AI tools at QMU
Moving from Grammarly for Education to Microsoft Copilot
Based on feedback from staff and students, recent developments in Generative AI and discussion at the Student Experience Committee in May 2026, QMU is replacing Grammarly for Education with Copilot and Editor as the means to support students with their work. Access to Grammarly for Education will no longer be available via QMU from 30 September.
Many of the writing support features that students found Grammarly helpful for, including improving their writing, refining tone, and overcoming writer's block, are available through Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft Editor. If you're currently using Grammarly for Education, you'll be able to continue accessing it until 30 September 2026.
Microsoft Copilot
As Grammarly for Education is phased out, we encourage you to explore Microsoft Copilot, which is available to all QMU students through your Microsoft 365 account.
Copilot is an AI-powered assistant that can support many of the same tasks you may have used Grammarly for, including:
- Checking grammar and spelling
- Supporting the generation of ideas
- Assisting with creating outlines and planning written work
- Suggestions to improve clarity and structure
- Refining tone for different audiences
- Summarising information and supporting the development of drafts
- Providing feedback to help strengthen your writing
As AI tools such as Copilot are becoming an increasingly common part of professional life, experience using them at university will help prepare you for the workplace. Across many industries, Microsoft 365 and Copilot are becoming standard workplace technologies, so developing confidence in using them now is a valuable skill that will benefit you beyond your time at QMU. However, you must critically review every suggestion and keep the work in your own voice.
Like any AI tool, Copilot should be used responsibly and in line with QMU's guidance on academic integrity. It should support your learning rather than replace your own thinking and work. Copilot feedback is not a substitute for reading, referencing, or academic judgment.
Getting started
Because Copilot and Editor are integrated into the Microsoft 365 applications you already use, you can access them using your QMU account through apps such as Word, Outlook and Teams, as well as through the Copilot web interface.
For guidance on using generative AI effectively and responsibly in your academic writing, visit the Effective Learning Service (ELS) Resource Hub, where you can find the guide Generative AI in Academic Writing.
