Short answer: A good AI declaration says which tool you used, what for, and what you did with the output. Keep it to a few honest sentences, put it where your department asks for it, and use your university's own template if it has one. If AI is banned for the task, don't use it.
First: find out what your department actually asks
Rules differ by university, department and even module. Look in this order:
- The assignment brief (it usually overrides everything else).
- The module handbook or VLE page.
- Your university's academic integrity or AI guidance page.
- Your module leader, in writing, if it is still unclear.
The 2026 HEPI student survey found only about a third of students feel their institution encourages AI use, and many describe the messaging as mixed. If yours is vague, an email asking for clarification is a normal thing to send, and the reply is useful evidence later. For the wider picture, see our guide to using AI at university in 2026.
What a good declaration includes
- The tool. Name it and, if you know it, the version or date you used it.
- The purpose. Planning, explaining a concept, feedback on a draft, grammar checking.
- What you did with the output. Used as a starting point, rewrote it, discarded it.
- What you checked. Facts, references and quotes verified against the real source.
Keep it factual. Over-apologising and under-explaining both read badly.
Three example statements (adapt, don't copy blindly)
Planning and brainstorming
I used [tool] on [date] to brainstorm possible structures for this essay. I chose and developed my own structure, and all writing, analysis and references are my own.
Understanding a concept
I used [tool] to explain [concept] in simpler terms while reading. I then checked the explanation against [module reading / source] and wrote my own account.
Feedback on a draft
I asked [tool] for feedback on the clarity of my draft introduction. I decided which suggestions to accept and rewrote the passages myself.
If your university gives a required form or wording, use that instead. These are starting points, not official templates. If you only used AI to brainstorm and are unsure whether that needs acknowledging, see do I need to cite AI if I only used it to brainstorm? and, for citing a tool in the text, how to reference ChatGPT in my essay.
Keep a simple AI log
Some universities now tell students to keep records of their AI interactions. Even if yours doesn't, a log makes any declaration quick and any later question easy to answer. One line per use is enough:
| Date | Tool | What I asked it for | What I did with it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Oct | [tool] | Explain "structural functionalism" | Checked against lecture notes, wrote my own paragraph |
Save chat transcripts where the tool allows it. Keep the log with your drafts until the final mark is confirmed.
Common mistakes
- Declaring nothing "because it was only a bit". If the rules ask you to declare, a small use still counts.
- Declaring something vaguely ("used AI for help"). It doesn't tell the marker anything and can create more questions.
- Treating a declaration as permission. If AI use is not allowed for that task, declaring it doesn't make it allowed.
Source: HEPI Student Generative AI Survey 2026.
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Run a free scanFrequently asked questions
It depends on your university and assignment. Check the brief and handbook; if the rules say declare, declare.
Wherever your department specifies: a cover sheet, a form, a footnote or an appendix. If it doesn't say, ask.
Some universities treat it as permitted assistance and some want it listed. Check the policy; if unclear, ask your module leader.
Not by itself, where AI use is permitted. Marking follows the assessment criteria, which are about your argument, evidence and writing.
Write down what you remember now, with approximate dates, and keep your drafts. Start the log for next time.