Academic Appeals
Stage One
- Deadline: 15 working days from release of ratified results.
- Grounds:
- Mitigating circumstances that adversely affected assessment and could not, or for valid reasons were not, raised before the decision; and/or
- Significant administrative error or procedural error in the assessment.
- Appeals may be rejected if they are late, incomplete, unsupported by evidence, frivolous/vexatious, or fall outside the scope of the procedure.
- Outcome: normally within 30 working days.
- Possible outcomes include reassessment, removal of penalties, reweighting, or repeating teaching.
Stage Two
- Deadline: 10 working days from the Stage One outcome.
- Grounds: new evidence, significant procedural error, or an unreasonable Stage One decision.
- Outcome: normally within 30 working days.
- A committee may be convened where the case requires further review.
- If upheld, the Stage One decision may be replaced or referred back for reconsideration.
Mitigating Circumstances
Circumstances must generally be:
- Unavoidable - outside the student's control;
- Significant - had a demonstrable adverse effect; and
- Relevant - occurred at a time relevant to the assessment.
Examples include serious illness, bereavement, significant personal crises, caring responsibilities, traumatic incidents, accommodation emergencies and serious technical problems.
Generally excluded are foreseeable events, poor time management, normal exam stress, minor illness and minor transport disruption.
- Deadline: normally before the assessment or within 5 working days afterwards.
- Late applications may exceptionally be accepted where there is a good reason supported by evidence.
Appeal against mitigating circumstances decision
- Can be made as part of a Stage One academic appeal after results are ratified.
- Deadline: 15 working days.
- Grounds: new evidence that could not have been, or for good reason was not, made available at the time of the submission of the mitigating circumstances form, or significant procedural error.
Academic Misconduct
King's may investigate plagiarism, contract cheating, third-party involvement, collusion, examination misconduct, fabrication, self-plagiarism and text manipulation.
Stage One
- An Assessment Sub-Board Chair initially reviews the concern.
- Cases may be treated as poor academic practice where there has been an unintentional misunderstanding of academic practice. This is not academic misconduct.
- Otherwise, the student will normally be invited to an Academic Integrity Meeting (AIM).
- The AIM is informal and exploratory. The student can respond to the concerns and provide further information.
- Legal representation is not permitted at the AIM, although the student may be accompanied by an appropriate member of the King's community, KCLSU, a friend or family member.
- Possible outcomes: no concern, poor academic practice, a finding of academic misconduct with a local penalty, or referral to Stage Two.
Contesting a Stage One finding
- Deadline: 10 working days.
- Grounds: significant new evidence, significant procedural/administrative error, or the outcome cannot reasonably be sustained by the relevant guidance.
- If further review is warranted, the case proceeds to Stage Two.
Stage Two - Misconduct Committee
- May arise following a referral, a contested Stage One finding, or a second instance of misconduct.
- The student will normally receive the evidence and hearing details at least 10 working days beforehand.
- The student may present evidence and witnesses.
- Legal representation may be permitted at the Chair's discretion.
- The Committee decides whether misconduct is established on the balance of probabilities.
- Possible penalties range from a formal warning or reassessment to suspension, revocation of an award or expulsion.
Stage Three - Misconduct Appeal
- Deadline: 10 working days from the Committee outcome.
- Grounds: new evidence or significant procedural error. The Vice-Chancellor & President may also consider compassionate grounds.
- If upheld, the Appeal Committee may modify or reverse the finding or penalty.
The Appeal Committee's decision is final.
If you would like clear, tailored guidance on your specific situation, we would be happy to speak with you. Please contact us for an initial discussion at no charge on 0800 368 9230.
