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API Access | AI Competency Centre

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API Access

We provide API access to OpenAI’s models using the OpenAI API platform for researchers who want to use Large Language Models in their research. The AI Competency Centre manages the University of Oxford API Organisation on the OpenAI API. This Organisation is covered by enterprise agreements, making it a more secure space for research projects handling confidential data.

If you are not sure if your work fits within the scope of the University-provisioned OpenAI API access please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your use case.

OpenAI API Access

We offer two methods to access the OpenAI API within the Oxford API Organisation:

Small exploratory grants

  • We can offer limited usage of OpenAI API up to $50 for six months. This will allow you to explore using the OpenAI API for your project. You can acquire additional credits for the OpenAI API through purchased project access.
  • If you would like limited exploratory access to the OpenAI API, please fill out the Requesting OpenAI API Access form. We will be in touch with next steps or follow-up questions. Due to capacity, it may take up to five working days for us to review and respond to your request.

Purchased project access

  • For larger projects and those with API experience, we offer the option for projects to pay for API access within the Oxford API Organisation. This is for paid projects only and applicants must have sufficient funds for this project.
  • To access the OpenAI API through the Oxford API Organisation, please complete our Request a Paid Project form.

Once you have access, OpenAI has created a helpful 'cookbook' with example code and guides for accomplishing common tasks with OpenAI API. See the OpenAI Cookbook here.

If you are setting up an API Organisation outside of the Oxford University API Organisation, we recommend you use your SSO (Single Sign-On) to do this and not your departmental or college email. This will ensure Multi-factor authentication to protect your API account and API Organisation. Please note that while there are valid reasons to set up an API Organisation outside of the Oxford University API Organisation, such an organisation will not be covered by the same enterprise agreements as the Oxford University API Organisation.

If you have a University-provided ChatGPT Edu licence, please note that access to the OpenAI API is separate from ChatGPT. You may request access to the OpenAI API separately as outlined above.

Other APIs

The AI Competency Centre does not currently provide access to other APIs.

If you have a project idea that fits into the scope of the centre and that might require other AI tools, please fill out the expression of interest form.