University of California, Santa CruzAI Policy for Admissions
- PermissionCan you use AI?Line-level editing allowed
- DisclosureMust you disclose AI use?Must attest no AI used
- ComplianceHow is it verified?Uses screening tools
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at University of California, Santa Cruz?
University of California, Santa Cruz permits applicants to use AI tools to improve the clarity and readability of their writing, but all substantive content and the final written text must originate from the applicant themselves — AI may not be used to draft or generate responses on your behalf.
Disclosure: University of California, Santa Cruz requires all applicants to sign the UC Statement of Application Integrity, which includes an explicit attestation acknowledging that AI was not used to generate content and that the writing submitted is the applicant's own work.
Compliance: University of California, Santa Cruz participates in UC system-wide automated screening, including plagiarism detection software applied to Personal Insight Question responses, and UC may request authentication of submitted content if integrity concerns arise.
Generally safe
- Seek advice from AI or human reviewers about whether your content adequately answers the prompt — as long as the ideas and words remain yours.
- Ask an AI assistant for feedback on how well your response is organized or whether your main points come across clearly.
Things to Avoid
- Do not use AI to produce a draft, outline filled with generated text, or any portion of the final response you plan to submit.
- Do not copy or closely paraphrase AI-generated prose and present it as your own writing in the application.
- Do not reproduce language from published articles, websites, or any third-party source within your Personal Insight Question responses.
- Do not allow another person to write sections of your application on your behalf, as this violates the same integrity standards as AI-generated content.
- Verified Aug 2023
“Students may receive advice on content and editing, including the use of generative artificial intelligence software to assist with readability”
UC Statement of Application Integrity - Verified Aug 2023
“content and final written text must be their own”
UC Statement of Application Integrity - Verified Aug 2023
“UC conducts regular screenings to verify the integrity of the responses, may request authentication of the content or writing”
UC Statement of Application Integrity - Verified 2025-10-23
“An AI tool can help you with structure and readability, but use it with caution”
Let your story shine: Get the scoop on how to maximize the UC application from our admissions experts - Verified 2025-10-23
“We do run the PIQ responses through plagiarism detection software”
Let your story shine: Get the scoop on how to maximize the UC application from our admissions experts
Allowed Uses
- advice on content and editing
- generative AI to assist with readability
- grammar and spell check
- structure and readability assistance
Not Allowed
- generating content or final written text
- submitting AI-generated answers as own work
- plagiarizing or copying from sources in print or online
- using any other person's words or published works
- https://admissions.ucsc.edu/
- https://admissions.ucsc.edu/resources-support/frequently-asked-questions-faqs
- https://admissions.ucsc.edu/programs/artificial-intelligence
- https://graduateadmissions.ucsc.edu/how-to-apply/
- https://campusai.ucsc.edu/faq/
- https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/personal-insight-questions.html
- https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/how-the-university-of-california-evaluates-student-applications
- https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/shaping-your-personal-narrative-piq-tips-and-more-uc-admissions-experts
Signing the UC Application means applicants are formally attesting — under stated academic integrity consequences — that AI was not used to generate their responses, making this a (D3)-level disclosure obligation.
The Statement of Application Integrity explicitly permits AI for editing and readability enhancement but draws a clear line: the content and final written text must be entirely the applicant's own work.
UC conducts routine plagiarism screenings on Personal Insight Question responses and reserves the right to request authentication of content, creating a meaningful automated compliance layer (C2).
UC Santa Cruz follows the UC system-wide admissions policy. The UC Statement of Application Integrity (signed by all applicants in the UC Application) explicitly permits generative AI for readability and editing assistance but requires content and final written text to be the applicant's own. UC admissions experts have stated that completely AI-generated answers are equivalent to academic dishonesty and can result in disqualification from all UC campuses. UC runs PIQ responses through plagiarism detection software and may request authentication of content. UCSC's own admissions website (admissions.ucsc.edu) has no campus-specific AI policy for application essays; the policy comes entirely from the UC system application. UCSC graduate admissions (graduateadmissions.ucsc.edu) also has no AI-specific policy for statements of purpose. Disclosure upgraded from (D0) to (D3) because the Statement of Application Integrity is a signed attestation explicitly referencing AI with consequences. Compliance adjusted from (C3) to (C2) because while UC conducts plagiarism screenings and may request authentication, there is no proctored or on-site writing requirement.
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