Academic Appeals
Grounds of Appeal
- Material irregularity in the decision-making process sufficient to require the decision to be reconsidered.
- A student’s performance in assessment was affected by illness or other factors which the student was unable, for good reason, to disclose before the deadline prior to the Exam Board.
- A penalty for academic misconduct was disproportionate or not permitted under the Regulations.
Formal Stage
- Submit the appeal within 21 days of receiving notification of results.
- Provide all relevant evidence and information.
- Possible outcomes: dismissed, not upheld or upheld.
- The outcome will normally be communicated within 14 days of the completed appeal form and all relevant evidence being submitted.
Review Stage
- New supporting evidence could make a difference to the outcome and could not, for good reason, have been disclosed at the Formal Stage; or
- There has been a material irregularity in the Formal Stage decision sufficient to require reconsideration.
- Submit the request within 7 days of the Formal Stage outcome.
- Matters previously addressed will not be reconsidered or reinvestigated, and new grounds cannot be introduced.
- The outcome will normally communicate the outcome within 35 days.
Exceptional Circumstances
Exceptional circumstances are unexpected, unavoidable and outside a student’s control which:
- impact their ability to complete an assessment;
- impact their academic performance; or
- cause them to miss a coursework deadline where they did not have an extension.
Examples
Likely examples include:
- sudden illness or injury;
- worsening of a chronic condition or disability;
- unexpected mental health difficulties;
- serious illness or death of a close person;
- unexpected caring responsibilities;
- jury service; and
- unexpected financial difficulties.
Procedure
- Submit the relevant EC form and evidence by the published deadline.
- Explain how the circumstances affected the assessment.
- The Exceptional Circumstances Committee considers cases submitted by the deadline.
- If circumstances could not be submitted by the deadline, they may be considered through the appeals process where there is a good, evidenced reason for the delay.
- The Exam Board determines what action, if any, should be taken.
Academic Misconduct
Formal Misconduct
- Where suspected misconduct is more serious, the case may be referred for further investigation or to an Academic Misconduct Panel.
- The panel determines whether misconduct occurred on the balance of probabilities. The student may provide a written statement and/or attend an interview and may be accompanied by another person.
- Where misconduct is found, the panel recommends an outcome under the Regulations. The relevant Exam Board or Dean then considers the academic consequences.
- In determining the outcome, relevant factors include the student's educational history, previous offences, the nature and extent of the misconduct, the significance of the assessment, and its impact on progression or classification.
Additional Training
- For eligible first-offence cases, a student may be required to complete the Academic Integrity Awareness Course (AIAC) or other additional work.
- An AIAC decision may be appealed within 21 days on the permitted grounds.
Academic Misconduct Appeals
- A student may appeal a decision applying a mark penalty for academic misconduct through the Academic Appeals procedure where:
- the penalty was disproportionate; or
- the penalty was not permitted under the Regulations.
- Exceptional circumstances do not normally reduce or overturn an academic misconduct penalty.
