Archive · 15 Jun 2025
UK University Students Using AI to Cheat on the Rise
Imagine you're in school and using a smart robot (AI) to write your essays.
Many students in the UK are doing this, and getting caught!
Nearly 7,000 students were caught using AI to cheat last year.
It's getting more common, with over 5 out of 1,000 students using AI to cheat.
But regular cheating, like copying from others, is going down.
Experts think lots more students are using AI without getting caught.
Websites and apps make it easy to use AI without being detected, which is a problem for schools.
The government is also thinking about how to use AI to help students.
Nearly 7,000 UK university students were caught cheating using AI in 2023-24.
The rate of AI-related cheating rose to 5.1 cases per 1,000 students.
Cases of traditional plagiarism have decreased in the same period.
Experts believe the reported cases represent only a fraction of actual AI misuse.
AI tools are being promoted on platforms like TikTok to bypass detection.
- Who
- Nearly 7,000 students were caught, with the issue impacting higher education.
- What
- UK university students are increasingly using AI to cheat on assessments.
- When
- The 2023-24 academic year.
- Where
- UK universities.
- Why
- AI tools make it easier to cheat, while detection is challenging.
Concerned Parties
Students and Academics
AI Use in Education
Concerned Parties
Experts and universities are concerned about the increasing use of AI for cheating and the difficulty in detecting it.
Students and Academics
Some academics and students may view AI as a useful tool, despite the risks of academic misconduct.
- Reported Cases
- Nearly 7,000
- AI Cheating Rate
- 5.1 per 1,000 students
- Plagiarism Rate (2019-20)
- 19 per 1,000 students
- Survey Findings
- 88% of students admitted to using AI for assessments
- AI Detection Success
- AI-generated submissions went undetected 94% of the time in tests