Maynooth University

Conditions & exceptions

Explicit staff/department permitted category and responsibility for submitted content.

Staff may deviate from the table; actual written assessment conditions govern.

Acceptable GenAI use will be outlined in written guidelines in module and assignment descriptions. Open discussions with staff are encouraged to clarify assessment aims and potential uses of these technologies. Is it a breach of academic integrity (including plagiarism) to submit assignments that have been wholly or partly created by GenAI? Using GenAI in an assignment beyond what is permitted is a breach of academic integrity (including plagiarism). For more details, see the “Maynooth University Policy on Academic Misconduct and Academic Integrity” Further advice is available at Moodle Help For Students page. Acceptable use of GenAI in assessments IF IT IS NOT CLEARLY INDICATED BY TEACHING STAFF AND/OR DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES – NO GENAI IS PERMITTED The following table outlines the various acceptable GenAI uses within Maynooth University assessments. However, teaching staff may deviate from this. Always refer to module and assignment documentation, where acceptable types of use will be prescribed. Note: you as author are 100% responsible for the content of your work. Table 1. Types and Descriptions of GenAI for Assessment (adapted from Perkins et al., 2024) GenAI use Description No GenAI permitted The assessment is completed without GenAI assistance. GenAI is not used at any stage of the assessment. Students using software with GenAI components (e.g., Grammarly) should ensure that these are deactivated. If this is not possible, such software should not be used. GenAI assistance in research and structuring GenAI can be used in the initial stages of the assessment, including brainstorming, creating structures (outlines), and as an initial research assistant. No GenAI output (including paraphrased) in final submission. GenAI editing GenAI can be used as an editing tool to improve the clarity or quality of assessment. It may not be used to create new content. Students must provide a list of prompts. Full GenAI assistance GenAI may be used throughout the assessment process, including the inclusion of GenAI output within the assessment. All GenAI output should be referenced. A full list of prompts and GenAI outputs should also be included as an appendix.

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 115–138
SHA-256: 3af496fb9c6cb57fb6e7fa6be6c78d031e07e317d5d1556cf7c696fa6ecbdb15

GenAI detection and Turnitin Turnitin compares submitted text with matched text found in its database and on the internet (this provides you with a similarity score). Turnitin also provides teaching staff with a second score outlining possible GenAI use (students will not have access to this). This Turnitin GenAI score is not definitive proof of Gen AI use. However, if it indicates possible use beyond that permitted (See Acceptable use of GenAI in assessments above), it might be a first step in a process of ensuring academic integrity. For more details, see Maynooth Turnitin Policy. What do I do if I am contacted about using GenAI in my assessment? Follow instructions contained in communications from your teaching staff, contact relevant staff if you have queries and familiarise yourself with the procedure in your department’s guidelines. Processes are laid out in the “Maynooth University Policy on Academic Misconduct and Academic Integrity”. Other supports and resources are available (see Where can I find more information?). Student Declaration of Use The student declaration of use will be attached to every assignment submission sheet. Grading and Feedback Where GenAI use is allowed in assessments, marking criteria will be the same whether or not students choose to use prescribed tools. GenAI tools will not be used by staff to grade or provide feedback on students’ assessed work. Citations and Referencing All use of GenAI should be acknowledged in academic work, including citations and referencing where appropriate and according to departmental handbooks.

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 139–148
SHA-256: 3af496fb9c6cb57fb6e7fa6be6c78d031e07e317d5d1556cf7c696fa6ecbdb15

Conditions & exceptions

MU login in Edge or mobile/tablet and applicable module permission.

Never input own/other personal data even when institutional protection applies.

What tools are available to use at MU? Remember to read assessment guidelines carefully and check with your lecturer/facilitator if it is acceptable to use GenAI in your assessment, because requirements may vary across modules and assignments (See How can I use GenAI in my assessments?). Talk to your lecturers if you are in doubt about what is allowed. Microsoft’s Copilot is accessible to all MU students, and we currently have a data agreement in place with Microsoft, which means that our use of Copilot is GDPR-compliant. To use Copilot, students should log in with their MU login and password in the Edge browser. When logged in, students should see a small green shield icon, which shows that “Enterprise Data Protection” applies to their GenAI interactions. The same protection does not apply when you use free or paid tools which are not supported by MU. If using Copilot on a phone or tablet, you might see it listed as M365 Copilot. Make sure you have logged in with your MU student login and password. Different GenAI tools will be more effective for different situations. You may find that Copilot is useful in one context, but other tools might suit a different purpose. However, students should always be careful about what information they enter. GDPR is about your personal data rights. Never put your personal data or anyone else’s into a GenAI tool. In all cases where you use GenAI for assessments, you should refer to How can I use GenAI in my assessments? If you have any concerns about how your personal data is being processed, please contact [email protected].

