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It’s the technology that is already revolutionising the way we live and work. And with two-thirds of university students saying they use AI for work towards their degree, according to a YouGov poll of just over 1,000 students, it’s a hot topic on campus, too.

But when it comes to using AI at university, what are the dos and don’ts? And where exactly is the red line?

The good news is, there is an ongoing conversation about AI in academia. Universities are setting out clear guidelines and they’re not focused on just blanket bans – they know the importance of students becoming AI-literate to thrive in future workplaces.

Of course, that’s not to say you can use AI to completely write your next coursework essay in 10 minutes flat. But as part of your course, you will have the chance to use AI for different tasks and you’ll be taught how to harness the technology responsibly and ethically.

“We want students to continue thinking critically,” says Louise Hague, a professor in the school of law and associate pro-vice-chancellor for education and student experience at the University of Reading. “There is no substitute for a student checking their own work. AI is getting better but it is about ownership and responsibility. It should remain their piece of work, not AI’s piece of work.”

So how will you know when you’re allowed to use AI and what sort of tasks you can use it for?

Hague says that when assigning you tasks, your professors will make it clear. They want to make sure you have all the information you need to complete your work to the best of your ability and with academic integrity.

“It’s about putting students in the best possible place in terms of providing them with the right skills and knowledge and the confidence to move forward successfully,” she says.

The key is to use AI in a collaborative way, to help with tasks, such as sifting through information or data. You can use it to organise your notes or even help generate ideas.

Equally, AI can be used to translate texts for multilingual research, to summarise sources as a study aid, perhaps even to provide feedback on your work.

But you should be aware that AI isn’t perfect – it has been known to invent references and citations. And there are also concerns about authorship. If you use generative AI to write your coursework, copying and pasting texts from your AI tool, you could inadvertently commit plagiarism, which is a severe academic infraction and could lead to disciplinary measures.

“AI can be used in an assisted sense,” says Hague. “We have different assessment categories, so in some instances students will be instructed that they cannot use AI, in others they can use it to a certain point and for others, you’ll find AI used in an embedded and interactive way.”

The University of Reading – like nearly all universities – outlines all these guidelines on its website very clearly, along with examples of how AI can be used and where it shouldn’t be used at all.

For example, for a category two project you can use generative AI to brainstorm or plan, but it needs to be written completely in your own words. In contrast, a category three project focuses on demonstrating AI literacy as part of your grade, creating your own prompts or explaining why you accepted or rejected your AI tool’s responses.

“What students want from us is clear guidance about where and how AI can be used and when not to use it,” says Hague.

“At Reading, we have a study advice team in the library. They have a raft of information in place to support students and students can book appointments, drop-in sessions and training sessions. There is a huge amount of support and I think the key thing is that the support is there, so access it and engage with it. All universities have similar support and structures in place for their students.”

She adds: “As part of any induction process that students will have in their departments, are sessions on academic integrity, academic best practices, and what that looks like. That is timetabled in their first couple of weeks of their time at university.”

AI is changing many aspects of our lives, including the future workplace, and the academic world knows this. So you’ll find many conversations taking place at university about how to empower students to use AI effectively without losing the power of critical analysis. “Remember to develop your own knowledge and skills, and AI can support you,” says Hague.

“If you’re told not to use it, please don’t. But always be curious, ask questions so you can be confident and understand AI’s limits.

“It is a huge learning opportunity but it needs to be treated with caution.”

For more guidance on the right course for you, check out the Guardian university league tables for 2026. The Guardian league tables for 2027 will be out in September in print and online.