Abstract
Although generative AI (GenAI) has been increasingly applied and investigated in FLE, research on its role in assisting final thesis writing remains scarce. This paper seeks to address this gap by mapping and analysing students’ perceptions, practices, and attitudes towards the use of GenAI in producing undergraduate theses written in English as a foreign language. Research data were collected through the online questionnaire administered in two phases. The first phase, conducted in September 2024, involved 53 MA students who had recently completed and successfully defended their theses in EFL programmes. The second phase, in January 2025, surveyed 84 undergraduate students who were in the process of writing their theses. The findings reveal rapid and significant shifts in students’ attitudes, modified practices, and perceptions of and attitudes towards GenAI. A sharp increase in positive perceptions and the widespread use of ChatGPT were observed, alongside a notable discrepancy between students’ ethical awareness and actual ethical compliance.
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