Publication: AI in Master’s Education: A Tool for Innovation or a Threat to Academic Integrity?
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Type
Thesis
Degree
MBA
Date
2025
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Published Version
Abstract
This thesis explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools into master’s education, examining whether their use enhances academic innovation or threatens academic integrity. Through a mixed-methods approach combining a comprehensive literature review and empirical survey data from postgraduate students at Berlin International University of Applied Sciences, the study investigates four key areas: adoption patterns, demonstrated benefits, emerging challenges, and ethical considerations. Findings reveal that AI tools—particularly ChatGPT, Grammarly, and DeepSeek—have become essential academic resources, with over 86% of students adopting them to streamline tasks such as literature reviews, data analysis, and academic writing. These tools offer significant benefits including improved time management, enhanced research quality, and increased confidence in academic tasks.
However, the rapid adoption of AI also introduces notable risks. Students report challenges such as over-reliance on AI, reduced motivation for deep thinking, and concerns about academic dishonesty. Furthermore, unequal access to premium AI tools and a lack of institutional guidance raise questions about fairness and academic equity. The study highlights the tension between AI’s potential to enhance learning and its capacity to undermine critical cognitive and ethical foundations of postgraduate education.
Ultimately, this study positions AI as a transformative force in postgraduate education—one that demands thoughtful integration rather than avoidance. The findings highlight the importance of developing new academic frameworks that protect critical thinking, uphold academic integrity, and address growing concerns around equity and authorship. By centring the real experiences of master’s students, the research provides timely insights into how AI is reshaping higher education and underscores the need for universities to evolve alongside emerging technologies while preserving the core values of independent scholarship.