British universities have warned against stress assessments because 92% of students use AI | Universities

British universities have been warned of “stress test” all assessments after new research has revealed that “almost all” undergraduates use artificial intelligence (Genai) in their studies.

A survey of 1,000 students – both national and international – revealed that there had been an “explosive increase” of the use of the Genai in the past 12 months. Almost nine out of 10 (88%) in the 2025 survey said they used tools such as Cat For their assessments, compared to 53% last year.

The proportion using any AI tool increased from 66% in 2025 to 92% in 2025, which means that only 8% of students do not use AI, according to a report Posted by the Higher Education Policy Institute and Kortext, a digital supplier of EtextBook.

Josh Freeman, the author of the report, said that such dramatic changes in behavior in just 12 months were almost unknown and warned: “Universities should take into account: the generator is there to stay.

“There are urgent lessons here for institutions,” said Freeman. “Each assessment must be examined in case they can be easily completed using AI. This will require daring recycling initiatives for the staff of the power and the potential of the generative AI.

“Institutions will not solve any of these problems alone and should seek to share best practices between them. In the end, AI tools should be used to advance learning rather than inhibiting it. »»

Students say they use Genai to explain concepts, summarize articles and suggest research ideas, but almost one in five (18%) admitted to having included text generated by AI directly in their work.

“When they were asked why they used AI, students most often make them save time (51%) and improves the quality of their work (50%),” said the report. “The main factors discouraging them using AI are the risk of being accused of academic fault and the fear of obtaining false or biased results.”

A student told researchers: “I like to work with AI because it makes life easier during work; However, I'm afraid of getting caught.

Women are more worried about these factors than men, who show greater enthusiasm for AI, as well as richer students and sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

According to the report, half of the students in the most privileged history used the Genai to summarize the articles, against 44% among the less privileged history. “The digital fracture that we identified in 2025 seems to have expanded,” concluded the report.

Students generally believe that their universities have effectively responded to concerns about academic integrity, 80% saying that their establishment's policy is “clear” and that 76% think that their establishment would identify the use of AI in evaluations. Only a third (36%) of students received AI skills training from their university.

“They dance around the subject,” said a student. “It is not prohibited but not advised, it is an academic fault if you use it, but the teachers tell us that they use it. Very mixed messages. “”

Dr. Thomas Lancaster, a computer scientist from the Imperial College London who is researching academic integrity, said: “Students who do not use generative AI tools are now a small minority.

“I know that some students resist AI, and I can understand ethical concerns, but they really get into a completely competitive disadvantage, both in education and to be ready for future careers.”

A spokesperson for UK universities said: “To effectively educate the workforce of tomorrow, universities must increasingly equip students to work in a world that will be shaped by AI, and its clear progress is in progress.

“But they have to balance this with the challenges posed by rapid development technology. This survey shows that universities and students are alive at the potential risks posed by AI tools in the context of exams and evaluation.

“All have codes of conduct which include severe sanctions for students who submit work that is not theirs and they engage the students of the day one on the implications of cheating.”