OfS warns AI threatens the reliability of university coursework assessments

The Office for Students (OfS) says AI is putting the reliability of university coursework assessments at serious risk and has urged universities to use more supervised, AI-free assessment. It warns that weak assessments could undermine students’ learning and the credibility of degrees, and its new guidance says universities may face fines if AI compromises assessment standards.

The report drew on interviews with 300 students and staff across more than 120 higher education institutions. Students said some peers used AI to complete work in minutes and earned similar grades, while lecturers questioned whether some coursework can still measure students’ abilities; separate research found 94 per cent of students use generative AI in assessed work. The OfS says closed-book exams, presentations and practical assessments can offer greater confidence that students have demonstrated their own knowledge and skills.