gen AI could undermine your thesis as it may restrict your foundational knowledge, especially in specialised fields with limited public domain information.

Publishable quality

Work of publishable quality is that which would satisfy peer review in appropriate journals, or in other forms as appropriate to your field of research.

It is likely that you will prepare work for public dissemination though publication, presentations or conferences.

Any work you publish or present that has used Gen AI tools must follow the:

This is of particular relevance where you include published work in the thesis you submit for examination.

If your research degree studies are affiliated with external accreditation by a professional body you will also need to make sure you are aware of and comply with any guidance on the use of Gen AI issued by the professional body, in addition to the University of Leeds guidance.

If there is any conflict between external requirements and the University guidelines then you are expected to follow the University regulations. However, please also email AI@leeds.ac.uk for specific guidance.

Spoken and written communication skills

All research degrees are assessed through the examination of your written thesis and your performance in an oral examination or viva.

The thesis you submit must be your own work and your own writing. You must fully acknowledge where you have worked with others, or where you are presenting the work of others.

During the viva examination, your examiners will look for evidence that the work you submit for examination reaches the University standards for the degree, that the work submitted is your own, and that you understand and have intellectual ownership of that work.

This means that for research degree programmes there are some activities where the use of Gen AI tools would not be appropriate and are not permitted. These are outlined in the Assessment categories for research degrees section.