Appeals, Complaints, Conduct, and Discipline

Most of our content is now located elsewhere. This includes information on academic appeals, student complaints, conduct and discipline, the OIA, and useful contacts.

If you are a member of staff, you should join the ACCD network (linked below) for access to our SharePoint hub.

If you are a student, information on academic appeals or complaints can be found on the Student Support pages and information on conduct and discipline can be found on this page.

Partner Institutions

The University of Manchester is responsible for the standards of the awards it makes in collaboration with partner institutions whose programmes it validates and for the quality of the student learning experience that the partner institution provides. Partner institutions must have their own policies and procedures for academic appeals, complaints and matters of misconduct. These policies and procedures must be included in the programme or general handbooks given to students, and be accessible as necessary from other sources e.g. the partner institution website.

The following schedule (Partner Institution Procedures) outlines how appeals, complaints and disciplinary procedures should link between the University and the partner institution:

Academic Appeals, Complaints and matters of Misconduct: Partner Institution Procedures (PDF document)

Links to some of the key Regulations and Procedures can be found below.

Fitness to Practise

Information on the Fitness to Practise Procedure, and the role of the Division of Teaching, Learning and Student Development in appeals against Faculty-level Fitness to Practise Committees, is available at:

https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/bmh/teaching/teaching-activity/fitness-to-practise/

ACCD Network for staff

The University's internal Appeals, Complaints, Conduct and Discipline Network is open to any and all staff (PS or academic) involved in student casework in any way. This might include academic appeals, complaints, academic or non-academic misconduct. You may also find the network valuable if you advise or support students, or are involved in processes like mitigating circumstances.

Members are added to a Teams community and gain access to our SharePoint site - our hub of information for everything related to student casework, including training, toolkits, and other guidance. We host open meetings throughout the year and hold an annual conference on campus in July.

You can request access via this link or by emailing TLD-ACD@manchester.ac.uk and asking to join the ACCD Network.‌

Reports to Senate

The Annual Report details the number and nature of formal academic appeals, complaints, discipline and fitness to practise cases handled each academic year and is required under the Regulations for the relevant areas.

Reports to Senate:

Colleague Consultation: Dignity and Respect Policy

Dignity and Respect Policy

The University is introducing the Dignity and Respect Policy & Procedures (DARP), which will replace the existing Dignity at Work and Study (DAWS) Policy.

The DARP brings together policy and procedure into a single, clearer framework for addressing concerns relating to unacceptable behaviour. It aims to provide a more accessible and consistent approach for students and staff, while ensuring alignment with legislative requirements and institutional commitments. including freedom of speech and academic freedom.

We welcome feedback from colleagues on the proposed DARP to help ensure that it is clear and effective, and that it supports an inclusive environment for all members of the University community.

Dignity and Respect Policy

Click here for the full Policy.

Summary of Proposed Policy

Click here for an overview of the proposed Policy

Procedures for Reporting Unacceptable Behaviour

Click the links below for each Procedure:

If you have any comments to make about the DARP, please complete the consultation form here.

For ACCD members, the consultation will close on Monday 1st June 2026.

We will take all feedback into consideration before the DARP is finalised and will share how responses have informed the final version, including where changes have or have not been made.

If you have any questions about the consultation process for the DARP, please contact spencer.davies@manchester.ac.uk

Colleague Consultation: Student Complaints Procedure

Regulation XVIII: Student Complaints Procedure

The Student Complaints Procedure is changing, in conjunction with the introduction of the Dignity and Respect Policy and Procedure (DARP). Under the proposed framework, the Student Complaints Procedure will focus solely on service-based issues, while concerns relating to behaviour will fall within the scope of, and be triaged through, the DARP.

Revisions to the Procedure include the use of more student-friendly language, expanded eligibility criteria, and the explicit inclusion of matters relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom, alongside other improvements.

We welcome feedback from embers of the Appeals, Complaints, Conduct and Discipline (ACCD Network) on the Student Complaints Procedure, as well as on the associated improvements to the complaints form and student-facing guidance.

Regulation XVIII: Student Complaints Procedure

Click here for the full, updated Procedure.

Summary of Proposed Changes

Click here for an overview of the proposed changes in the updated Procedure.

Colleague Guidance for Formal Complaint Investigations

Click here for new colleague-facing guidance, which complements the Procedure by providing practical advice on how its requirements should be applied.

Quick Guide to Student Complaints

Click here for new student-facing guidance.

Student Complaint Form

Click here for the amended Student Complaint Form, to be used by students submitting a formal complaint.

Student Complaint Form (Review Request)

Click here for the amended Review Request form, to be used by students who are dissatisfied with the outcome of their formal complaint.

If you have any comments to make on the proposed changes to the Student Complaints Procedure and accompanying documents, please complete the consultation form here.

The consultation will close on Monday 1 June 2026.

We will take all feedback into consideration before the Procedure is finalised and will share how responses have informed the final version, including where changes have not been made.

If you have any questions about the consultation process for the Student Complaints Procedure, please contact joe.taylor-marshall@manchester.ac.uk