Academic Appeals: a quick guide for Advisors

As an academic colleague, students may approach you about a wide range of queries, including academic appeals. You are not expected to be an expert in this area; your role is to help the student understand the academic appeals process, signpost them to relevant guidance and support, and encourage them to make their own informed decision. This guidance will help you to provide clear and consistent support to students:

Be supportive

If students come to see you because they are surprised or disappointed with an academic outcome, it is good to acknowledge that this is a potentially stressful and anxious time for them. Where appropriate, you can refer students to:

• Student Support Hub or Doctoral Academy Support Hub
• Students’ Union Advice Service for independent advice on the academic appeals process
• Disability Advisory and Support Service where they have disclosed a disability and are not already registered with the service
• “Help in a Crisis or Emergency”, where they are showing signs of immediate distress

Clarify the outcome

Help the student to understand the academic decision that they are unhappy with. You can:

• Discuss any results, feedback, or programme outcomes that the student wishes to query
• Explain possible implications, such as carrying credit or repeating the year, but avoid making guarantees about likely outcomes.
• Encourage students to seek clarification from their Assessment team or Doctoral Academy

Understand the appeals process

An academic appeal is a request for the University to review a decision about a student’s results, progression, award, or programme outcome. Appeals are normally based on personal circumstances or procedural issues in the assessment process. Under no circumstances can the appeals process be used to challenge academic judgement or because a student is unhappy with their mark.

For details of the grounds that students can appeal under, familiarise yourself with the University’s academic appeals guidance and signpost students to there if they have questions about the process, eligible grounds of appeal, and evidence requirements. This is the primary source of information on appeals and will help students decide whether making an appeal is right for them.

Support an informed decision

Students should review the University’s academic appeals guidance carefully to understand the grounds for appeal and what evidence is normally required. You can help them to think about:

• What evidence they may be able to provide
• How that evidence relates to the reasons they wish to appeal
• Where they can obtain independent advice and support

Your role is to help students understand the appeals process and available sources of support. You should remain neutral and avoid advising students on what arguments they should make, whether they should submit an appeal, or what the outcome should be.

Be mindful of professional boundaries: You cannot act as a student's advocate and, unless you have pertinent evidence, should refrain from providing letters of support.