University of Zurich: AI Rules for Theses
It depends on your faculty. At the University of Zurich, faculties and programme directors write the concrete AI rules, so there is no single UZH rule for theses. What the central page does say: any use of generative AI tools must be fully labelled, and it suggests listing tools by product name in a list of aids.
What the official text says
These are the university's own words, quoted as published. Where the original is French, the third column paraphrases it; it is not a translation.
| Source | Official wording (verbatim) | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| UZH: AI recommendationsSource 1 | Verantwortlich für die Erstellung konkreter Richtlinien oder Policies sind die Fakultäten bzw. die einzelnen Studienprogrammdirektor:innen. | Your faculty or programme sets the binding rule. |
| UZH: AI recommendationsSource 1 | Die Verwendung von generativen KI-Tools muss vollständig gekennzeichnet werden. | Whatever your faculty allows, label all of it. |
What you have to do
Ask your supervisor before you start writing and keep a short log of every AI use (tool, date, task, what you kept). The declaration is much easier to fill in from a log than from memory.
Find your faculty's or programme's own form. The Business faculty, for example, has a bilingual (German/English) declaration of independence.
List every AI tool by product name in your list of aids, as the central page suggests.
What the rule leaves open
UZH has seven faculties and we did not check all of their rules. One faculty's form is not the rule for another.
Questions this guide answers
Every answer below is assembled from the dated fields on this page. Nothing is written separately for search.
Can I use ChatGPT in my UZH thesis?
It depends on your faculty or programme. Ask your supervisor; if allowed, label every use.
Do I have to declare it?
Yes. The central page says use of generative AI tools must be fully labelled.