Academic appeals and complaints

Academic appeals

You may appeal against a decision of a board of examiners, a progression decision, or the outcome of an academic misconduct case, on one or more of these grounds:

• there was a procedural irregularity in the assessment or the decision;
• there were circumstances that you could not, for good reason, have told the board about before it met; or
• there is evidence of bias, or of a reasonable perception of bias.

You cannot appeal against academic judgement, such as the mark an examiner gave. Appeals must be made within 21 days of the publication of the decision, using the appeal form (on the student intranet; sign-in required).

Complaints

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction with a service, facility or the action or lack of action of the University or its staff. Most complaints are best raised informally first, with the person or department concerned. If that does not resolve it:

1. Stage 1, formal complaint: write to the Student Casework Office within three months of the matter. You should receive a response within 28 days.
2. Stage 2, review: if you are not satisfied, ask for a review within 21 days. A senior member of staff not involved in the complaint will review how it was handled.

When the University’s procedures are complete

At the end of an appeal or a complaint, the University will send you a completion of procedures letter. If you remain dissatisfied, you may be able to ask an independent body that reviews student complaints to consider your case; your letter will explain how and by when.

Help

The Students’ Union Advice Centre gives free, confidential and independent advice on appeals and complaints. Student Casework Office, The Old Schools · student.casework@oxenfurt.uk