About This Course
ChatGPT has rapidly become one of the most widely used Generative AI tools in higher education and research. However, many postgraduate students use it inefficiently, produce poor prompts, or unknowingly introduce ethical and academic integrity risks.
This course provides a practical, hands-on introduction to ChatGPT for postgraduate students. You will develop the skills required to use ChatGPT responsibly for literature reviews, academic writing, research design, critical thinking, data analysis support, presentation preparation, and productivity.
The course aligns with UNESCO’s human-centered approach to Generative AI in education and research, emphasizing human oversight, critical evaluation, transparency, and responsible use of AI.
What You Will Learn
By the end of this course you will be able to:
- Explain what ChatGPT is and how it works
- Write effective prompts for academic tasks
- Use ChatGPT to support literature reviews
- Generate research ideas and refine research questions
- Improve academic writing without violating integrity principles
- Use ChatGPT for productivity and project management
- Critically evaluate AI-generated outputs
- Apply ethical guidelines for AI use in research and education
- Disclose AI use appropriately in academic work
- Create a personal workflow for responsible AI-assisted research
Course Details
| Â | Â |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 Weeks (Self-Paced) |
| Estimated Time | 12–15 Hours |
| Level | Beginner — No prior ChatGPT experience required |
| Target Audience | Master’s students, PhD students, Early-career researchers, Graduate teaching assistants |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Certificate | Yes (on completion) |
Delivery Format
- Video lessons
- Reading materials
- Guided demonstrations
- Prompt practice labs
- Reflection activities
Recommended Free Resources
UNESCO UNESCO Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research · UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
OECD OECD AI Principles
OpenAI ChatGPT Help and Learning Resources
Course Features
- Lectures 21
- Quizzes 5
- Duration 4 weeks
- Skill level Beginner
- Language English
- Students 67
- Assessments Yes
- 5 Sections
- 21 Lessons
- 4 Weeks
- Understanding ChatGPTLearn what ChatGPT is, how it works, its strengths and limitations, and how to write your first effective prompts.4
- ChatGPT for Literature ReviewsUse ChatGPT to explore unfamiliar topics, build search strategies, and develop a literature review matrix.5
- ChatGPT for Academic WritingUse ChatGPT to support outlining, clarity, and proposal development — while maintaining full academic integrity and ownership of your work.5
- Advanced ChatGPT Workflows for Research ProductivityApply ChatGPT to research planning, data analysis support, presentation development, and personal productivity systems.6
- 4.1Lesson 4.1 – ChatGPT as a Research Assistant40 Minutes
- 4.2Lesson 4.2 – Data Analysis Support40 Minutes
- 4.3Lesson 4.3 – Presentation Development35 Minutes
- 4.4Lesson 4.4 – Productivity Systems35 Minutes
- 4.5Quiz 4 – Productivity and Workflows Check3 Questions
- 4.6Assignment 4 – Prompt Portfolio
- Bonus: Responsible and Ethical Use of ChatGPTApply UNESCO's ethical principles, understand key AI risks, and build a personal responsible-use checklist.6
