A recent study of Currys highlights how UK university students and recent graduates use artificial intelligence for academic purposes. The survey, which included nearly 1,000 people, shows that while AI is widely used for studying, many students remain divided over whether its use is ethical.
The study found that 67% of students believe AI benefits their studies, and 24% admit to using AI tools to complete their assignments. Despite this, 50% of students consider the use of AI to be lazy, and 41% believe its use is akin to cheating.
Top 10 uses of AI by students
Students use AI tools for a variety of tasks, with the main applications being:
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Research and gather information – 47%
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Summarize the content – 39%
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Writing help – 28%
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Troubleshooting – 27%
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Generate study notes – 25%
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Exam preparation – 20%
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Learn new concepts – 20%
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Language translation – 19%
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Data analysis – 18%
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Time management – 16%
Tools like CatGPT-4, Perplexity, GrammarAnd Bot-Quill are among the most commonly used platforms to help students save time on research, synthesis, and writing tasks.
Top 10 universities for AI course registrations
The study also examined the rise of AI-related courses at UK universities. Enrollment in AI courses has tripled over the past five years. The universities with the highest number of AI course registrations in 2022/23 are:
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The University of Hull – 690 students
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The University of Edinburgh – 405 students
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The University of Bradford – 325 students
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The University of Bath – 320 students
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The University of Surrey – 280 students
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The University of Liverpool – 270 students
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Imperial College London – 255 students
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The University of Sheffield – 240 students
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The University of Sussex – 215 students
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Loughborough University – 210 students
Top 10 courses whose enrollments are increasing thanks to AI
In addition to AI-specific courses, other disciplines have seen notable increases in enrollment influenced by AI trends:
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Computer science – Up 3514%
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Business IT – Up 2384%
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Software engineering – Up 265%
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Computer games and animation – Up 112%
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Biotechnology – Up to 100%
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Data Science – Up 95%
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Cybersecurity – Up 87%
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Robotics – Up 75%
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Machine learning – Up 65%
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Health IT – Up 58%
University policies and consequences
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into academic life, universities are adapting their policies to guide responsible use. Establishments like University of Oxford encourage AI as a writing aid but impose sanctions in the event of misuse.
The Currys study found that 14% of students knew someone who had been penalized for inappropriate use of AI. Consequences included:
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Mark capped at passing (40%) for a module.
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Resubmission of assignment due to high AI similarity scores on Turnitin.
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Failure of a module, repeating a year or expulsion in serious cases.
Student attitudes towards AI
The study also explored how students feel about the role of AI in their future careers. 63% believe that AI improves their career prospects, and 75% consider AI skills essential for the future.
As AI continues to evolve, it is clear that it will become a permanent part of education and the world at large. While many students view AI positively, others remain concerned about its impact. These mixed prospects reflect the ongoing challenge of responsibly integrating AI into academic and professional life.
When asked what they think about an AI-driven future:
