University of KentuckyAI Policy for Admissions
- PermissionCan you use AI?No explicit policy
- DisclosureMust you disclose AI use?No disclosure required
- ComplianceHow is it verified?No compliance stated
Generally safe
- When in doubt, contact your target program's admissions office to ask whether AI-assisted writing is permitted — proactive clarification protects you.
- Before beginning any graduate program application, check directly with that specific program for its stated AI stance, since several UK graduate programs have independently issued their own restrictions.
Things to Avoid
- Avoid submitting any application materials to UK graduate programs in Social Work, Biology, or Geography that were drafted or substantially shaped by AI tools, as these programs explicitly prohibit such use and may disqualify applicants suspected of it.
- Do not assume silence means permission — the absence of a university-wide AI policy at UK does not mean AI use in application essays is acceptable, especially at the program level.
- Do not rely on AI-generated text for personal statements or writing samples in any UK graduate program without first confirming that program's specific policy.
- If applying through LSAC CAS for UK's law school, do not assume the platform's baseline guidance is permissive — individual law schools can and do add stricter requirements on top of LSAC's terms.
- Verified Feb 2026
“No AI-specific admissions essay policy found on the university-wide undergraduate admissions website”
Apply | Admission
College of Social Work (PhD Program)
P4 • AI use prohibitedD0 • No disclosure requiredC2 • Uses screening tools“The use of Artificial Intelligence ("AI") in writing any portion of the application is prohibited.”
View SourceApplies to: personal statement, application materials, writing samples
Department of Biology (Graduate Program)
P4 • AI use prohibitedD0 • No disclosure requiredC2 • Uses screening tools“Personal statements should be original work of the applicant and written without the assistance of AI.”
View SourceApplies to: personal statement
Department of Geography (Graduate Program)
P4 • AI use prohibitedD0 • No disclosure requiredC0 • No compliance stated“Please refrain from using AI-generated text when drafting your statement.”
View SourceApplies to: personal statement, writing samples
- https://admission.uky.edu/apply
- https://admission.uky.edu/freshman/admission-checklist
- https://admission.uky.edu
- https://honors.uky.edu/prospective
- https://honors.uky.edu/admissions/upper-level-admission/upper-level-admission-application
- https://gradschool.uky.edu/admissions
- https://gradschool.uky.edu/admissions/application-process
- https://cs.engr.uky.edu/students-1/graduate-studies/computer-science/admissions
- https://celt.uky.edu/ai-course-policy-examples
- https://advance.uky.edu/research-recommendations
The Lewis Honors College requires an admissions essay but has issued no AI-specific restrictions; given the program-level trend across UK, applicants should treat this essay as AI-restricted until official guidance confirms otherwise.
At least three graduate programs have independently banned AI-assisted writing: the College of Social Work PhD program (AI use in any part of the application may lead to disqualification), the Biology graduate program (prohibits AI in personal statements and may actively test for it), and the Geography graduate program (asks applicants to avoid AI-generated text entirely).
Medical school applicants applying through AMCAS operate under that platform's stance: AI may assist with brainstorming and proofreading, but the final submission must be the applicant's own work, backed by a signed certification.
Law school applicants are governed by LSAC CAS baseline AI terms, with the possibility that UK's law school could impose additional restrictions — applicants should verify directly.
The University of Kentucky has no university-wide AI policy for admissions essays. The central undergraduate admissions office (admission.uky.edu) and the Graduate School (gradschool.uky.edu) are both silent on AI use in application materials. However, at least three individual graduate programs have independently adopted explicit prohibitions on AI use in personal statements and application writing: the College of Social Work PhD program (which prohibits AI in any portion of the application, with suspected AI use leading to disqualification), the Biology graduate program (which requires statements be written without AI assistance and may test for AI usage), and the Geography graduate program (which asks applicants to refrain from AI-generated text). The Lewis Honors College requires an essay for undergraduate admission but does not mention AI restrictions. The university-level classification is (P0) because no centralized admissions AI policy exists, but program-specific policies are documented separately.
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