Understanding University Students’ Perceptions of Using AI to Enhance Study Skills: An Exploratory Study
About the Project
The growing recognition of AI to optimise students’ skill development and support learning in higher education (HE) is transformative. Its impact on academic activities including writing and speaking, as well as interactional skills is significant and unstoppable. While existing research largely discusses the use of AI within limited disciplines and levels of study and from the educator’s perspective, there remains a gap in understanding how students themselves perceive and utilise AI in their study process. Specifically, little is known about students’ accessibility to AI tools, what academic practices that they employ AI for (e.g., academic writing, conversational practices) and how, and their motivation and concerns for incorporating AI into their study routines. Therefore, this exploratory study will explore students’ perceptions of AI as a tool for enhancing study skills across the University of Warwick.
Project Team
Student Leads
- Dr Yanyan Li Link opens in a new window(Institute of Advanced Study, Applied Linguistics)
- Dr Meifang ZhuoLink opens in a new window (Applied Linguistics)
- Gunisha Aggarwal (Economics)
Collaborative partners
- Dr Tom RitchieLink opens in a new window (Chemistry)
Key Insights and Policy Implications
This report presents the key insights and policy implications of this exploratory, student-centred research project that investigated University of Warwick students’ perceptions of using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their study skills.
It documents key findings on how students access, use, and make sense of AI tools within and alongside their academic practices, as well as their motivations for and concerns about incorporating AI into their study routines.
Find out more about the policy briefLink opens in a new window.
Dissemination and Impact
Invited talk at the AI in Higher Education panel at the 2025 IHE Annual Conference
Dr Yanyan Li and Dr Meifang Zhuo were invited to speak at the AI in Higher Education panel at the 2025 Independent Higher Education Annual Conference. They presented key findings from this project on students’ use of AI tools within and alongside their academic practices, and on their motivations for and concerns about incorporating AI into their study routines.
Podcast in AI Ethics Now Podcast Series
In collaboration with Dr Tom Ritchie, the project team featured in an episode of the flagship AI Ethics NowLink opens in a new window podcast series. The episode (https://open.spotify.com/episode/4f62iF4wvQCWziVeFNp1SY?si=8219ed3e5b604e2bLink opens in a new window) has received over 1,500 listens worldwide, disseminating the project’s insights to a global community engaged in discussions on AI in higher education.
Featured Opinions in MIT Tech Review
Dr Yanyan Li and Dr Meifang Zhuo were interviewed by MIT Technology ReviewLink opens in a new window. Drawing on this project in the UK higher education context, they shared insights into students’ use of AI tools, as well as their motivations and concerns, in relation to academic practices. Their perspectives were featured in an article examining the use of AI in Chinese universities.
Find out more about the articleLink opens in a new window on MIT Technology Review.
Contact us
We welcome further collaboration opportunities (e.g. research, talks, and workshops) related to the use of AI in higher education.
Please contact the project team members at:
Yanyan.Li.1@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window
Meifang.Zhuo@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window
gunishaagg@gmail.comLink opens in a new window