AI rules at German universities are not set by one federal law. They depend on your university’s guidelines, your degree program’s exam regulations and the instructions of your lecturers. That is why the rules often differ between faculties and even between seminars. This guide shows you where to find the rules that apply to you and how to proceed when they are unclear.
Short answer: There is no single AI rule for all German universities. What applies to you is set by the exam regulations of your degree program, the guidelines of your university and the instructions of your lecturers for each module. Last updated: October 2026. When in doubt, ask in advance and keep the answer in writing.
The most important points
- The exam regulations of your degree program are the most important formal basis.
- University guidelines specify what counts as independent work and which use of AI must be disclosed.
- Lecturers can set their own rules for a course, so ask for them in writing.
- Entering data into AI services must comply with data protection law.
- You must always check AI output yourself, because models can state incorrect information.
Who sets the AI rules at your university?
Several levels work together. In practice the order is rarely as clear as it sounds, so it is worth checking every level.
| Level | What it regulates | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|
| State higher education act | The framework for universities and examinations | State law and the website of the ministry |
| Exam regulations | Binding rules for examinations in your degree program | Website of your faculty or examination office |
| University guidelines | Recommendations or requirements on dealing with AI | University website, often the teaching and learning centre |
| Module description and lecturers | Specific requirements for a course or thesis | Module handbook, notice board, learning platform |
| Declaration of independent work | Confirms that you wrote the work yourself | Forms section of the examination office |
What is allowed in an examined piece of work?
There is no blanket answer. Systematic checking gives you a reliable answer with little effort. These steps have proven useful:
- Read the exam regulations and search for terms such as aids, deception and independent.
- Search the university website for guidelines, AI or generative AI.
- Ask your lecturers by email which use applies in their course, and keep the reply.
- Note which tool you used for what, for example for structure, language correction or research.
- Before you submit, check whether your declaration of independent work matches how you actually worked.
Why do the rules differ so much?
The reason lies in the purpose of the examination. In a closed-book exam, the aim is what one person knows within a limited time. In a term paper, the focus is more on your own argument and writing. A methods seminar may have different expectations than an internship report or a thesis with its own data collection.
For this reason, do not take the rule from fellow students or from a forum, but from your own university. If you want to learn how to use AI for studying, the guide Learning with AI: Opportunities and Risks in Your Studies (in German) gives you a good orientation.
The timing matters too. A rule that applied in your first semester can be changed later by a university committee. Check the date of the document and the current version of the regulation on your university’s website before you rely on it.
What about data protection?
Data protection is a separate question alongside the exam regulations. If you enter texts, data or interview transcripts into an online service, the information leaves your university. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires a legal basis for processing personal data.
Do not enter personal data, interview transcripts or unpublished research data into AI services unless your university explicitly provides a checked environment. Read the terms of use of the service before you use it for the first time.
How do you handle unclear rules?
Unclear rules are not a free pass. Document your questions and the answers, because they are your proof if questions come up later. A short, specific email helps, for example about a single step such as an AI-generated outline.
If a lecturer does not reply, contact the examination office or the student advisory service of your faculty. They usually know the rules better than any individual course.
How do you interpret a rule correctly?
Rules often read more clearly than they work in practice. A sentence such as “aids are permitted only after agreement” leaves open what counts as an aid. Place the wording next to the concrete task you have in mind. A spell check is something different from rewriting whole paragraphs, even if both are done with AI.
A useful question is whether you are still doing the thinking yourself at that point. If the AI suggests a structure that you check, change and justify, the intellectual work stays with you. If it supplies arguments that you adopt without understanding them, most regulations treat that as a problem. Make this judgement consciously for every rule.
Frequently asked questions
May I use AI for my term paper?
That depends on the exam regulations and the instructions of your lecturers. Many universities allow use for certain purposes, such as structuring or language correction, and exclude writing the work independently. If something is unclear, ask before you submit.
Do I have to disclose my use of AI?
Often yes. Many universities require you to disclose the use of AI, for example in an appendix or in a statement. Which form applies is set out in the guidelines or by your lecturers.
What if the rule is unclear?
Then be cautious. Write a short email with your specific question and keep the answer. A written reply helps you if questions come up later.
Do the rules also apply to theses?
Generally yes, often with additional requirements. Supervisors and the examination board can set conditions that go beyond a seminar. So find out early which form of disclosure is expected.
Who decides in a dispute?
Depending on the university, the examination office or the examination board is responsible. Your documented questions and the reference to the regulation or guideline will then help you.
How to proceed now
- Read the exam regulations of your degree program and note the relevant passages.
- Check your university’s guidelines and the module description of your course.
- Clarify open questions with your lecturers in writing before you start the work.
- Document your use of AI while you work, so you can describe it fully in your disclosure.
Related guides
- AI tools for students 2026: which offers exist for students
- AI at university: what is allowed and how to use tools properly (in German)
- Learning with AI: opportunities and risks in your studies (in German)
- Citing made easy: the most important rules at a glance (in German)
Sources: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation), last updated: October 2026; Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act), last updated: October 2026
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
