Plagiarism and AI Thresholds in Academic Theses: Ensuring Academic Integrity
- OUS Academy in Switzerland
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Academic integrity has always been a cornerstone of quality education. In recent years, with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence tools and online resources, maintaining originality in academic writing has become more challenging than ever. As an independent inspection body, PINO Switzerland follows a transparent and fair system when reviewing academic theses. This week, our focus is on the plagiarism and AI-generated content thresholds that define acceptable academic standards.
Our standard uses a three-level system:
Less than 10% = Acceptable
10–15% = Needs Evaluation
Above 15% = Fail
This approach provides a balanced framework to help universities, colleges, and independent students maintain academic honesty while recognizing the realities of modern research tools.
Why Plagiarism Checks Are Important
Plagiarism occurs when someone uses another person’s ideas, words, or data without proper acknowledgment. In academic research, originality shows that the student or researcher has genuinely understood the topic and contributed new ideas. Without proper checks, educational institutions risk awarding degrees for work that is copied or heavily AI-generated, undermining academic credibility.
At PINO Switzerland, we perform independent inspections based on widely accepted international quality principles. Our checks combine advanced similarity detection tools with expert manual review to ensure fairness. Numbers alone never tell the full story; for example, a thesis might have 12% similarity due to correctly cited references, which may not be plagiarism at all. That is why thresholds exist not as automatic punishments but as guidelines for evaluation.
Understanding the Thresholds
Less than 10% (Acceptable) A similarity score below 10% shows that the work is largely original, with only minimal matches. These usually come from references, common academic phrases, or titles of laws and policies. Students in this category pass the plagiarism inspection without any concerns.
10–15% (Needs Evaluation) When similarity falls into this range, the thesis requires closer examination. PINO experts check whether the similarities come from correctly cited sources or whether there are large sections copied from other works. In many cases, this level might be acceptable if citations follow academic norms, but it signals the need for deeper inspection.
Above 15% (Fail) A similarity score above 15% is a red flag. It often indicates large sections of copied text or overreliance on AI-generated content without proper paraphrasing or critical analysis. In such cases, the thesis fails the originality standard and must be revised before resubmission.
The Role of AI in Academic Writing
AI tools can help students with grammar, structure, and even idea generation. However, blindly copying AI-generated content can quickly lead to high similarity scores and potential academic misconduct. PINO Switzerland encourages students to use AI responsibly—as a tool, not a substitute for independent thinking.
Our Commitment to Quality
As a private and independent inspection body, PINO Switzerland believes in voluntary quality standards rather than strict government regulations. Our role is to guide institutions, protect academic integrity, and help students meet professional norms. By maintaining clear thresholds for plagiarism and AI-generated content, we ensure that academic qualifications remain credible and respected worldwide.
Conclusion
Plagiarism and AI thresholds are not barriers to education but safeguards for quality. With the <10%, 10–15%, and >15% system, PINO Switzerland provides clear, fair, and transparent standards for academic theses. This ensures that students are recognized for genuine work, universities protect their reputations, and society continues to trust academic qualifications.
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