Check Harvard University AI Policy Online

Check Harvard’s official generative AI guidance, school-level rules, disclosure expectations, and course-specific requirements before using AI in academic work.

Verified from official university sources

Quick Policy Overview

AI Allowed Depends

Depends on school, course, and assignment

Disclosure Depends

Depends; disclosure commonly required when use is permitted

Instructor Overrides Yes

Instructors set the rules for their own courses.

Last Updated 2026

Official pages updated periodically; verify page date before publication

Data Status Verified

Checked against official university sources.

1. Summary

Harvard supports responsible experimentation with generative AI, but its central guidance does not create one permission rule for every class. Schools and instructors define what is allowed, and some units publish more specific requirements.

Decentralized

Use scope: Depends on school, course, and assignment.

Disclosure: Depends; disclosure commonly required when use is permitted.

Instructor/course rules can override the general university guidance.

Integrity: Unauthorized or misleading AI use may be treated as an academic integrity issue under university rules.

A general Harvard guideline therefore cannot tell a student whether a particular assignment permits drafting, editing, brainstorming, or translation.

Check primary source.

2. Why Check This Policy

Harvard is especially important to check at the school and course level. FAS requires faculty to state their own classroom rules, HGSE tells students to ask before using AI when permission is unclear, and Harvard Extension notes that an instructor may prohibit even AI-assisted readability edits. A general Harvard guideline therefore cannot tell a student whether a particular assignment permits drafting, editing, brainstorming, or translation.

3. When AI Is Commonly Allowed

Brainstorming or idea generation when permitted.

Editing, readability, or grammar support only when specifically allowed.

Translation only if the course rule permits it.

Only if your instructor allows it for the specific assignment.

4. When AI Is Commonly Restricted

Any use that an instructor, school, or program explicitly prohibits.

Always check your course syllabus for specific restrictions.

5. Disclosure Requirements

Depends; disclosure commonly required when use is permitted.

Disclosure depends on the course, school, or assignment rule. If AI use is allowed, instructors may still require attribution or a statement of use.

Where AI use is permitted, disclosure usually takes one of these forms:

A statement or acknowledgement in your submission
A citation of the AI tool, in the format your course requires
A short methods note describing how AI was used

Follow the exact format your instructor or department requires.

6. Sources & References

Official AI policy huit.harvard.edu — guidelines provost.harvard.edu — guidelines using chatgpt and other generative ai tools harvard

Academic integrity policy oaisc.fas.harvard.edu — academic integrity and teaching without ai

Department & school policies oue.fas.harvard.edu — generative ai guidance registrar.gse.harvard.edu — ai policy extension.harvard.edu — academic integrity

7. FAQ

Can I use AI for assignments?

Brainstorming or idea generation when permitted. Editing, readability, or grammar support only when specifically allowed. Translation only if the course rule permits it.

Do I need to disclose AI use?

Depends; disclosure commonly required when use is permitted.

Can an instructor set stricter rules?

Yes. Course-level or instructor-level rules can be stricter than general guidance.

What happens if I break the rules?

Unauthorized or misleading AI use may be treated as an academic integrity issue under university rules. Check primary source.