Vancouver, Canada

University of British Columbia

Reviewed policy snapshot

UBC requires permission for GenAI in assessed work, pairs approved institutional access with privacy safeguards, and requires disclosure when use is allowed.

Do

  • Obtain express permission for the specific assessed work.
  • Check the instructor, supervisor, or program's express exam permission.
  • Follow the stated method for acknowledging permitted GenAI use.

Don't

  • Do not assume a general UBC tool listing permits coursework use.
  • Do not use GenAI in an exam without express permission.
  • Do not omit the acknowledgement required for allowed assessed use.

Audience

For students · Coursework, exams, and disclosure

Reviewed material is available for this audience.

Coursework & assignments

Conditional

UBC says students may use GenAI for assessed work only when expressly permitted by the instructor, supervisor, or program.

Reviewed evidence & official sources

Reviewed evidence

Students may only use GenAI for assessed work (assignments, exams, projects, theses) if expressly permitted by their instructor, supervisor, or program.
Agent reviewed
For assessed work (assignments, exams, projects, theses, etc.), students may only use GenAI if expressly permitted by their instructor, supervisor, or program. Instructors set the conditions for GenAI use in submitted assessed academic work, including when and how its use must be acknowledged.

Exams & assessment

Conditional

UBC includes exams among assessed work that require express permission before GenAI use.

Reviewed evidence & official sources

Reviewed evidence

Students may only use GenAI for assessed work (assignments, exams, projects, theses) if expressly permitted by their instructor, supervisor, or program.
Agent reviewed
For assessed work (assignments, exams, projects, theses, etc.), students may only use GenAI if expressly permitted by their instructor, supervisor, or program. Instructors set the conditions for GenAI use in submitted assessed academic work, including when and how its use must be acknowledged.

Disclosure & citation

Required

UBC says educators should tell students when and how to acknowledge GenAI use when it is allowed in assessed work.

Scope: Mixed scopeAssignmentExamThesis
Reviewed evidence & official sources

Reviewed evidence

UBC says educators should tell students when and how to acknowledge GenAI use if GenAI tools are allowed in assessed work.
Agent reviewed
If GenAI tools are allowed for student use in assessed work, educators should make it clear to students when and how they should acknowledge its use.

Privacy & sensitive data

Restricted

UBC says personal information must not be entered into a generative-AI tool that has not passed its FIPPA compliance assessment.

Scope: Mixed scopeAssignmentExamThesis
Reviewed evidence & official sources

Reviewed evidence

Do not enter personal information into any generative AI tool that has not been through UBC's FIPPA compliance assessment (PIA), as to do so may be a breach of privacy.
Agent reviewed
Do not enter personal information into any generative AI tool that has not been through UBC's FIPPA compliance assessment (Privacy Impact Assessment or PIA), as to do so may be a breach of privacy. Personal information includes names, personal contact information, student numbers, academic history, etc.

University-provided AI tools

Allowed in this scope

UBC identifies Microsoft Copilot for Organizations as an approved institutional chatbot for users with UBC credentials, but access is not assessment permission.

Scope: Mixed scopeProvision ≠ coursework permission
Reviewed evidence & official sources

Reviewed evidence

Microsoft Copilot for Organizations is the approved institutional GenAI chatbot at UBC, available to all faculty, students, and staff with UBC credentials, with PIA interim approval.
Agent reviewed
Microsoft's GenerativeAI Tool Copilot for Organizations is available for UBC faculty, students, and staff from any place you would normally access Copilot, such as copilot.microsoft.com or the Microsoft Edge web browser sidebar. Once you have logged in with your UBC credentials, look for the green Protected label - accompanied by a shield and check-mark icon - to confirm a secure connection.

Official sources

Research & publication

Required

UBC graduate students need approval for substantive GenAI use in research and thesis work and must include a GenAI use statement in the thesis preface.

Reviewed evidence & official sources

Reviewed evidence

Graduate students must obtain approval from their supervisor/committee for substantive GenAI use in research and thesis work, and must include a GenAI use statement in their thesis preface.
Agent reviewed
The substantive (i.e. non-editorial) use by graduate students of Generative AI tools and outputs must be done with full transparency and with the approval of the academic(s) responsible for evaluating the given work in question -- course instructor, research supervisor, or other advisor as appropriate. If GenAI was used in the research described, the drafting of, and/or the preparation of a thesis or dissertation, the Preface must include a concise description of how it was used.

