AI in Teaching and Learning Policy approved - what you need to do
01 Jun 2026
Senate has approved a new AI in Teaching and Learning Policy, which takes effect from 1 September 2026. The policy introduces a common framework for communicating expectations to our students of how AI can be used in assessed work - and sets out a clear, proportionate ask of teaching colleagues ahead of the new academic year.
The policy was developed by our community - with academic colleagues, professional services colleagues, and the Students' Union working in partnership - and reflects a shared commitment to navigating AI in higher education collaboratively.
We know AI is a contested and fast-moving area, and that colleagues hold a wide range of views about its role in teaching and assessment. The policy is designed to provide a workable starting point - not a final answer - and will be reviewed as our understanding develops.
What the policy does
The policy requires that every summative assessment is assigned one of four AI categories, and that this information is clearly stated to students in the assessment brief and on Canvas.
The category assigned to an assessment determines the information that must be included in the assessment brief.
The categories are listed below, with full descriptions in the policy document:
A. AI Prohibited
B. AI Minimal
C. AI Permitted
D. AI-Integrated
The aim is to give students consistent, explicit expectations - and to support teaching colleagues to have clearer conversations with each other and with students about AI and assessment. Having expectations set out in consistent ways is fundamental to inclusivity.
Decisions about which category to apply to an assessment are disciplinary ones, made by academic colleagues. The policy provides a shared language, not a set of prescriptions.
What colleagues need to do before September
The implementation approach for 2026/27 is deliberately focussed and will prioritise local disciplinary conversations, first between educators and ultimately with our students:
- We are asking teaching colleagues to categorise their existing assessments and make sure this is updated on Canvas before the start of semester.
'AI-Integrated' assessments are expected to apply to a very small minority of assessments and should only be used where alignment with existing learning outcomes is already in place.
For the small number of colleagues running optional units with 'AI-Integrated' assessments: this information needs to be visible on the Manchester Portal before course unit selection opens in August, so that students can make informed choices. Coordinators of optional course units with ‘AI-Integrated’ assessments should contact their Faculty Heads of TLSE.
What colleagues do not need to do before September
Categorisation is of existing assessments as they are. It should not prompt changes to learning outcomes, programme amendments, or course unit specification updates - none of these are required for September.
Next steps
We will review how the policy is working in practice after Semester 1, with findings feeding into the October 2026 Academic Quality and Standards Committee. Faculty Teaching and Learning Committees will play a key role in collating feedback from Schools; this is a genuine feedback loop, and issues raised will inform how the policy develops.