Assessing Postgraduate Dissertations and Theses in the Age of AI and Agentic AI

This session in the AI in Research Webinar Series focuses on adapting dissertation and thesis assessment frameworks to address the growing role of artificial intelligence in postgraduate research. With AI and agentic AI systems reshaping how postgraduate students approach research, it is critical to reassess how originality, scholarly contribution, and academic integrity are evaluated. This studio will provide academic supervisors, internal and external examiners, and postgraduate coordinators with the tools and strategies needed to fairly assess AI-assisted research. The workshop will explore how AI transforms postgraduate writing, challenges traditional rubrics, and has implications for originality, authorship, and critical thinking. Participants will learn to distinguish between legitimate AI support and excessive reliance on AI, which will ensure that they use AI tools effectively without compromising research quality. The focus will also be on updating assessment rubrics to reflect AI's influence, emphasising the evaluation of critical thinking, conceptual depth, and research understanding in AI-assisted work. Through practical scenarios, discussions, and updated templates, this session equips attendees with the skills to assess AI-integrated dissertations and theses. By the end of the studio, participants will be able to confidently evaluate the originality, contribution, and academic rigour of AI-supported research while maintaining high standards of scholarly integrity. This workshop is essential for academic supervisors, postgraduate coordinators, faculty members, and research staff involved in postgraduate research assessment in the age of AI.