Reviewed record

Reviewed claims

20 reviewed claims

Academic Integrity

Students may only use GenAI for assessed work (assignments, exams, projects, theses) if expressly permitted by their instructor, supervisor, or program.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence97%

Normalized value: student_genai_assessed_work_requires_permission

Original evidence

Evidence 1
For assessed work (assignments, exams, projects, theses, etc.), students may only use GenAI if expressly permitted by their instructor, supervisor, or program. Instructors set the conditions for GenAI use in submitted assessed academic work, including when and how its use must be acknowledged.

Academic Integrity

The use of applications to detect AI-generated content is strongly discouraged at UBC due to concerns about effectiveness, accuracy, bias, privacy, and intellectual property. Turnitin AI detection is not enabled.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence97%

Normalized value: ai_detection_strongly_discouraged

Original evidence

Evidence 1
The use of applications to detect AI-generated content is strongly discouraged at this time, due to concerns about effectiveness, accuracy, bias, privacy, and intellectual property.

Ai Tool Treatment

Copilot Chat (Basic) is listed for University of British Columbia in an official university AI tools source. Derived availability: allowed. Derived endorsement type: institutionally licensed or procured.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence97%

Normalized value: {"tool":"microsoft_copilot","rawToolName":"Copilot Chat (Basic)","description":"UBC Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat service with enterprise data protection.","howToObtain":"Use an active UBC Microsoft account through UBC's Microsoft 365 environment.","costToUser":"Included as part of UBC Microsoft 365 licensing for eligible users.","availability":"allowed","endorsementType":"institutionally_licensed_or_procured"}

Original evidence

Evidence 1
UBC IT says Copilot Chat (Basic) is available to eligible UBC students, faculty, and staff through UBC's Microsoft 365 environment and is included as part of UBC's Microsoft 365 licensing for eligible users.

Localized display only

UBC IT says Copilot Chat (Basic) is available to eligible UBC students, faculty, and staff through UBC's Microsoft 365 environment and is included as part of UBC's Microsoft 365 licensing for eligible users.

Academic Integrity

All uses of GenAI at UBC must uphold academic integrity and adhere to the academic misconduct regulations in the UBC Okanagan and Vancouver calendars.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence96%

Normalized value: genai_must_uphold_academic_integrity

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Academic integrity: All uses of GenAI at UBC must uphold academic integrity and adhere to the academic misconduct regulations in the UBC Okanagan and Vancouver calendars.

Privacy

UBC says instructors or teaching assistants cannot require students to use GenAI or any other technology tool that requires sharing personal information unless the tool has undergone a UBC Privacy Impact Assessment review and been approved for use with personal information.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence96%

Normalized value: pia_required_for_required_student_use

Original evidence

Evidence 1
In line with the British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), instructors or teaching assistants cannot require that students use GenAI or any other technology tool that requires them to share personal information unless that tool has undergone a UBC PIA review and been approved for use with personal information.

Privacy

Do not enter personal information into any generative AI tool that has not been through UBC's FIPPA compliance assessment (PIA), as to do so may be a breach of privacy.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence96%

Normalized value: no_personal_info_in_non_pia_tools

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Do not enter personal information into any generative AI tool that has not been through UBC's FIPPA compliance assessment (Privacy Impact Assessment or PIA), as to do so may be a breach of privacy. Personal information includes names, personal contact information, student numbers, academic history, etc.

Teaching

UBC recognizes generative AI as a tool to assist in tasks, not a replacement for human creativity and judgment, and encourages experimentation within ethical and responsible use boundaries.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence95%

Normalized value: genai_assistive_tool_not_replacement

Original evidence

Evidence 1
UBC also recognizes that generative AI is a tool to assist in our tasks, not a replacement for human creativity and judgment. UBC encourages experimentation and use within the boundaries of ethical and responsible use.

Teaching

Faculty and staff may use GenAI in teaching and learning so long as this is within the bounds of legal, university, Faculty, or program-level policies and requirements.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence95%

Normalized value: faculty_staff_genai_use_permitted

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Faculty and staff may use GenAI in teaching and learning so long as this is within the bounds of legal, university, Faculty, or program-level policies and requirements, and the guidelines below.

Ai Tool Treatment

Microsoft Copilot for Organizations is the approved institutional GenAI chatbot at UBC, available to all faculty, students, and staff with UBC credentials, with PIA interim approval.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence95%

Normalized value: microsoft_copilot_approved_institutional_tool

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Microsoft's GenerativeAI Tool Copilot for Organizations is available for UBC faculty, students, and staff from any place you would normally access Copilot, such as copilot.microsoft.com or the Microsoft Edge web browser sidebar. Once you have logged in with your UBC credentials, look for the green Protected label - accompanied by a shield and check-mark icon - to confirm a secure connection.

