NTU Singapore Students Penalised Over AI Use in Assignments
NTU Singapore Students Penalised Over AI Use in Assignments
As reported by The Straits Times on 22 June 2025, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore has penalised three students for alleged academic misconduct linked to the use of AI tools in a university assignment. All three students received zero marks for an essay in a module covering health, disease outbreaks, and politics.
According to The Straits Times, the university found that the students’ assignments contained fake academic references, broken web links, or non-existent statistics. Two of the students admitted to using generative AI platforms, while the third claimed she did not realise the essay tool she used qualified as generative AI.
NTU confirmed the students were investigated in April and given a chance to present their cases during a formal review. However, all three were ultimately sanctioned under the university’s academic integrity rules. The assignment in question made up 45 per cent of the module’s total grade.
As per The Straits Times, Assistant Professor Sabrina Luk—identified as the module instructor—had explicitly banned AI tools such as ChatGPT for essay-related work. Slides presented during lectures warned students: “You will receive a zero mark for the assignment if you are caught using ChatGPT and other AI for writing assignments.”
The university stated that students were reminded multiple times of this policy. The penalties were formally communicated to the affected students in early May.
One student, a Year 3 undergraduate in public policy and global affairs, posted anonymously on Reddit on 19 June 2025, where she claimed that her essay was flagged due to citation errors—not AI content. She told The Straits Times that she used Draftback, a Chrome extension that records typing history, to prove she wrote the paper herself. She also submitted updated references and a corrected version of her essay to her professor.
In email exchanges seen by The Straits Times, the professor acknowledged receiving the updated citations and thanked her. Despite this, the student received a permanent academic warning and a reduced GPA. She also claimed her attempt to appeal was blocked, with no formal hearing panel arranged, only a brief email exchange.
A second student, also from the public policy programme, said he admitted using AI tools only to locate information—not to write the content. Initially, his professor deducted 10 marks. However, NTU’s School Academic Integrity Officer later overruled this and imposed a zero grade without a formal hearing, said The Straits Times.
The third student, in Year 4, told The Straits Times she used citationmachine.net to organise references and disclosed that she had used ChatGPT for background research after submission. She denied including any AI-generated content in her essay. Despite this, she was penalised with a zero mark and a formal misconduct record after a review session where she alleged the professor raised her voice and later ignored follow-up contact.
The issue has sparked debate online about how universities in Singapore are navigating the use of AI in education. As The Straits Times noted, Singapore’s six autonomous universities—including NTU—permit AI use under strict academic honesty policies. AI tools are allowed for assignments when declared and used responsibly, but fabricated references or misleading citations are treated as academic fraud.
The incident highlights the complex and evolving relationship between higher education, student ethics, and AI in Singapore, particularly as AI tools like ChatGPT become more accessible to students across disciplines.
More info here – Have a Story? Address it to the Editor and submit it here
About The Straits Times
The Straits Times is Singapore’s leading English-language daily newspaper, published by SPH Media. Established in 1845, it is widely regarded for its in-depth reporting on national and global affairs, including education, technology, and politics. The publication is a trusted source for news across Singapore and Southeast Asia.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and from publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, we do not make any representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the completeness, reliability, or validity of the content. This article does not make any direct claims about specific companies, individuals, or organizations. Any references to reports or external sources are for context and do not imply endorsement or verification of any specific allegations. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and seek professional advice before making business decisions. We disclaim any liability for any losses or damages incurred as a result of reliance on the information provided.