Academic Appeals (Stage Three)

If you are unhappy with the Stage Two outcome you may request a final internal review of your appeal on the following grounds:

1. There were procedural irregularities in the conduct of the appeal
2. Fresh evidence can be presented which could not reasonably have been made available with submission of the Stage Two Form
3. The outcome of the appeal was not reasonable in all the circumstances

Timing

You must request a review within three weeks of the Stage Two decision. Requests received later than this will normally not be considered.

We aim to conclude the appeals procedure within 90 days of your Stage Two appeal being accepted. If an appeal is sent to a School Board it may take longer to reach a final decision.

How the review works

The Stage Three review request is first assessed by a different member of the Student Casework team than the Stage Two appeal. This is to avoid any conflict of interest or perception of bias.

If this team member decides that your review request does not set out valid grounds - to be without merit - then the Stage Two decision will not be reconsidered. A letter or email will be sent to you, confirming that your appeal is dismissed and stating that the College’s internal procedures have been completed (a Completion of Procedures Letter).

Based on this initial assessment, if the request is found to set out valid grounds, it is referred to a Review Panel. This will comprise a Pro-Warden and two senior members of academic staff, who are not members of the student’s department and have no prior knowledge of the case. If the Pro-Warden deems it appropriate, a hearing may be convened. Otherwise, the Panel will meet in private to consider the evidence.

The decision of the Panel will be final and will be confirmed to the student in writing. A letter or email will be sent to the student, confirming that the College’s internal procedures have been completed (a Completion of Procedures Letter).