For detailed guidance please see the Appeals Procedure Guidance.
- What is an academic appeal?
- Stage 1: Early resolution
- Stage 2: Formal Academic Appeal
- Grounds for a Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal
- Submitting a Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal
- Outcome of a Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal
- Stage 3: Vice-Chancellor Appeal
- Grounds for a Vice-Chancellor Appeal
- Vice-Chancellor Appeal decision
- Complaints
What is an Academic Appeal?
An academic appeal is a request for the University to review an assessment decision. You may wish to appeal if significant circumstances beyond your control affected the outcome of your assessment.
Stage 1: Early resolution
If you wish to challenge a decision made by the Board of Examiners, you must complete an Early Resolution Request Form within 10 working days of your results being published.
You can get advice and support from:
What happens next?
- You should receive a response within 5 working days of submitting your Early Resolution Request Form.
- You will normally receive a Notification of Completion within 15 working days.
Many appeals are resolved during Stage 1.
If the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may choose to submit a Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal.
You must complete Stage 1 and receive a Notification of Completion, including a reference number, before submitting a Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal.
Stage 2: Formal Academic Appeal
A Formal Academic Appeal is a request to the Dean of School to review an assessment decision made by the Board of Examiners.
You can appeal decisions relating to:
- A coursework mark or grade
- A module result
- Progression to the next stage of your programme of study
- Entitlement to an award
- The class or grade of an award
Deadline
You must submit your Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal within 10 working days of receiving your Stage 1 Notification of Completion.
Late appeals
Late appeals are not usually considered. If your appeal is submitted after the deadline, you must explain the reason for the delay and provide supporting evidence. Consideration of late appeals is at the discretion of your School.
Grounds for a Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal
You can only submit a Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal on the grounds set out in UPR AS12.
Examples include:
- Assessment procedures were not followed correctly.
- An administrative error affected the outcome.
- Assessments were not conducted in line with approved programme regulations.
- University or programme regulations relating to progression or awards were not followed.
- Relevant information, including information already provided by the student, was overlooked.
- New evidence is available that could affect the outcome and could not reasonably have been provided earlier.
- There was a reasonable perception of bias during the process.
Examples relating to these grounds are available on the OIA website. (summary below)
The University will not consider appeals that only challenge the academic judgement of examiners.
Submitting a Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal
Please read the guidance carefully and complete the Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal Form.
Send the following to appeals-support@herts.ac.uk:
- Your Notification of Completion from Stage 1
- Your completed Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal Form
- Supporting evidence
Supporting evidence must relate to the date of the examination or assessment submission. Examples include:
- Medical evidence
- Hospital or GP letters
- Evidence of communication with your tutor
- Letters from Student Wellbeing Services
If you do not provide all required documents, your appeal cannot be processed. Missing information may also delay the outcome.
You can get advice and guidance from:
- Herts SU Advice & Support Centre
- Early Resolution Team
Outcome of a Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal
You will normally receive a Letter of Decision from appeals-support@herts.ac.uk within 20 working days of submitting your completed appeal.
During busy periods there may be delays. If this happens, you will be informed.
If your appeal is successful
The Chair of the Board will review the recommendation. Once reviewed, your Hub will normally send confirmation of the final outcome within 4 weeks of the first decision letter.
If you have questions about delays, contact ask@herts.ac.uk.
If your appeal is unsuccessful
You may be eligible to submit a Vice-Chancellor Appeal.
Stage 3: Vice-Chancellor Appeal
If your Stage 2 Formal Academic Appeal is unsuccessful, you may be able to submit a Vice-Chancellor Appeal in limited circumstances, as set out in section 5.7.1 of UPR AS12 Appendix I.
Before making a decision, you are strongly advised to seek guidance from:
- Your Dean of School
- Herts SU Advice & Support Centre
Grounds for a Vice-Chancellor Appeal
A Vice-Chancellor Appeal may only be submitted if:
- Exceptional circumstances apply.
- You believe the correct procedure was not followed.
- Relevant circumstances were not fully considered.
- New evidence is available that was not previously considered by the Dean of School.
A Vice-Chancellor Appeal is not an opportunity to repeat the same arguments that were considered during Stage 2.
How to submit
Complete the Vice-Chancellor Appeal Form and send it to:
Deadline
Appeals to the Vice-Chancellor must be received within 10 working days of the date of the Stage 2 decision letter.
Vice-Chancellor Appeal decision
If your Stage 3 Vice-Chancellor Appeal is unsuccessful, you will receive:
- A Vice-Chancellor decision letter
- A Completion of Procedures Letter
If your appeal is partially upheld or upheld, you can request a Completion of Procedures Letter if required.
Further information is available on the Completion of Procedures Letters page.
Complaints
The University subscribes to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), an independent complaints scheme for higher education providers in England and Wales.
If you remain dissatisfied after completing the University's appeal process, you may be able to ask the OIA to review your case.
Find out more about the OIA and how to make a complaint at www.oiahe.org.uk/students.