University AI Policy Tracker
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Sydney, Australia

The University of Sydney

RankingQS World University Rankings 2026: =25UpdatedJul 19, 2026

Reviewed policy snapshot

The University of Sydney publishes a two-lane assessment model in which unit instructions and supervised-assessment rules determine when AI may be used.

Audience

For instructors · Teaching and assessment

No reviewed instructor-specific guidance; general conclusions only.

Coursework & assignments

Conditional

Sydney's open-assessment approach permits AI unless a unit coordinator says otherwise, while assessment procedures identify the permitted tools and acknowledgement method.

Scope: Mixed scopeAssignment
Reviewed evidence & official sources

Reviewed evidence

From Semester 1 2025, the default position in the University of Sydney Academic Integrity Policy has been reversed: except for supervised examinations and supervised in-semester tests, students may use automated writing tools or generative AI to complete assessments unless expressly prohibited by the unit coordinator.
Agent reviewed
Except for supervised examinations and supervised in-semester tests, students may use automated writing tools or generative artificial intelligence to complete assessments, unless expressly prohibited by the unit of study coordinator.
The University of Sydney Assessment Procedures state that unit of study coordinators will specify if, and which, artificial intelligence tools are permitted for each assessment and how their use must be acknowledged.
Agent reviewed
Unit of study coordinators will specify if, and which, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are permitted for each assessment and how their use must be acknowledged.

Exams & assessment

Conditional

Supervised examinations and supervised in-semester tests are excluded from Sydney's described default, so their own instructions control.

Scope: Mixed scopeExam
Reviewed evidence & official sources

Reviewed evidence

From Semester 1 2025, the default position in the University of Sydney Academic Integrity Policy has been reversed: except for supervised examinations and supervised in-semester tests, students may use automated writing tools or generative AI to complete assessments unless expressly prohibited by the unit coordinator.
Agent reviewed
Except for supervised examinations and supervised in-semester tests, students may use automated writing tools or generative artificial intelligence to complete assessments, unless expressly prohibited by the unit of study coordinator.

Disclosure & citation

Required

Sydney says students who use AI in assessments must acknowledge it, including generative translation, paraphrasing, and referencing tools.

Scope: Mixed scopeAssignmentExam
Reviewed evidence & official sources

Reviewed evidence

University of Sydney states that students who use AI in assessments are required to acknowledge it, including any tools that use generative AI such as translation tools, paraphrasing tools or referencing tools; failing to provide acknowledgement can lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy 2022.
Agent reviewed
If you use AI in your assessments, you're required to acknowledge it - this includes acknowledging any tools that use generative AI, such as translation tools, paraphrasing tools or referencing tools. You are not required to acknowledge tools used for word processing, or which only correct basic spelling and grammar. Failing to provide acknowledgement or any other misuse can lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 .

Privacy & sensitive data

Restricted

Sydney's guardrails say confidential, personal, proprietary, and other sensitive information should not be entered into AI tools.

Scope: Mixed scopeAssignmentExam
Reviewed evidence & official sources

Reviewed evidence

The University of Sydney's generative AI guardrails state that confidential, personal, proprietary, or otherwise sensitive information should not be entered into AI tools.
Agent reviewed
Do not enter confidential, personal, proprietary or otherwise sensitive information Do not rely on the accuracy of outputs Openly acknowledge your use of AI (e.g. educators must model best practice by being transparent and clear with students about how these tools are used)

University-provided AI tools

Allowed in this scope

Sydney provides students free access to Microsoft Copilot for Web and recommends university-endorsed protected mode, but access is not assessment permission.

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

Reviewed evidence

The University of Sydney provides all students free access to Microsoft Copilot for Web, and recommends using University-endorsed tools like Copilot with protected mode via UniKey login rather than public AI tools.
Agent reviewed
Only use University-endorsed tools like Copilot All students have free access to Microsoft Copilot for Web . Make sure that you log in with your UniKey using Okta so that you are using Copilot in protected mode, which introduces necessary guardrails within the system.

Official sources

Research & publication

Not mentioned in reviewed sources

No research or publication rule is included in this snapshot.

Scope: Mixed scope
Reviewed evidence & official sources

No reviewed evidence is included in this dimension.

