AI use in studies is not generally allowed or banned at most universities. What counts are the rules of your university, your department and often even the individual course. In many places you may use AI tools, but you should first clarify what for, and disclose the use in written work where this is required.
This guide shows you where to find the applicable rules, how to disclose AI use properly and which tools suit research, writing and organisation.
Quick answer
AI use in studies is neither generally allowed nor banned. What counts are your examination regulations and the rules of your department and examiners. Undisclosed AI use against the assignment rules can count as an attempt to deceive. Clarify in writing in advance what you may use AI for, and disclose the use where it is required.
Key facts at a glance
- There is no single rule for all universities. What counts are the examination regulations, the department’s guidance and the requirements of the lecturers.
- What is not expressly allowed, clarify in advance in writing, ideally by email.
- An AI may help you structure, research and revise. Submitting a text as your own work when an AI wrote it can count as deception.
- AI answers can be wrong and can contain invented sources. You check every statement and every source yourself.
Is AI use in studies allowed?
That depends on your university. Many universities have published guidelines or guidance notes on generative AI in recent years. Some allow its use as an aid, others permit it depending on the form of assessment, and still others ban it for certain assignments.
There is also the level of the individual course. A lecturer may allow use in a seminar, while different conditions apply in an exam. Therefore never rely on what fellow students tell you.
Where do the examination regulations say what applies to AI?
The examination regulations of your degree programme usually set out what counts as an attempt to deceive and what the consequences are. Whether and how they expressly mention AI differs from university to university. Some regulations have been adapted, others have not.
This is how to search:
- Read the sections on deception, plagiarism and aids in your examination regulations.
- Check the module handbook and the notes on the form of assessment for anything on permitted aids.
- Search your university’s website for guidelines or leaflets on AI, often held by the examinations office, the teaching and learning centre or the library.
- If something is unclear, ask the examiners or the examinations office and note the answer in writing.
How do I disclose AI use in my work?
If your university or examiner requires disclosure, state in the work which tool you used and for what. There is no uniform format, so follow the requirements of your department. A note in the methods section or a separate section at the end of the work is often required.
A short, traceable statement is sensible, for example the name of the tool, time of use, purpose (such as “ideas for the outline” or “grammar correction”) and which parts of the work were affected. Also keep your inputs and the answers in case anyone asks.
You will find how to cite other people’s sources correctly in our article on citing in your studies (in German). What counts as deception and how to avoid it is explained in our guide to avoiding plagiarism (in German).
Can I have a language model write my term paper with ChatGPT?
Having a text generated by ChatGPT or another language model and submitting it as your own work is not permitted at most universities. It can be treated as an attempt to deceive, with consequences set out in your examination regulations.
By contrast, using AI as a tool is often permissible, provided it is allowed and you disclose it. This includes brainstorming, ordering your own thoughts, feedback on an outline or explaining difficult terms. You formulate the text yourself, and you are also responsible for the argument and the choice of sources.
Note also that language models can invent content, including literature references that do not exist or quotes that were never said. Open every source an AI names and read the passage in the original. For the final phase of your studies, you will find further guidance in our tips on the bachelor’s thesis (in German).
Which AI tools really help in studying?
Tools work well when they take over routine work and you can check the result. The overview below groups common tools by purpose. Whether and under which conditions you may use them has to be clarified separately for your exam.
| Use | Examples | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Finding literature | Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, Connected Papers, Elicit | Check hits and summaries against the original text, and look up the sources yourself |
| Revising texts | DeepL Write, LanguageTool, Grammarly | Accept suggestions one at a time, so that the content and your own voice are preserved |
| Ideas and outline | Language models such as ChatGPT | Use only as a prompt, and disclose the use where it is required |
| Analysing data | JASP, Python with Pandas, code functions of language models | Follow the calculation and cross-check the results |
| Organisation | Notion, Todoist, Motion | Do not enter confidential data that should not leave your hands |
| Presentation and graphics | Canva, image generators | Clarify rights and labelling duties for generated images |
For organising lecture notes and learning material, it is also worth a look at our comparison of digital notes in studies (in German). How to use AI for learning, for example for flashcards and study plans, is covered in a separate article.
What risks do AI tools carry?
The first risk concerns content. Language models write convincingly even when a statement is false. The second concerns data protection. What you enter into an online tool leaves your computer. Personal data, interview material or unpublished research data therefore belong in a tool only if you know its data protection terms and the use is permitted.
The third risk is formal. If a paper stands out because it contains passages that are hard to explain, examiners can ask questions. Anyone who has worked out the text themselves can explain its structure and sources. That is the best protection, including against false alarms from detection software.
How do I use AI sensibly in my final thesis?
Caution is especially important for a bachelor’s or master’s thesis, because the requirements for independence are high and a declaration of independent work is usually included. Discuss the use with your supervisor early, before you invest time in a workflow that is ultimately not accepted.
Sensible and often accepted uses are literature searching, proofreading for grammar and clarity, and planning the timeline. Further contacts for this phase are collected in our guide help with your bachelor’s thesis (in German).
Frequently asked questions
May I use AI in my studies?
That depends on your university, your department and the individual examination. Many universities allow AI as an aid but require disclosure. Check the examination regulations, the module handbook and your university’s AI guidelines. If in doubt, ask the examiners in writing beforehand.
Do I have to label my use of ChatGPT?
Where the university or the examiners require it, yes. There is no uniform format. Common practice is a short statement on tool, purpose and the parts of the text affected, plus a declaration in the work. Follow your department’s requirements and keep your inputs in case of questions.
What happens if I use AI without permission?
Unauthorised use can be treated as an attempt to deceive. The consequences are set out in your examination regulations. Depending on the university, they range from re-assessment of the performance to further measures. Clarify the use in advance rather than hoping it will go unnoticed.
Can lecturers recognise AI texts?
Detection programmes are not reliable and can be wrong. Texts tend to stand out because of faulty or invented sources, a break in style, or questions in a conversation that you cannot answer. Do not rely on going undetected.
So what do you do now?
- Search the examination regulations and module handbook for rules on deception and permitted aids.
- Check whether your university has published an AI guideline or leaflet.
- Clarify the planned use with the examiners before submission, preferably in writing.
- Document the tool, purpose and inputs, and label the use where it is required.
- Check every AI statement and every source yourself.
Related reading
- Writing a bachelor’s thesis, guide, timeline and tips (in German)
- Citing made easy, the most important rules at a glance (in German)
- Avoiding plagiarism, what to watch for when writing (in German)
- Digital notes in studies, the best tools compared (in German)
Sources
- Bielefeld University, examination law and AI writing tools (example of university rules, page status 23 September 2025, in German), accessed on 25 October 2026
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
