Can You Write in Your Own Language and Translate It? What Six Universities Say

It depends on your university and your assessment, and several universities put it in writing. York names tools including Youdao and Baidu Translate and says translating "at sentence level or beyond risks submitting work of false authorship". Huddersfield says translating "large portions" may be misconduct. Leeds permits translation aids unless the assessment brief restricts them, in a supporting role only. Melbourne and Queensland allow it only where the assessment permits it, and require you to acknowledge it. Almost all of them expect you to be able to explain what you submitted in your own words.

These pages were read on 27 September 2026; the York policy was checked again on 9 October after its 29 September revision:

York draws it by size. Its student guidance lists acceptable uses, including using a translator "As a dictionary: translating a word, collocation or phrasal level when writing and reading text." Among unacceptable uses: "Submitting lengthy chunks of translated work: translated text which is at sentence level or beyond risks submitting work of false authorship." York's acceptable assistance policy also lists, as help that is not appropriate for summative work, "Using translation tools or services to translate text in whole or significant sections (oral or written), which is then submitted as summative work". The student page adds that English is the language of assessment unless another is stated, and that "some assessments will prohibit translation entirely".

Huddersfield draws it by amount and understanding. Its regulations cover "machine translation software such as Google Translate or DeepL" and say: "If you translate large portions of text written initially in your native language and submit this for assessment, this may be considered to be misconduct, as it raises the question of authorship of the translated version. If you use translation tools, you should reference their use and be able to demonstrate full understanding of the language you have produced."

Leeds draws it at the assessment brief. It defines "technologies" to include "generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and translation aids", and "Students are permitted to use technologies to prepare work for assessment if restrictions are not specified within the assessment brief." The next sentence sets the limit that matters for a fully translated essay: "Technologies may be used in a supportive capacity but will not replace a student’s own learning, understanding and skills."

UCL draws it at what the assessment tests. Its list of what is not misconduct includes a "Language and Writing review" that covers "language translation", with an exception "if the student is being assessed on their ability to translate or use a language other than English." The same clause says it may be misconduct where software made substantive changes to content. And the same page lists "Unauthorised and/or unacknowledged use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Misuse of GenAI)" as misconduct, "defined as the use of assistive tools beyond the remit of the assessment brief, or to create false data, text, or references." Whether that covers a translation tool is for your brief and module leader; our article on UCL's 2026-27 GenAI rules goes through the category.

Melbourne and Queensland draw it at permission and disclosure. Melbourne tells students: "You should only use translation and editing tools in ways that are permitted by your subject coordinator and assessment requirements," and "Submitting translated or rewritten content generated by a tool as if it were your own original work is considered academic misconduct." Queensland says: "Before you use machine translation, check your course profile to see if the assessment item allows the use of AI tools," adds that "You will not be allowed to use machine translation for in-person assessment," and warns: "Failure to acknowledge the use of machine translation can result in Academic Misconduct."

That you understand what you submit. York tells students to ask whether they "truly comprehend the meaning of the translated text". Huddersfield says that if a tutor is concerned about the style of language in your work, "you may be asked to summarise the content or paraphrase the grammatical functions and vocabulary used." Melbourne tells students to ask themselves "whether you could explain the ideas, arguments, or wording in your own words if asked."

That you say what you used. Queensland gives example wording, including one for a draft translated in full and then corrected by you: "This work was post-edited by the author, after being translated from <insert language> to English using <insert tool>."

Melbourne adds one more point worth knowing: "The outputs of these tools may be identified by the Turnitin detector for artificial intelligence writing." Why translated text is often flagged is covered in does machine translation get flagged as AI.

1. Read the assessment brief first. At UCL, Leeds, Melbourne and Queensland the brief or course profile shapes what is allowed. If it is silent, ask the course coordinator before you start.
2. Find your university's page on translation tools. Search its site for "translation tools", "machine translation" or "acceptable assistance". Check the date or academic year on what you find.
3. Keep the translation small if your rules draw the line by size. At York, word and phrase level is described as acceptable and sentence level or beyond as a risk.
4. Keep your first-language draft. It shows where the ideas came from.
5. Acknowledge it in the form your university asks for. Queensland's examples include a coversheet note, a line in your methodology, a citation or a note in the reference list, and a footnote or endnote.

If your rules allow both the translation and a tool rewriting your sentences, and a Turnitin or iThenticate report has flagged passages you need to rework, that is what HumanPen's humanize option does. Not every university allows the second: York's policy lists "Generating or re-writing (including shortening or summarising) any of the student’s sentences or sections of work" among help that is not appropriate for summative work. Import the Turnitin or iThenticate report and rewrite only the passages it flags, returned as the same editable file. If your assessment does not allow translation, rewriting the result does not change that, so check the rules first.

Is using Grammarly the same as machine translation? Queensland says no: you are "not using machine translation if you write your assessment in English and use a writing tool (e.g. Microsoft Editor or Grammarly) to check your grammar and offer suggestions for better phrasing." Other universities treat editing tools under their own rules.

Can I use a translator to look up words? York describes translating at word, collocation or phrase level as acceptable. Check your own university's guidance.

Do I have to say I used a translator? At Huddersfield, Melbourne and Queensland, yes. At York, yes: its policy expects students to be transparent about "the sources of information and assistance they use via referencing and in the form of acknowledgements", and its student guidance defines false authorship to include undisclosed machine translation used "to such an extent that you can no longer be considered the author of the work." Leeds asks students to acknowledge use of assistance. UCL lists unauthorised or unacknowledged use of GenAI, including assistive tools beyond the assessment brief, as misconduct; whether that covers a translation tool depends on your brief.

Will translated text be flagged as AI? It can be. Melbourne warns that the outputs of translation and editing tools may be identified by Turnitin's AI writing detector. See does translating Chinese to English get flagged as AI.

• UCL, Academic Manual 2026-27, Section 9: Student Academic Misconduct Procedure, read 27 September 2026.
• University of York, Student guidance on using AI and translation tools and Acceptable Assistance with Assessments (including Generative AI, Proofreading and Translation) - Policy (amended 29 September 2026). Student guidance read 27 September 2026; policy checked again 9 October 2026.
• University of Leeds, Academic Integrity and Assistance Policy (version 1.0, 2026/27), read 27 September 2026.
• University of Huddersfield, Regulations for taught students: Section 10, read 27 September 2026.
• University of Melbourne, Advice for students regarding translation and editing tools, read 27 September 2026.
• University of Queensland Library, Machine translation for assignments (last updated 11 September 2025), read 27 September 2026.