Several universities in the United Kingdom are planning to end their contracts with Turnitin. The decision follows concerns about student data privacy, intellectual property rights, and artificial intelligence (AI) in education.
According to Times Higher Education, Newcastle University and the University of Westminster have joined the University of Southampton in announcing plans to discontinue the plagiarism detection service.
The University of Southampton announced in August 2026 that it would not renew its contract after the 2026-27 academic year. It has also started reducing its use of the platform.
Newcastle University has confirmed that it will stop using Turnitin after the 2026-27 academic year. Meanwhile, the University of Westminster plans to discontinue the service when its current contract expires in July 2027.
These decisions reflect growing concerns among universities about how student assignments are handled. Institutions are also questioning the platform’s effectiveness as AI writing tools become more common among students.
Universities Raise Concerns Over Student Data Privacy
One major concern involves proposed changes to Turnitin’s End-User License Agreement (EULA). The changes could allow the company to use student-submitted assignments to train future AI services.
These services include Turnitin Clarity, an upcoming tool from the company. The proposed changes have raised questions about student data ownership and the protection of academic work.
University leaders are concerned about whether students’ assignments could be used beyond their original purpose. They also want clearer safeguards for intellectual property submitted through educational platforms.
Turnitin has postponed the proposed licensing changes until at least September 2027. The delay is intended to allow further consultation with relevant stakeholders.
However, the extension has not removed all concerns among universities. Some institutions continue to review their arrangements and consider alternatives to the platform.
Turnitin Defends Its Use of Student Work
Turnitin has stated that it does not currently use student or customer work to train its AI writing assistant. However, the company has acknowledged that anonymised submissions may help improve its operational detection and assessment tools.
The distinction has become an important part of the debate over student privacy. Universities want to understand how submitted assignments are stored, processed and used.
The growing use of AI in education has also raised questions about plagiarism detection. The University of Westminster has questioned how effectively Turnitin can identify plagiarism as students increasingly use AI writing tools.
These concerns highlight the challenges educational institutions face when applying traditional academic integrity systems. Universities must balance plagiarism detection with student privacy and the responsible use of AI.
More Universities Review Turnitin Arrangements
Other UK institutions are also examining their relationship with Turnitin. The University of Aberdeen is considering its available options.
Aberystwyth University has introduced an alternative arrangement for students concerned about using the platform. It allows these students to submit assignments through Blackboard.
The University of Cambridge has also expressed concerns about the proposed licensing changes. However, it continues to use Turnitin.
The different approaches show that universities have not adopted a single response to the issue. Some are planning to discontinue the service, while others are reviewing their options or maintaining its use.
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The debate is expected to remain important as AI tools become more widespread in education. Universities will need to assess data protection policies, intellectual property rights and the reliability of plagiarism detection systems before deciding how to proceed.
