Edinburgh University

Academic Appeals

Grounds

Ground A – New information

• Substantial information directly relevant to assessment performance which, for good reason, was not available to examiners when the decision was taken.

Ground B – Procedural irregularity

• Evidence of irregular procedure or improper conduct in:
• the conduct of an assessment; or
• the decision-making process of the Board of Examiners/relevant body or officer.

Deadline

• Final-year undergraduate: within 30 working days of being informed of the decision.
• All other undergraduates: within 10 working days.
• Late appeals are only accepted where extraordinary circumstances are evidenced.

Procedure

• Registry Services checks eligibility and documentation.
• Eligible appeals go to the relevant Student Appeal Committee, normally by electronic correspondence.
• The Committee either upholds or does not uphold the appeal.
• If upheld, the relevant body/officer must reconsider the original decision in light of the upheld information.
• The Committee's decision is final.

Exceptional Circumstances

What counts?

Circumstances must have a significant adverse impact on the student's ability to engage with academic work or complete an assessment.

Examples include:

• bereavement;
• serious short-term physical or mental illness, including significant flare-ups;
• serious illness of a close relative/dependant;
• serious impact of crime, including sexual/gender-based violence;
• disability adjustments not made in time through no fault of the student;
• exceptional personal/caring circumstances;
• exceptional changes in employment commitments beyond the student's control;
• other exceptional circumstances affecting completion/performance;
• certain elite-sport circumstances.

What does not normally count?

• Unchanged long-term/chronic conditions already reasonably adjusted.
• Minor illness/injury.
• Holidays, weddings or similar events.
• Computer/printing problems or unsupported technical problems.
• Poor time management/working practice.
• Wrong file/corrupted submission.
• Misunderstanding deadlines/timetables.
• Closely spaced deadlines/exams.

Two routes

Coursework Extension

• For eligible in-course assessments.
• Self-certified.
• Apply 10 calendar days before the deadline up to the deadline.
• Maximum 3 per academic year.
• One per assessment.
• Normally gives 4 calendar days; some courses allow 7 days.
• Late requests require the EC process and evidence.

Exceptional Circumstances used for:

• late submission without an approved extension;
• non-submission;
• missed examination; or
• significant impact on performance.

Apply 10 calendar days before the assessment deadline up to the published Semester EC deadline.

Late applications require an explanation and supporting evidence. No applications are accepted after the final Semester deadline.

Evidence

• Normally provide evidence from a relevant professional confirming the circumstances/dates and, where appropriate, their impact.
• Examples include medical evidence, DLSS confirmation, University/adviser statements, police/accident reports, employer evidence and legal documents.
• Self-certification is not accepted outside Coursework Extensions.
• No further evidence is required for bereavement or sexual/gender-based violence.

Disability

ECs may apply where:

• agreed disability adjustments were not made in time through no fault of the student; or
• the impact of the disability unexpectedly worsened significantly.

Outcomes

Possible outcomes include:

• no action;
• disregard late penalties;
• null sit, with a further first-sit opportunity;
• alternative assessment;
• disregard missing/unreliable components where there is sufficient evidence of Learning Outcomes;
• pass where the result is within 2 percentage points of the pass mark;
• exclusion of an affected course from relevant progression/award/classification calculations;
• in rare cases, graduation without the required credit, subject to approval.

Boards cannot adjust marks/grades because of exceptional circumstances.

Excluding course marks

A missing/unreliable course mark may be excluded where:

• exclusion improves the student's average; and
• excluded credit does not exceed one-third of annual credits, up to 40 credits.

Notification and appeal

• EC Service decision: normally within 5 working days.
• School outcome: within 5 working days after publication of ratified marks.
• Students may appeal refusal by the EC Service or an EC outcome under the Student Appeal Regulations.

Academic Misconduct

Standard of proof

Academic misconduct is determined on the balance of probabilities: whether it is more likely than not that misconduct occurred.

School Academic Misconduct Officer (SAMO)

• The SAMO decides whether there is a case to answer.
• The SAMO can normally deal with a case where it is a first instance and minor.
• Serious misconduct, including examination misconduct and contract cheating, goes to the CAMO.
• The SAMO must refer cases to the CAMO within 15 working days where referral is required.
• The student must have an opportunity to respond by meeting or written statement.
• Exceptional Circumstances are not considered when deciding whether misconduct occurred.

SAMO penalties

The SAMO may:

• find the allegation not proven;
• waive a penalty for first-instance poor scholarly practice;
• deduct up to 10 marks;
• reduce a component worth ≤5% to zero;
• issue a FAIL for a PASS/FAIL component worth ≤5%;
• issue a warning/require academic practice training.

College Academic Misconduct Officer (CAMO)

• The CAMO investigates cases referred by the SAMO and decides the penalty.
• The student must be given an opportunity to respond. A formal interview may be held before a panel.

CAMO penalties

The CAMO may:

• find the allegation not proven;
• waive a penalty for first-instance poor scholarly practice;
• deduct 10, 20, 30 or 50 marks;
• reduce the mark to zero/issue a FAIL;
• split a mark between students in cases of collusion;
• issue a warning/require academic practice training;
• refer serious cases for disciplinary action under the Code of Student Conduct.

The penalty applies only to the assessment under investigation and does not appear on the transcript.

The CAMO considers the severity, perceived intent, benefit to the student and previous misconduct.

Board of Examiners

• The Board must apply the SAMO/CAMO penalty.
• It cannot impose an additional academic misconduct penalty, subject to any separate Fitness to Practise procedure

Review and Appeal

Review of CAMO decision:

The Board may challenge a CAMO penalty where there is a justifiable reason.

The CAMOs of the other two Colleges jointly review the case and may:

• uphold the decision;
• rescind the penalty; or
• apply another permitted penalty.

Student appeal

Students may appeal:

• Board of Examiners decisions; and
• SAMO/CAMO mark penalties once the course mark has been ratified.

Appeals are made under the Student Appeal Regulations.