University AI policies for theses differ on three points: who approves a use, what you have to disclose, and whether a statement is required. The six below publish rules that mention the thesis, and no two work the same way. Use them to see what a policy can ask of you, then find the one that applies to your program.
We picked these six because their published text addresses the thesis, because we could read a primary document (where we couldn't, the page says so), and because students search for them by name. This isn't a ranking, and leaving a school out says nothing about its policy. Graduate school policies at the University of Georgia, BYU, the University of South Florida, and Florida International are compared in can I use ChatGPT for my thesis?
| University | Who decides | What you disclose | Full page |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto (doctoral) | Your supervisor and supervisory committee, in advance | Which tools, how and why, in the thesis | Toronto |
| UBC | Your supervisor and committee, for substantive use | A Preface statement, even if you used none | UBC |
| McGill | Your supervisor and department | A statement and framework, recommended since May 2026 | McGill |
| Princeton (senior thesis) | An instructor, per the library; Economics publishes a department policy | Any use; in Economics, a signed statement and a matrix | Princeton |
| University of Alabama | Your graduate program and committee | A thorough disclosure from anyone who used it | Alabama |
| UNC-Chapel Hill | Your graduate program | Topics to discuss with your advisor: citations, a statement, an appendix, or a methods section | UNC |
These policies are layered, and a lower layer can add to a higher one. Toronto says graduate units may issue guidance for their field, and Alabama asks each program to set its own parameters.
| Layer | What it can set | Example |
|---|---|---|
| University or graduate school | The baseline and the conduct rules | UBC's Preface rule |
| Department or program | Which uses fit the field | The permitted list in Princeton Economics |
| Committee or advisor | What fits your project | Alabama's documented variation |
| Course | What an instructor permits in a class | Princeton's rule to confirm with your instructor |
Some graduate schools say so directly. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: “The Graduate College does not have a policy regarding the permissibility of the use of generative AI in doctoral milestones.” It encourages discussion within programs and committees about exams and theses. UNC takes a similar route: “Individual graduate programs may establish guidelines specific to their thesis and comprehensive exams depending on their specific format.” A missing rule leaves the question with your program and committee.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who issued it: the university, a department, or a course? | It tells you whether another layer can add to it |
| Does it mention theses, or only coursework? | Course rules may not apply to your thesis |
| Is it dated, and does it call itself preliminary? | You may need to check for a newer version |
| Which word does it use: must, should, or recommended? | McGill's statement is recommended, and UBC's is required |
| Does it mention drafts? | UBC's citation rule covers drafts as well as the final version |
| Does it mention your data? | Alabama and UNC raise data agreements and leakage |
This example is made up. Two doctoral students at two invented universities use one tool to suggest search terms for a literature review. The first policy says any use needs prior approval. The second says programs decide, and the program's handbook is silent. The first student needs an email from the committee before starting. The second should raise it with an advisor, though no rule says so outright. Both end up with an email on file, which each will want if the question comes up later.
Esmond evaluates every assignment before you submit. It never writes it.
Esmond is an AI tool that doesn't write for you. If your course doesn't allow any AI tools, don't use Esmond for that work. If you're unsure, ask your instructor or advisor.
Each of these policies treats an AI tool as something to bring up with your supervisor, advisor, instructor, or program. Esmond comments on a draft, so ask about it the way you would ask about any other tool. None of these universities has reviewed or approved Esmond.
For more on the tool itself, see how Esmond works, the sample report, and whether you can use Esmond.
None of these six gives a blanket yes or no. Each ties use to conditions, and Alabama offers programs an example statement that rules out all use. Check your own program.
We don't know of a complete and current one, and policies change. Your graduate school's thesis page is the place to check.
Yes. Toronto, Alabama, and UNC all leave room for rules at the unit or program level. When two rules differ, ask which one your committee applies.
It varies. Alabama and McGill mention both, UBC speaks of theses and dissertations, Toronto's rule addresses the doctoral thesis, and the Princeton example covers undergraduates.
Read on November 4, 2026.
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