Before you declare AI use in your application, check which tier your work falls under. Your declaration is compared against your Turnitin results, so an accurate declaration protects you.
1AI Permissibility Tiers
| Tier | Faculty directive | Turnitin parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — Strictly Human AI Prohibited |
Foundational knowledge, critical memory, raw skill — invigilated exams and original writing. | Centrally scanned for forensic validation. Target AI score: 0%. |
| Tier 2 — AI-Assisted Formative Use Only |
AI as a consultative partner for outlining, brainstorming, or proofreading — writing must be human. | Scanned for verbatim AI text blocks vs. authentic human synthesis. |
| Tier 3 — AI-Integrated Full Collaboration |
Tests prompt engineering, data parsing, co-creation. Focus is on process and refinement. | Ensures no plagiarized datasets/text. Target AI must not exceed 85%. |
Declare the tier that honestly matches how you used AI. A mismatch between your declaration and your Turnitin result is one of the most common reasons an application is sent back for revision.
2Similarity Score Interpretation
Every submission is run through AI-powered similarity analysis to help ensure originality.
- 0–25% · Low Risk — Original work, minimal similarity detected.
- 25–50% · Moderate — Some similarities detected, review recommended.
- 50–85% · High Risk — Significant similarities found in the submission.
- 85–100% · Duplicate — Likely duplicate or plagiarized content.
This automated score is a screening tool for the reviewing office, not the final word — the official similarity index on your certificate comes from a separate Turnitin check recorded by the IP Office.
3Application Process
What happens after you hit submit:
- Submit your application — Include your IP details and your AI Permissibility Tier declaration.
- Automated AI & similarity scan — Runs automatically and typically finishes within 1–5 minutes.
- Admin review — Your application, similarity results, and AI declaration are reviewed together.
- Decision issued — Your application is marked Approved, Rejected, or sent back for revision.
- Download your certificate — Once approved, your certificate becomes available for download.
4General Submission Guidelines
Before you submit
- Have your file ready in the format requested for your IP type (a manuscript for Research/Capstone, an image file for a Logo, drawings for a Patent).
- Know your co-authors' and adviser's details — name, contact information, and their part in the work.
- Decide your AI Permissibility Tier honestly before you start, not after you see your similarity score.
If your application is sent back for revision
You'll see the reviewer's remarks directly on your application, with a button to submit a corrected version. A revision keeps your original submission on record and links the corrected one to it — it does not erase the history.
Questions
If anything here is unclear for your specific submission, the IP Office can advise before you submit — see Contact Us.