Academic Integrity

Graduate students must obtain approval from their supervisor/committee for substantive GenAI use in research and thesis work, and must include a GenAI use statement in their thesis preface.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence95%

Normalized value: grad_students_genai_approval_and_declaration_required

Original evidence

Evidence 1
The substantive (i.e. non-editorial) use by graduate students of Generative AI tools and outputs must be done with full transparency and with the approval of the academic(s) responsible for evaluating the given work in question -- course instructor, research supervisor, or other advisor as appropriate. If GenAI was used in the research described, the drafting of, and/or the preparation of a thesis or dissertation, the Preface must include a concise description of how it was used.

Teaching

Use of GenAI in teaching and learning should respect Indigenous data sovereignty and community protocols for use and sharing of Indigenous knowledges, intellectual properties, and data.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence94%

Normalized value: genai_respect_indigenous_data_sovereignty

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Indigenous data sovereignty: Use of GenAI should respect Indigenous data sovereignty and community protocols for use and sharing of Indigenous knowledges, intellectual properties, and data. Harm from false information about Indigenous communities, cultures, knowledges, histories, and contexts should be avoided.

Ai Tool Treatment

UBC lists generative AI tools by whether they are approved for required instructional use.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: UBC lists generative AI tools by whether they are approved for required instructional use.

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Privacy Impact Assessments for GenerativeAI Instructional Use at UBC

Ai Tool Treatment

UBC says students must not be required to sign up for or use ChatGPT 5 with an account.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: UBC says students must not be required to sign up for or use ChatGPT 5 with an account.

Original evidence

Evidence 1
No. Students must not be required to sign up for or use ChatGPT 5 with an account.

Ai Tool Treatment

UBC allows required instructional use of Microsoft Copilot for Organizations with caution when students use UBC credentials and avoid personal information or intellectual property.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: UBC allows required instructional use of Microsoft Copilot for Organizations with caution when students use UBC credentials and avoid personal information or intellectual property.

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Yes, with caution: Students should log in with their UBC credentials, be reminded not to enter personal information or intellectual property into the tool.

Teaching

UBC says instructors, supervisors, and programs should clearly communicate permitted and prohibited GenAI use to students.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: UBC says instructors, supervisors, and programs should clearly communicate permitted and prohibited GenAI use to students.

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Instructors, supervisors, and programs should clearly communicate to students the permitted and/or prohibited use of GenAI in their academic work.

Academic Integrity

UBC says educators should tell students when and how to acknowledge GenAI use if GenAI tools are allowed in assessed work.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: UBC says educators should tell students when and how to acknowledge GenAI use if GenAI tools are allowed in assessed work.

Original evidence

Evidence 1
If GenAI tools are allowed for student use in assessed work, educators should make it clear to students when and how they should acknowledge its use.

Academic Integrity

UBC strongly discourages use of AI-generated-content detectors because of concerns about effectiveness, accuracy, bias, privacy, and intellectual property.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: UBC strongly discourages use of AI-generated-content detectors because of concerns about effectiveness, accuracy, bias, privacy, and intellectual property.

Original evidence

Evidence 1
The use of applications to detect AI-generated content is strongly discouraged at this time, due to concerns about effectiveness, accuracy, bias, privacy, and intellectual property.

Privacy

UBC says instructors should not submit student work or personal information to AI detectors unless the detector has undergone UBC Privacy Impact Assessment review.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: UBC says instructors should not submit student work or personal information to AI detectors unless the detector has undergone UBC Privacy Impact Assessment review.

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Instructors should not submit student academic work or personal information to AI detectors that have not undergone a UBC Privacy Impact Assessment.

Privacy

UBC says a Privacy Impact Assessment is required for university tools and initiatives that handle personal information.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: UBC says a Privacy Impact Assessment is required for university tools and initiatives that handle personal information.

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Under British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is required for university tools and initiatives that handle personal information.

Privacy

UBC conducts Privacy Impact Assessments case by case to mitigate privacy risks associated with information handling.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence90%

Normalized value: UBC conducts Privacy Impact Assessments case by case to mitigate privacy risks associated with information handling.

Original evidence

Evidence 1
At UBC, PIAs are conducted on a case-by-case basis, with a focus on proactively mitigating privacy risks associated with information handling.

Source record

Official sources

14 sources

Record information, JSON & citation
Reviewagent reviewedConfidence97%Snapshot statusstrongSnapshot hashc3e61fee…JSONPublic JSON

Citation: University AI Policy Tracker. "University of British Columbia AI Policy Tracker record." Last checked July 19, 2026. https://eduaipolicy.org/universities/ubc

Original university source language remains canonical. This tracker is not an official university statement.

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