AI Acknowledgement

Universities / University of Bristol

University of Bristol AI acknowledgement

Every Bristol assessment has one of four AI categories (prohibited, minimal, selective, integral), and 'minimal' (spelling and grammar help only) is the default. The Library says you should always acknowledge AI use and reference it with the Cite Them Right format for your style, keeping detailed records of prompts and responses. PhD and other research students must acknowledge any AI translation, coding help, diagrams or formatting in the thesis.

Checked against University of Bristol's own pages on 9 October 2026 · See the full rules

Write yours

University of Bristol doesn't publish a fixed template, so this uses a general format that covers what it asks for.

Did you use AI?

Your university or journal

Which AI tools?

What did you use it for?

What did you do with what it gave you?

More details · prompts, date, versions
Your prompts and the AI's answers
I used ChatGPT (OpenAI, https://chatgpt.com) on [date] to brainstorm ideas and check grammar and spelling. I rewrote anything I used in my own words. I checked the facts it gave me against the original sources. A full record of my prompts and the outputs is available on request.

The rules at a glance

When you need one
Library guidance: always, whenever AI tools are used in your work. Staff sample brief (Category 3 'Cited AI'): when AI was used in drafting, editing or correcting submitted writing. PGR: when AI is used for translation, code, diagrams or formatting in a thesis.
Framework
Four AI assessment categories: 1 Prohibited (no AI, not even spell/grammar checkers) / 2 Minimal (default: spelling, grammar, occasional phrase rewording) / 3 Selective (specified tasks) / 4 Integral (AI required)
Where it goes
PGR: in the thesis; no placement stated for taught work.
Prompts and outputs
Keep detailed records: prompts and responses (screen grabs), date, product name, creator and version, and whether you were signed in or on a paid subscription.
Referencing
Use Cite Them Right for your referencing style (Digital and Internet tab > Generative AI, or 'Software'). Do not use AI to create citation lists or bibliographies; read every source you cite.
Must include
  • the AI tool used (e.g. ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude), per the staff sample brief for 'Cited AI'
  • for Category 3 and 4 assessments, students may need to show when, how and why they used AI, as defined by the assessment
Also note
  • follow the category on your assessment; Category 2 Minimal applies if no other instructions are given
  • using AI beyond what the lecturer allows may be treated as contract cheating
  • translation tools only if the brief specifically allows them
  • do not upload university-sensitive data (intellectual property, personal information, research data) without staff permission
  • PGR: no AI-generated text in the thesis or annual progress monitoring reports; editing is limited to proofreading

Sources

Your unit outline or the journal's author guide wins if it says something different. Spotted a change? Tell us.