Irish higher education institutions detected about 500 instances of AI cheating in the last academic year, according to a report by RTÉ’s This Week earlier in 2026. The broadcaster says the real number is probably much higher, because many large universities do not separate AI cheating from other plagiarism.
What each university reported
The figures below refer to the 2024/25 academic year unless stated otherwise.
- University of Galway: Detected 224 cases of unauthorised AI use in graded coursework and has changed its academic policy on AI.
- TU Dublin: 71 students were found using AI without authorisation.
- National College of Ireland: 68 students were found using AI without authorisation.
- University College Cork (UCC): Of 46 misconduct cases, 22 involved unauthorised generative AI. UCC is starting an academic misconduct register this year to give university-wide oversight.
- Dublin City University (DCU): Counts unauthorised generative AI as plagiarism. Plagiarism cases rose from 181 in 2024 to 223 in 2025.
- University of Limerick: Has a new policy this year that specifically covers generative AI. It has no centralised records for 2024/25. Thirty people were sanctioned at university level, not counting department-level cases.
- Maynooth University: Handled 50 serious cases centrally, with no record of the type of misconduct. Most cases are handled by departments.
- South East Technological University (SETU): No centralised records. Departments that did count found 12 students.
- Trinity College Dublin: Does not count AI cases separately and says overall misconduct fell. How to report AI breaches is “under consideration.”
- University College Dublin: Did not respond to RTÉ’s request for comment.
The data gap
The report shows that Irish universities do not record AI misuse in the same way. Some count it as plagiarism, some have no central records, and some only count cases handled at university level. The Higher Education Authority does not require institutions to record AI misuse separately, but says this does not change their responsibility to protect academic integrity.
This means the headline figure of 500 cases is best read as a minimum, and that comparing one university with another is difficult. Other countries are responding differently: UK universities are bringing back in-person exams, while South Korea is dealing with smart glasses cheating in admissions exams.
What it means for students
Policies are changing quickly, and they differ between institutions, and sometimes between departments. Before you use any AI tool for coursework, check your university’s current rules and ask your lecturer if anything is unclear. Good referencing also protects you from accidental plagiarism, so learn how to cite your sources with footnotes, and see how to write a research paper from planning to final draft. If you are unsure how to open an assignment, our guide to starting an explanatory essay is a good place to begin. For more help, see our writing guides or our writing services.
Related coverage
- AI Smart Glasses Cheating Hits South Korean University Exams
- UK Universities Bring Back In-Person Exams as AI Use Surges
- Footnotes: How to Write and Cite Them Correctly
Source
- Universities increase oversight of students cheating using AI, RTÉ News, 2026
