Using AI Safely and Smartly at QUB

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A lot of students feel nervous about using AI. You might be worried it’ll be detected in your assignments, or that it could land you in trouble. The reality is: when used the right way, AI can be a really useful study assistant — but it’s not a shortcut for doing the work yourself.

⚠️ Most important rule: always check your School’s guidance on AI use in assignments. Policies vary across QUB, so what’s fine in one module may not be in another.

👉 Check out our handy guide to accessing and using Microsoft Copilot

🤖 Not all AI tools are the same

Different AI tools are built for different purposes. Here are a few you might hear about:

  • ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude → general chatbots for brainstorming, explanations, and summaries. Great for speed, but they can sometimes make mistakes.
  • Copilot (Microsoft) → free for all QUB students. Works inside Word, PowerPoint, and Edge. Best used for checking your own writing, condensing lecture notes, or making study guides.

👉 Think of them like different types of calculators — each useful in its own way, but only if you know when and how to use it.

✅ What AI is good at

  • Summarising lecture slides, readings, or notes into bullet points.
  • Re-phrasing your draft to make it clearer.
  • Spotting grammar and punctuation issues.
  • Helping you plan tasks or timelines for assignments.
  • Creating quick study recaps, slides, or flashcards.

❌ What AI isn’t good at

  • Guaranteeing accuracy — always fact-check.
  • Giving reliable references (sometimes it invents them).
  • Understanding context or nuance like a human tutor.

👉 AI can speed things up, but you still need to think critically, check facts, and make it your own.

🛠️ AI as Assistive Technology

At QUB, we encourage students to see AI as a kind of Assistive Technology (AT). Just as text-to-speech helps with reading or mind-maps help with planning, AI can make study more accessible and less overwhelming by:

  • Reducing the load of reading long texts.
  • Supporting writing and revision.
  • Helping with organisation and time management.

It won’t replace your own work — but it can support it.

🧑‍💻 Safer ways to use Copilot

Our AI Study Smarts: Copilot Without the Oops workshop shares simple strategies for responsible use:

  • Use your own text → paste in your draft, notes, or readings so Copilot works with reliable content.
  • Cite + verify → treat AI references as clues only. Always check them in the library or Google Scholar.
  • SAFE AI check before using output in your work:
    1. Scope – is it allowed for this task?
    2. Accuracy – compare facts with the source.
    3. Fabrication – reject fake references.
    4. Expression – rewrite in your own words.
    5. Evidence – keep track of page numbers and sections.

👉 Book onto the AI Study Smarts: Copilot Without the Oops workshop
👉 Explore other Study Smarts: Lunchtime Bytes workshops

📝 What Makes a Good Copilot Prompt?

AI works best when you give it clear instructions. Use this framework every time:

GOAL – What do you want from Copilot?
👉 “I want a quick summary of this reading so I get the main ideas before class.”

CONTEXT – Why do you need it?
👉 “…for tomorrow’s seminar on [topic], so I can join the discussion without missing key points.”

EXPECTATIONS – How should Copilot respond?
👉 “Keep it short, clear, and student-friendly — no waffle, no made-up stuff.”

SOURCE – What info should it use?
👉 “…just the PDF I upload / lecture slides I paste in — not random internet stuff.”

💡 Try These Safe Copilot Prompts

Here are some examples you can copy straight into Copilot (using your own notes):

  • Summarise my notes
    “Summarise this text in 5 clear bullet points. Highlight the author’s main argument and key evidence.”
  • Make it simpler
    “Rewrite this paragraph in plain English for study notes. Keep all facts and terms accurate.”
  • Check for clarity
    “Review this draft paragraph. Suggest improvements for grammar, punctuation, and flow.”
  • Create revision questions
    “Turn this reading into 3 revision questions I can test myself on.”
  • Plan my time
    “Based on this task list, estimate how long each step might take and suggest a simple timeline.”

✨ Top tip: The clearer your prompt, the better the results. Think of Copilot like a study buddy — great at helping you prepare, but you still need to check its work.

✅ Reassurance

  • Using AI to help you study is ok — QUB even provides Copilot!
  • Using AI to write your essays for you without checking policy or adding your own work is risky and could count as academic misconduct.

If you’re ever unsure, check with your lecturer, supervisor, or School guidance.

👉Check Out These Posts on AI Tools and Resources

📚 Where to Get Support

✨ Bottom line: AI isn’t here to replace you. But if you use it responsibly — as a digital learning assistant — it can help you study smarter, save time, and feel more confident.

🆘 Support and Training

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