Academic Appeals

What is an academic appeal

An academic appeal is a process that supports students to challenge or request a reconsideration of a decision by the Board of Examiners or relevant Postgraduate Research Committee or Panel who make decisions on a student's progress, assessment and award. This may include a request to change marks, progression decisions, or final award classifications.

If you consider that you have relevant grounds to appeal, the first thing to do is to try to resolve your appeal informally before you submit a formal appeal. Taught students are encouraged to contact their Programme Leader and Postgraduate Researchers are encouraged to contact their Faculty Director of Postgraduate Research. This should be done in writing within one week from the date the official results or decision was received.

Consideration of Personal Circumstances

Who can I get help from

We strongly recommend that you contact the Students’ Union who can support you with your appeal. Their trained advisors can offer independent advice and can be contacted by emailing [email protected]; or telephone 01274 233300.

The Student Casework Team can also provide support to help you to understand the procedure, but they cannot support you to submit your appeal. You can contact them by emailing [email protected] or telephone 01274 235108.

Please note that your appeal cannot be considered if you do not state the grounds under which you are appealing.

For students studying Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate courses please see section 3.1 onwards of the University Regulations relating to Academic Appeals.

For students studying Postgraduate Research degrees please see section 4 onwards.

If you have witness statements, include them in the original appeal submission as they will not be accepted at a later time.

When can I submit my appeal

For most students you will need to wait until you receive your results after the Board of Examiners or relevant Postgraduate Research Committee or Panel has ratified a decision with regard to you progress, assessment or award. Once you receive your results you should submit an appeal within three weeks.

In exceptional circumstances, with the approval of the Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching (or nominee), students may appeal against a failed module or placement mark prior to the mark being formally ratified and after results have been considered by the Assessment Committee. This is normally only available to international students whose results indicate they may be withdrawn and students on placement where that failure prevents them from progressing within their award.

What do I submit

You need to complete a Formal Stage Appeal Form. Make sure you include all your evidence and documentation to support your case, such as a fit note or a letter from other healthcare professionals. Please see our Supporting Evidence Guide for what types of evidence is likely to be accepted. Your evidence should be current, independent, and covers the full period of time being requested. Please do not submit photographs of a sensitive or distressing nature, we do not accept this as a form of evidence.

We cannot consider your form if you do not state the grounds and explain the reasons why you are appealing and you should try to complete all sections of the form so that the Investigating Officer can fully understand why you are appealing and what you are unhappy with.

Make it clear on the form the grounds (or reasons) why you are appealing as you are not permitted to add additional grounds or add substantive points later in the process.

If you have witness statements, include them with your appeal submission as they will not be accepted at a later time.

How do I submit my appeal

Submit your appeal to [email protected]. You will need to wait until you receive your results after the Board of Examiners or relevant Postgraduate Research Committee or Panel has ratified a decision with regard to you progress, assessment or award. Once you receive your results you should submit an appeal within three weeks.

What can I do if my appeal is late

Late appeals will not be accepted without good reason. If the appeal is late, you must explain why and provide relevant evidence to support why your appeal is late, otherwise it could be rejected for being out of time. You should provide an explanation and evidence to support your reason for delay. For example, if you were ill during the timescale to submit an appeal.

What if I am studying on a student visa

​​If you are studying on a student visa and you are appealing a withdrawal or suspension decision, you must contact the Visa Support Team to inform them you have submitted an appeal (by emailing [email protected]). If we accept your appeal for consideration, we will also contact the Visa Support team to request they place a hold on revoking your student visa until the appeal procedure is concluded.

What about attendance, progression or examination whilst my appeal is being considered

In limited circumstances, and as long as you are not affected by professional, statutory or regulatory requirements, you may be able to to re-register for the next stage of your course. This would be on the understanding that if your appeal was not upheld (not successful) the original decision would stand and you would then be withdrawn or transferred from your course.

Be aware that you are not permitted to progress onto the next stage when you have not achieved enough credits to do so, and the outcome of the appeal could not remedy this. For example, some professional courses do not allow any referrals as all modules must be passed at each stage of study prior to starting the next stage or only permit up to 30 theory module credits to be trailed into the next stage.

In addition, a successful appeal cannot override the professional, statutory or regulatory requirements for the award. For example you may be permitted another attempt at an assessment but you would still not be permitted to progress onto the next stage of your course.

If you are a taught student and have an appeal pending consideration, you can undertake supplementary assessment, but this is at your own risk and only where such cases are not affected by professional, statutory or regulatory requirements.

Please discuss whether you are eligible to progress onto the next stage or undertake supplementary assessment, whilst your appeal is being considered, with your Personal Academic Tutor, Programme Leader or Supervisor, who will be able to advise you on the options which are available.

What happens if my appeal is upheld (is successful)

If your appeal is upheld (is successful) you will receive a copy of the appeal outcome letter, normally within one calendar month after we receive your formal stage appeal. A copy will also be sent to relevant staff to inform them of the decision. Your results profile will be reconsidered by the Board of Examiners or relevant Postgraduate Research Committee or Panel, usually by Chair's Action. Your transcript and / or results will be updated and you will be informed of the progression or award decision.

What happens if my appeal is not upheld (not successful)

If your appeal is not upheld (is not successful) you will receive a copy of the appeal outcome letter, normally within one calendar month after we receive your formal stage appeal. A copy will also be sent to relevant staff to inform them of the decision. This will mean that the original decision that has been made will remain.

If you are dissatisfied with the appeal outcome, you may request a review of the decision by completing a Review Stage Appeal Form.  You should try to complete all sections of the form so that the Investigating Officer can fully understand why you are appealing and what you are unhappy with. You must state the grounds and explain the reasons why you are appealing.

You should include evidence or documentation to support your case. Please see our Supporting Evidence Guide for what types of evidence is likely to be accepted.

Submit your appeal to [email protected], within two weeks of receiving the formal stage appeal outcome letter.

Your appeal will be considered by a member of the Student Casework Team and the decision will be approved by a Pro Vice-Chancellor (or nominee). You will receive a copy of a completion of procedures letter, normally within one calendar month after we receive your review stage appeal. A copy will also be sent to relevant staff to inform them of the decision.

If your appeal is upheld (successful) your results profile will be reconsidered by the Board of Examiners or relevant Postgraduate Research Committee or Panel, usually by Chair's Action. Your transcript and / or results will be updated and you will be informed of the progression or award decision.

If you appeal is not upheld (not successful) please see the section below.

What if my appeal is still not upheld (not successful)

If your review stage appeal is not upheld (not successful), there is no further internal procedure that you can follow, as this decision is final.

However, if you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the appeal, you may able to apply for a review of the appeal decision, to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), provided the appeal is eligible under their rules.

Normally, you can only escalate your case to the OIA if you have exhausted all the stages in this procedure and have received a completion of procedures letter.

Please note that you must raise a complaint with the OIA within 12 months of receiving the completion of procedures letter.

We strongly recommend that you contact the Students’ Union who can support you with your appeal and if you wish to escalate your case to the OIA. Their trained advisors can offer independent advice and can be contacted by emailing [email protected]; or telephone 01274 233300.