RCSI does not set one rule for every programme. Its guidance on the ethical use of AI in learning, teaching and assessment leaves the decision to schools and assessment creators, and asks for transparency wherever GenAI is used. Here is what it says (checked October 2026).
See how Esmond worksThe guidance, written by RCSI's AI in Education Working Group and dated September 2024, says decisions on GenAI in programmes and assessments "are context specific and therefore should not be determined on a whole institution basis." It recommends a tiered approach: university-wide principles, school policies, and where needed more detail at course or module level. In the end, the people who set an assessment are expected to state what GenAI may and may not do for that task.
In April 2026 RCSI announced a new Generative AI Usage Policy and an AI Hub. Its announcement states that users are responsible for "ensuring that any AI involvement in academic or research work is acknowledged and documented."
The guidance draws a line that is useful for any health sciences student. Tools that influence "only the form of an assessment", such as proofreading tools, spelling checkers or a thesaurus, are described as generally acceptable. Using GenAI "to generate content relating to the substantive aspect of the assessment would generally not be acceptable." Brainstorming and outline generation sit in between and are considered case by case.
The guidance advises against relying on AI detection tools, noting they can wrongly flag human writing and that this has been found particularly for non-native English speakers. It also warns that uploading personal, institutional, copyrighted or research data to public GenAI platforms may breach RCSI's data protection policy. If your dissertation contains patient or participant data, that warning applies to any tool, Esmond included: check your ethics approval and ask your supervisor first.
Esmond evaluates; it does not write. You upload your own draft and get comments in the margin plus a report that shows where your argument, method or use of sources is weaker, and why. It does not write or rewrite your text: it points to the weak spot and gives a direction for revising it. Where a comment includes an example, it illustrates a principle; the sentence you submit is one you write yourself.
RCSI has no connection with Esmond and has not endorsed it. Be straight with yourself: Esmond works with language models, so using it is a form of AI use. Rules on AI differ per university, programme, module and assignment. Check your module or programme handbook before you upload, and if it is unclear, ask your supervisor or module coordinator and declare the use if your institution asks you to.
This page summarises what the institution publishes, with links to the source. It is not legal advice and not a ruling on your assignment: what your programme, module or supervisor sets always comes first.
No. Esmond is independent. RCSI has no connection with Esmond and has not endorsed it.
That is for your assessment guidance and your supervisor to say, not for us. Esmond does not write content for you, but it comments on your argument and method, which goes beyond spelling. If the guidance for your assessment is unclear, ask before you upload, and declare the use if you are asked to.
Official documents, checked October 2026. Read the full text at the source.
Esmond is preparing its launch in Ireland and is not taking orders here yet. Until then you cannot upload or order anything here; the guides on this site are free to read.
See how Esmond works