Reviewed record

Reviewed claims

11 reviewed claims

Coursework & assignments2 reviewed claims

Teaching

From Semester 1 2025, the default position in the University of Sydney Academic Integrity Policy has been reversed: except for supervised examinations and supervised in-semester tests, students may use automated writing tools or generative AI to complete assessments unless expressly prohibited by the unit coordinator.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence97%

Normalized value: ai_use_default_allowed_for_non_exam_assessments_from_2025

Last checked
May 10, 2026
Last changed
May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Except for supervised examinations and supervised in-semester tests, students may use automated writing tools or generative artificial intelligence to complete assessments, unless expressly prohibited by the unit of study coordinator.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
40b1a9c7…
Retrieved
May 10, 2026
Evidence locator
Semester 1 2025 section, 'Allowable assistance' in the Academic Integrity Policy

Teaching

The University of Sydney Assessment Procedures state that unit of study coordinators will specify if, and which, artificial intelligence tools are permitted for each assessment and how their use must be acknowledged.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence95%

Normalized value: coordinator_specifies_ai_tool_rules_per_assessment

Last checked
May 10, 2026
Last changed
May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Unit of study coordinators will specify if, and which, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are permitted for each assessment and how their use must be acknowledged.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
4981f1bd…
Retrieved
May 10, 2026
Evidence locator
Quick guide, 'Can I use automated writing tools and generative AI?'

Disclosure & citation1 reviewed claim

Academic Integrity

University of Sydney states that students who use AI in assessments are required to acknowledge it, including any tools that use generative AI such as translation tools, paraphrasing tools or referencing tools; failing to provide acknowledgement can lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy 2022.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence96%

Normalized value: ai_acknowledgment_required_in_assessments

Last checked
May 10, 2026
Last changed
May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
If you use AI in your assessments, you're required to acknowledge it - this includes acknowledging any tools that use generative AI, such as translation tools, paraphrasing tools or referencing tools. You are not required to acknowledge tools used for word processing, or which only correct basic spelling and grammar. Failing to provide acknowledgement or any other misuse can lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 .
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
abfbc1fd…
Retrieved
May 10, 2026
Evidence locator
Acknowledging AI use section

Privacy & sensitive data1 reviewed claim

Privacy

The University of Sydney's generative AI guardrails state that confidential, personal, proprietary, or otherwise sensitive information should not be entered into AI tools.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence95%

Normalized value: no_confidential_or_sensitive_data_in_ai_tools

Last checked
May 10, 2026
Last changed
May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Do not enter confidential, personal, proprietary or otherwise sensitive information Do not rely on the accuracy of outputs Openly acknowledge your use of AI (e.g. educators must model best practice by being transparent and clear with students about how these tools are used)
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
058efdd9…
Retrieved
May 10, 2026
Evidence locator
The policy and assessment frameworks section, 'The University of Sydney's guardrails around generative AI'

University-provided AI tools1 reviewed claim

Ai Tool Treatment

The University of Sydney provides all students free access to Microsoft Copilot for Web, and recommends using University-endorsed tools like Copilot with protected mode via UniKey login rather than public AI tools.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence95%

Normalized value: copilot_is_provided_university_endorsed_tool

Last checked
May 10, 2026
Last changed
May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Only use University-endorsed tools like Copilot All students have free access to Microsoft Copilot for Web . Make sure that you log in with your UniKey using Okta so that you are using Copilot in protected mode, which introduces necessary guardrails within the system.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
0edbaa77…
Retrieved
May 10, 2026
Evidence locator
Best practices section

Additional reviewed claims6 reviewed claims

Ai Tool Treatment

Microsoft Copilot is listed for The University of Sydney in an official university AI tools source. Derived availability: allowed. Derived endorsement type: officially endorsed.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence97%

Normalized value: {"tool":"microsoft_copilot","rawToolName":"Microsoft Copilot","description":"University-endorsed generative AI tool for enrolled students.","howToObtain":"Sign in at Copilot with the University account.","costToUser":"Free for all students.","availability":"allowed","endorsementType":"officially_endorsed"}

Last checked
Jul 15, 2026
Last changed
Jul 15, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
The University of Sydney Student IT apps page says Microsoft Copilot is a University endorsed GenAI tool, free for all students, and accessed by signing in with a University account. It may be used for assessments subject to responsible-use guidance.

Localized display only

The University of Sydney Student IT apps page says Microsoft Copilot is a University endorsed GenAI tool, free for all students, and accessed by signing in with a University account. It may be used for assessments subject to responsible-use guidance.

Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
211f8ede…
Retrieved
Jul 15, 2026

Academic Integrity

The University of Sydney's Academic Integrity Policy 2022 states it is an academic integrity breach to inappropriately generate content using artificial intelligence to complete an assessment task, and submitting an assessment generated by AI may be considered contract cheating.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence96%

Normalized value: ai_misuse_is_academic_integrity_breach_and_potential_contract_cheating

Last checked
May 10, 2026
Last changed
May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Clause 4(9)(2)(j)(i) states that it is an academic integrity breach to inappropriately generate content using artificial intelligence to complete an assessment task. Clause 4(13)(1)(i) states that submitting an assessment generated by AI may be considered contract cheating.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
058efdd9…
Retrieved
May 10, 2026
Evidence locator
The policy and assessment frameworks section, 'What is in the policy about generative AI use by students?'

Academic Integrity

The University of Sydney Academic Integrity Policy 2022 states students may only use assistance, including automated writing tools, if the unit of study outline expressly permits it, and must acknowledge assistance provided when preparing submitted work.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence96%

Normalized value: ai_assistance_only_if_unit_outline_permits_acknowledgment_required

Last checked
May 10, 2026
Last changed
May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Clause 5(16) (2) mentions that students may only use assistance, including automated writing tools, if the unit of study outline expressly permits it. (5)(b) mentions that students must acknowledge assistance provided when preparing submitted work, including the use of automated writing tools.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
058efdd9…
Retrieved
May 10, 2026
Evidence locator
The policy and assessment frameworks section, 'What is in the policy about generative AI use by students?'

Teaching

The University of Sydney has adopted a 'two-lane approach' to assessment: Lane 1 comprises secure, in-person supervised assessments to assure learning, and Lane 2 comprises open assessments that support and scaffold the use of all available and relevant tools including generative AI.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence96%

Normalized value: two_lane_approach_secure_and_open_assessments

Last checked
May 10, 2026
Last changed
May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Secure (Lane 1) Open (Lane 2) Role of assessment Assessment of learning Assessment for and as learning Level of operation Mainly at program level Mainly at unit level Assessment security Secured, in person 'Open' / unsecured Role of generative AI May or may not be allowed by examiner As relevant, use of AI scaffolded & supported
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
40b1a9c7…
Retrieved
May 10, 2026
Evidence locator
The two-lane approach to assessment section, Table 1 summary

Academic Integrity

University of Sydney guidance states that misusing generative AI can breach the Academic Integrity Policy 2022, with examples including using AI in assessments where prohibited, submitting AI-generated work without acknowledgment, and inputting University teaching materials or personal information into AI tools.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence96%

Normalized value: ai_misuse_examples_listed_as_breach

Last checked
May 10, 2026
Last changed
May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
Misusing AI can breach the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 . Examples of misuse include: Submitting AI-generated work without appropriate acknowledgment using AI where it has been prohibited in a 'secure' assessment type, such as during a secure exam inputting University teaching or course materials, content generated by another student, intellectual property from external partners, or any person's personal or health information.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
abfbc1fd…
Retrieved
May 10, 2026
Evidence locator
When you can and can't use AI section, Misuse of AI

Academic Integrity

The University of Sydney advises that Turnitin's AI detection tool may be used if a marker suspects AI-generated work where its use was not permitted or not acknowledged, but the AI detector score would not be the only evidence relied upon for an academic integrity case.

Review: Agent reviewedConfidence95%

Normalized value: turnitin_ai_detector_not_sole_evidence

Last checked
May 10, 2026
Last changed
May 10, 2026

Original evidence

Evidence 1
If a marker or teacher suspects that part or all of your assessment has been generated using AI technology and its use was not permitted, or use was not acknowledged, the Turnitin AI detection tool may be used to evaluate the situation. It's important to note that the AI detector score would not be the only evidence relied upon for an academic integrity case, but will be considered alongside other relevant evidence.
Source language
English (en)
Snapshot hash
abfbc1fd…
Retrieved
May 10, 2026
Evidence locator
Detecting generative AI use section

Source record

Official sources

9 sources

Record information, JSON & citation
Reviewagent reviewedConfidence97%Snapshot statusstrongSnapshot hashcec24b38…JSONPublic JSON

Citation: University AI Policy Tracker. "The University of Sydney AI Policy Tracker record." Last checked July 19, 2026. https://eduaipolicy.org/universities/university-of-sydney

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

Open change log
The University of Sydney AI policy: two-lane assessment model | University AI Policy Tracker