Grounds for appeal

The grounds for appeal are given in the Regulations.

Significant mitigating circumstances

• There are circumstances that materially affected your performance, for which supporting evidence exists,
• these were not known to the Board of Examiners or other academic body at the time its decision was taken, and
• it was not reasonably practicable for you to make them known to your department before the decision.

Procedural irregularities

• There were procedural irregularities in the conduct of examination or assessment procedures of such a nature as to create a reasonable possibility that the result may have been different if it had not occurred. 

Prejudice or bias

• There is evidence of prejudice or bias or lack of proper assessment on the part of one or more of the examiners.

It is important to note that the regulations on mitigating circumstances require students to notify their departments of any matters which may be relevant to their academic performance, for example, personal or medical circumstances at the time they occur and to supply supporting documentary evidence, such as medical certificates. Unless there were very good reasons why you were unable to notify your department or supply evidence at the time it is likely that an appeal will be disallowed.

You should also note that the University operates systems of double or second marking, or moderation to ensure that there are adequate checks on the accuracy and appropriateness of marking and to help prevent prejudice and bias. Marks are awarded to a student’s work on the basis of the academic judgement of the examiners in conjunction with an agreed assessment criteria relevant to the assignment in question. Programmes are overseen by external examiners appointed from other institutions to ensure the University’s academic standards. Therefore you cannot ask for an item of assessment to be ‘re-marked’ or 'checked' if you disagree with the examiners’ judgement as this would be deemed challenging academic judgement. Students who wish to challenge an assessment related decision should be aware that Boards of Examiners do not have the authority to change marks for individual students and a successful appeal will not lead to a change of mark. If you have concerns about an individual mark awarded to you, you should in the first instance follow up with your School or Department and ask whether further feedback or clarification is available.

You may not appeal if your results are not as good as you had hoped or worse than you believe you deserve. Appeals which simply challenge the academic judgement of internal or external examiners or Boards of Examiners are not permitted.