Stage 3 - Students

Stage 3 - Formal Consideration by the Academic Appeals Committee

Where you do have valid grounds and it is not possible to resolve your appeal via the informal process an Academic Appeals Committee (comprising members of staff members of Senate who have had no contact with your case and a representative of the Students' Guild) will be convened to hear your appeal. You will be given not less than seven days notice before the meeting of the Appeals Committee. You will have the right to appear before and be heard by the Committee, accompanied by a chosen member of the University or member of staff of the University, to present witnesses, and to submit a written statement outlining the grounds for appeal. The Chairman of the Board of Examiners will respond to your appeal on behalf of the Board of Examiners. At conclusion of the proceedings all non-members of the Committee will be asked to withdraw and the Committee shall reach its decision in private.

The Committee has the power to make one of the following decisions on behalf of the Senate:

• that your performance has been affected by extenuating circumstances, of which the Board of Examiners was not aware, and that the Board be requested to review its decision accordingly.
• that on the basis of substantiated evidence of administrative error or other material irregularity the Board of Examiners be requested to review its decision accordingly.
• that on the basis of conclusive evidence of a significant irregularity in the conduct of, or arrangements for, an assessment, the decision of the Board of Examiners concerning one or more candidates be annulled and the assessment retaken.
• that the appeal be rejected.

The Secretary of the Academic Appeals Committee will normally inform you in writing of the Appeal Committee's decision within five working days.

If your appeal is successful, the Chair of the Board of Examiners will ensure that the Board reconsiders its decision in the light of the recommendations of the Academic Appeals Committee, having regard to its role in ensuring that you are fairly assessed within the programme regulations as an individual and in relation to your peers. Where the Board wishes to have further evidence of the your performance, it may require a viva voce examination or other form of assessment appropriate to your particular circumstances and the requirements of the programme regulations, before reaching its final decision. The Secretary of the Academic Appeals Committee will normally inform you in writing of the Board of Examiners' decision within five working days of the decision.

If your appeal is unsuccessful or if you are dissatisfied with the decision of the Academic Appeal Committee even though your appeal has been upheld, you may request an Appeal Outcome Review.