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 136–143
SHA-256: 4d39e8419371fa464e0b06145f509a74895327c8b4f4ec003ffce5e52d6f4890

Guidance on the use of Gen AI in PhD Theses Guidance on the use of Gen AI in PhD Theses Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is a form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which produces original content in response to prompts from users. GenAI produces text or other multimedia outputs (text, image, audio, software code) based on pattern recognition and predictive generation. Maynooth University Regulations for Postgraduate Research Degrees state that the core of a postgraduate research programme is the advancement of knowledge through original research and the degree is awarded without classification on the strength of a body of original work of scholarship prepared and presented in accordance with internationally accepted academic standards. Professional editing services may not be used in the preparation of the thesis. Per the Maynooth University Policy on Academic Misconduct and Academic Integrity, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools or other computer-generated material to complete all or part of an assessment without acknowledgement and outside the terms of departmental policies or requirements for individual assignments is considered a breach of academic integrity. This includes using content generated by an AI tool for writing a thesis. As per Maynooth University’s Working Guidelines for the use of GenAI, the responsible use of GenAI may assist with some aspects of research and learning. However, if it is not clearly indicated by teaching staff and / or departmental guidelines, the use of GenAI is not permitted. If GenAI is used in any aspect of a research Master’s or PhD thesis, this should be appropriately acknowledged through citations and referencing where appropriate and following the guidance in departmental handbooks. In doing so, it must be clear which GenAI tools and for what purpose they were used. Gen AI tools should only be used where the supervisor has advised and supported its use and in compliance with departmental guidelines. Supervisors should ensure that graduate research students are familiar with the university’s guidelines on the use of Gen AI in research and the importance of transparency and referencing if any GenAI tools are used. Supervisors should advise their research student on the responsible use of GenAI tools and ensure that the student is aware of their responsibilities as set out by their funding body and by the university. Graduate research students are fully responsible for the academic integrity of their PhD thesis and must be able to account for and defend the use of Gen AI in their work

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 158–168
SHA-256: 941b5999356e3ef725642cf5be3cd16234be9c21b13f4033b2b79588de3b89a7

Version 1.2 Last Updated 02 April 2025 Authors MU Students, Centre for Teaching & Learning (CTL), Student Skills & Success (SS&S), Cri�cal Skills. • HuiTian Li, 3rd year, Social Sciences Wri�ng Team • Ventsislav Stoyanov, 3rd year, Social Sciences • Grace Millington, 1st year, Science and Engineering • Celes�no Simon, 2nd year, Science and Engineering • Mykhailo Symonenko, 2nd year, Science and Engineering • Tadhg Creagh, 1st year, Science and Engineering • Charles Piecyk, Final Year PhD, Arts and Humani�es • Alan Waldron, Final Year PhD, Arts and Humani�es, SS&S Staff Member • Stephen McCarthy, Final Year PhD, Arts and Humani�es, CTL Staff Member • Roddie Mac Aonghusa , MSU VP Academic Affairs • Adrian Kirwan, Cri�cal Skills Staff Member • Aisling Flynn, SS&S Staff Member Audience These Guidelines are designed for use by Undergraduate and Taught Masters students at Maynooth University. All Research Students are covered by the University’s policies and GenAI Guidelines for Staff.

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 19–37
SHA-256: d40c33af741bed1ddacc8d6f128d8b3de6bb96bff2ebf6ea9bf367992fc84017

Conditions & exceptions

Actual formal finding and applicable departmental procedure.

Redo only if practical before the next Examination Board; normally pass mark40%, not unconditional resubmission entitlement.

1.7 Where the Head of Department or their nominee finds that, on balance of probability, academic misconduct has occurred, a meeting with the student shall be convened to inform the student of the finding. 1.8 The student shall be advised of the determination by the Head of Department or their nominee and of the consequences that may unfold and that a response should be received by the Head of Department from the student within ten working days from the date the determination was confirmed. 1.9 The student shall be advised that failure or refusal to respond within the designated period of time, or failure or refusal to attend for any meeting requested by the Head of Department, will result in the matter being referred to the Academic Discipline Board in like manner as if the student had chosen not to accept the findings of the report. 1.10 Where the student chooses not to accept the findings of the report, the matter shall be referred to the Academic Discipline Board together with all relevant documentation and reports. 1.11 Where the student accepts the findings of the report, the student shall be asked to sign the report. The Head of Department shall then countersign the report. The Head of Department will then give the work a mark of 0. The student will be allowed to redo the assignment before a designated deadline prior to the next Examination Board meeting, if it is practical to do so. The mark for the resubmitted work will be capped at the pass mark (normally 40%). A record shall be kept in the Department of the incident, and this shall be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office.

