Students can use GAI in exams now
As a rule, students will be allowed to use GAI in all exams at Aarhus University. However, there may be exceptions for some courses.
Generative AI tools are here to stay, and students need to learn to use them responsibly and critically. This is the idea behind the new, more permissive policy on the use of GAI in exams approved by the Education Committee before the summer holiday.
Under the new rules, starting this semester, students will be allowed to use GAI tools for all exams – unless the academic regulations and course description explicitly states otherwise. For you as a lecturer, this means you need to make sure you’re familiar with the rules that apply to exams in your own courses. All course descriptions will be revised to reflect the new guidelines by the end of week 35 (30 August) at the latest.
- The new rules for the use of GAI in exams are available on AU’s exam cheating webpages.
GAI must be used responsibly and critically
The new rules entail an increased focus on ensuring that students use GAI tools responsibly and critically, according to Niels Lehmann, vice-dean at Arts, who chairs the working group that coordinated the development of the new rules. Lehmann said:
"It’s crucial that students use GAI in a way that enhances, rather than replacing, their learning process and their own work. So students will be required to attach a declaration crediting their use of GAI when handing in exams in which they reflect on how they used it. The new rules will also be supplemented by guidance for students on the issues they need to keep in mind when using GAI.”
Interested in learning more about GAI in a teaching context?
Lecturers who’d like to learn more about how they can use GAI in their teaching can find good advice and helpful tips on the AU Educate webpages.
As a member of teaching staff, you can also participate in free training courses on GAI at the Centre for Educational Development. See a list of courses
The new rules on the use of GAI in exams
- As a general rule, you can use GAI in exams, unless academic regulations or course description explicitly states that you aren’t allowed to use GAI in a particular exam.
- The university’s rules about academic cheating and plagiarism also apply to papers and assignments where students use GAI.
- If students use GAI-generated content (text, images, etc.) in their exam paper, they must reference it as they would any other source.
- If students use GAI in writing their exam paper, they must complete and submit a GAI declaration as an attachment when they submit their exam. In the declaration, they must credit their use of GAI and explain how how they have used it. This declaration and description will not be part of the students’ grade unless they refer to their use of GAI in the methodology section of their paper.
- Students will not be required to submit a declaration if they use GAI during on-site exams where GAI is allowed.