ZHAW AI Declaration Rules for Your Thesis
At ZHAW, AI use in your work must be declared. Unless the responsible lecturer sets other rules, a default applies: add a list of the generative AI systems you used and what you used each for, covering every task except spelling correction. Programme templates cover the declaration of independent work.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| ZHAW: Guideline on AI in assessments, v4.0.0, section 5.2.3Source 1 | Diese besteht aus einem Verzeichnis der verwendeten generativen KI-Systeme unter Angabe des Verwendungszwecks. | By default you add a list of the AI systems you used and what for. |
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.
Check whether your lecturer or programme sets its own rules. If not, guideline section 5.2.3 applies: add a list of each generative AI system and its purpose.
Use the declaration of independent work template your programme provides.
What the rule leaves open
The ZHAW guideline on AI in assessments is version 4.0.0, effective 1 September 2026. We read the German texts only and did not check programme-level templates.
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 AI in my ZHAW thesis?
The responsible lecturer can set rules. Where they don't, guideline section 5.2.3 applies and you declare your AI use in a list.
How do I declare AI at ZHAW?
List each generative AI system with its purpose, unless your lecturer sets other rules.