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 116–142
SHA-256: b176f0fb1ade76d61a3139de592a038ae1b40f74b61dd209eed145213e914352

Version: 28th September 2023 Maynooth University Policy on Academic Misconduct and Academic Integrity This document sets out the procedures for dealing with cases of academic misconduct or suspected academic misconduct in taught programmes of the University. Academic misconduct includes plagiarism (for example, the use of unacknowledged sources in essays, assignments, or any other form of assessment), cases of personation, or of procurement or purchase of essays or other material written by others. Academic misconduct also includes unauthorised uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools or other computer-generated material (i.e., outside the terms of Departmental policies). Cases of academic misconduct or suspected academic misconduct in research degrees are dealt with under the Research Integrity Policy.

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 7–20
SHA-256: b176f0fb1ade76d61a3139de592a038ae1b40f74b61dd209eed145213e914352

9. Amendments These Terms of Reference may be amended by a majority vote of the ADB members, subject to approval by the University’s governing body. Approved by Academic Council, 26 May 2025

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 94–99
SHA-256: 8e0239614e11b1623703e7ef18cb0c99730d316b5ff48499388fd5fca90e3698

Conditions & exceptions

New evidence normally excluded; narrow unavailable-evidence miscarriage-of-justice exception.

6.4. An appeal to the Appeals Board shall be in writing on an appeal form as set out in Schedule Two attached hereto. Such appeal form shall be lodged with the Appeals Board not later than fourteen days from the date of the Decision which is subject of the appeal. 5.5. The appeal form shall state whether all or a portion of the original Decision is being appealed and shall, if appropriate, specify the portion of the Decision which is being appealed. The appeal form shall also set out the grounds upon which the Decision or a portion of the Decision is being appealed. 6.6. A copy of the appeal form shall be sent as soon as possible to the other party by the Administrative Officer. Such other party shall be entitled to lodge a reply to the said appeal within fourteen days of its receipt. Such reply shall be on a form as set out in Schedule Three attaching hereto. A copy of the said reply shall be sent as soon as possible to the appellant by the Administrative Officer. If the respondent wishes to oppose the said appeal the reply shall state the grounds upon which the appeal is opposed. 6.7 The procedures of the Appeals Board shall be designed to ensure a fair hearing of the appeal and shall be in accordance with the rules of constitutional and natural justice. Appeals shall be decided solely on the basis of the matter contained in the Decision of the Board, any documents considered by the Board and the grounds of appeal and reply lodged in respect of the appeal. Where an appeal has taken place by means of an oral hearing the Appeals Board shall also have regard to the oral submissions of the appellant and the respondent. The Appeals Board shall not be entitled to consider evidence which was not considered by the Board unless in exceptional cases it decides that consideration of such evidence is necessary to prevent a miscarriage of justice and such evidence was not available at the time of the hearing before the Board. 6.8. The student shall be entitled to have representation before the Appeals Board of not more than two persons present on his or her behalf. The cost of such representation shall be borne by the student. No costs shall be awarded by the Appeals Board.

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 437–470
SHA-256: b176f0fb1ade76d61a3139de592a038ae1b40f74b61dd209eed145213e914352

4.10. No Decision of the Board shall take effect until the time for lodging an appeal from the said Decision has expired. The lodgement of an appeal in respect of all or a part of the Decision of the Board shall operate as a stay on the said Decision until the said appeal has been finally determined by the Appeals Board.

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 396–399
SHA-256: b176f0fb1ade76d61a3139de592a038ae1b40f74b61dd209eed145213e914352

Conditions & exceptions

Examination-discipline appeal is written only, unlike the ordinary misconduct oral-hearing opportunity.

5. Appeals of examination discipline decisions 5.1 Breaches of the examination regulations are normally considered as part of the examination process, and penalties are imposed following breaches of the examination regulations. A student on whom a penalty is imposed following a breach of examination regulations may appeal this decision to the Academic Discipline Board. 5.2 A student may make the appeal in writing, within 14 days of notification of the decision, setting out the basis for the appeal. The appeal is in writing only, and no oral hearing is anticipated. 5.3 The Academic Discipline Board, in hearing appeals, will consider (i) whether there is sufficient evidence to support the decision, and (ii) whether the penalty imposed is consistent with the normal practice.

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 408–422
SHA-256: b176f0fb1ade76d61a3139de592a038ae1b40f74b61dd209eed145213e914352

3. Oral Hearing 3.1 The student will be offered the opportunity to attend an oral hearing before the Academic Discipline Board, except in the case of appeals from examination discipline matters, which will be in writing. 3.2 The request for an oral hearing shall be in the prescribed form set out in the schedule attaching hereto. The student shall be advised of this entitlement at the time submissions are invited to be lodged with the Board. Submissions together with the form requesting an oral hearing should be lodged in the Academic Council Office not later than fourteen days from the date of the Board’s communication.

Collected: 2026-10-08 · 275–286
SHA-256: b176f0fb1ade76d61a3139de592a038ae1b40f74b61dd209eed145213e914352