How do you know if you can appeal?

It’s only possible to appeal when you have been given an official decision or outcome from the University. If a decision is provisional or waiting to be by an academic body, then you will need to wait until it has been confirmed.

You can use the Early Resolution Service (ERS) if you have any questions or concerns before you submit your formal appeal. The ERS can check your marks or penalties have been recorded correctly and they can confirm if the Exam Board considered your exceptional circumstances. They can also let you know if you have an acceptable reason for not submitting an Exceptional Circumstances form. Finally, they can also advise on whether an administrative error has occured and advise on next steps. 

You will need to submit the Early Resolution form within 14 days of recieving your appealable decision. 

 

What are appeals?

are the process you can use to challenge these decisions if you disagree with them or believe that the academic body responsible didn’t have the necessary information when they made the decision.

The appeal will need to present a case for why you think the decision should be reconsidered – including (which fits into one of the three grounds of appeal) and evidence to support your claim.

Please be aware that you will have 21 days to submit a formal appeal – starting from when you are given the decision. If that is unsuccessful you may be able to progress to the review stage of the appeal process, we strongly recommend speaking to us first as the procedure is different. 

It is not possible to appeal against specific marks or to question academic judgement.

Is it an appealable decision?

It’s only possible to appeal when you have been given an official decision or outcome from the University. If a decision is provisional or waiting to be ratified by an academic body then you will need to wait until it has been confirmed.

Undergraduates and Postgraduate Taught Students

Students on taught undergraduate or postgraduate programmes can appeal against Exam Board decisions. The University has a webpage about types of assessment results that might be helpful to read.

Some examples of what you could make appeals against are:

• Progression decisions
  • such as being required to have a supplementary year
  • being required to withdraw from your programme of study
  • whether a reassessment is capped at the pass mark
• Final awards or degree classification
• Academic Misconduct Penalties

Postgraduate Research Students

Postgraduate Research students can appeal a decsion made by:

• University Research Degrees Examination Board
• Recommendation of a registration review panel
• Upgrade or progression panel.

The University has a guidance webpage about PGR student outcome appeals, although the information on this page is still applicable as the process is the same across all levels of study. 

Do you have one of the permissible grounds for appeal?

Your appeal will only succeed if it fits into one or more of the three possible grounds for appeal. Any appeals made without one of these grounds will not be accepted – so think carefully about whether any apply to your situation.

The grounds are:

1. If there has been a
   Material IrregularityThis is when the University hasn't followed its processes or policies correctly or made an error, which results in you and your studies being disadvantaged.
   in the decision-making process. This is when the University hasn’t followed its own processes or policies correctly, in a way that has disadvantaged you and directly impacted the decision that you recieved. An example of this could be if you notified the University of exceptional circumstances but they haven’t been classified correctly or adjusted for appropriately.
    
2. Your performance in assessment has been affected by illness or other factors This could be a sudden illness, such as appendicitis or food poisoning, a flare-up of a chronic condition, a mental health difficulty, bereavement, jury service, or responsibilities such as caring for someone close to you.
   (ECs) that you were unable to disclose before the deadline. You will need to show there was a good reason why you couldn’t submit an EC form at the correct time for any information you provide to be considered. You can read about what ECs are and how to explain them to the University on our ECs webpage. We would recommend reading the University's guidance on appeals based on undisclosed exceptional circumstances before appealing on this ground. 
    
3. A penalty for
   Academic MisconductThis is an action that leads to you getting an ‘unfair advantage’ that aids or benefits you in your assessments or exams.
   , was disproportionate or not permitted under the regulations. This ground doesn’t apply to late submission penalties, it’s only where an issue regarding academic integrity has arisen, been investigated, and a penalty applied.

Academic Advice Appeal Wizard

Next Steps

• Once you have completed your appeal form in eVision you should then receive an outcome within 14 days.
• You will be able to view the status of your appeal in eVision.
• Remember that your current decision still stands until you have received your outcome. You will be emailed an outcome letter.
• When you receive your outcome, if you have any questions, please get in touch with us.

Tips for appealing

To create a strong appeal you'll need:

A detailed appeal form

We can offer feedback on your draft text before you submit the form, so please send us your answers as soon as possible to give you time to consider our comments. Here are some key points to remember:

• Clearly explain the situation
  University decisions are based on what you tell them so don’t exclude anything. Give them all the relevant information.
• Think about the impact or consequences of what happened
  What was the impact or consequences on you? Each student will react differently and have a unique set of circumstances – so you need to explain how you were personally affected.
• Make sure everything relates to the reason for the appeal
  Explain how everything on your form relates to the decision you are appealing against. Make it clear why you are including it in your appeal.

Evidence to support the case you are making in your appeal

It’s very important to provide evidence with your appeal. Here is how you should include it:

• You can only include 7 supporting documents in your appeal
  Make sure that the documents you include relate to your circumstances and have corresponding dates to the time period that you are discussing in your appeal.
• Using evidence to support what you are saying
  Evidence is needed to support any claims or issues that you raise in your appeal. The University can then see confirmation that it happened. Try to provide evidence for every situation or set of circumstances you raise in your appeal.
• An objective source of information
  Where possible, your evidence should be from an objective source to remove the possibility of bias. It could also include policy documents if you are referring to specific rules or regulations.
• Translating evidence to English
  Any evidence not written in English must be professionally translated before you submit it. If you cannot do this before the appeal deadline, submit your appeal form, and any ready evidence and tell the University the date you can send finished translations.

A prompt submission to the University

To start an appeal with the University you will need to subimt and appeal form through eVision - make sure that you do this before the 21 day deadline. 

Other ways of getting help

• Read the University's Appeals Information page.
• Contact the Early Resolution Service
• Download a blank University Appeal form, fill it out, and send it to us for feedback.
• If you want to make a complaint or appeal against a different decision, such as a disciplinary outcome or fitness to study, you can find information about that on our website.
• Contact us, your Academic Advice team.