3.3 Academic Appeals

The following summarises the College's appeals procedure.  The full policy is available from the link at the foot of this page.

A student may appeal against:

• The progress decision of a First or Second Year Progression Board of Examiners.  In this case, the formal appeal must be submitted within 2 weeks of the publication of results.
• The substantive decision of a Modular Examinations or Awards Board (‘the Examinations Board’).  In this case, the formal appeal must be submitted within 4 weeks of the publication of results.

All appeals must be made in writing on the Form of Appeal stating fully and precisely the grounds for appeal, and include any relevant supporting evidence.

Forms of Appeal are available from the Academic Systems Manager in the CASTLe Office, Room L04 and in the Student Information area of the CASTLe Website.

The main legitimate grounds for appeal are as follows:

• Extenuating circumstances of which the Board of Examiners was unaware and of which the student could not reasonably have been expected to inform the Board of Examiners in advance, of such a nature as to cause reasonable doubt as to whether the result might have been different had they not occurred.
• Procedural irregularities in the conduct of the Board of Examiners (including alleged administrative error) of such a nature as to cause reasonable doubt as to whether the result might have been different had they not occurred.

Other grounds will be considered on their merits.  The following are not considered legitimate grounds on which to appeal, and any appeals based exclusively on one or more of these grounds will be rejected automatically:

• Disagreement with a mark or grade and/or appeals against the academic judgement of internal or external examiners.  Coursework and examinations cannot be remarked, except in cases of procedural irregularities.
• Any initial mark or informal assessment of the student's work by a member of staff that is not the final mark approved by the Board of Examiners.
• The retrospective reporting of extenuating circumstances which a student might reasonably have been expected to disclose to the Board of Examiners before their meeting.
• Appeals against the judgement of the Board of Examiners in assessing the significance of extenuating circumstances, and whether and to what extent they affected academic performance.
• Marginal failure to attain a higher class of degree.
• Appeals where the grounds of complaint concern the inadequacy of teaching or other arrangements during the period of study; such complaints must be raised, in writing, before the examination board meets.

The form must be returned by post to the Academic Systems Manager who will acknowledge receipt of the appeal within 5 working days.  Any other member of staff who receives a formal appeal from a student concerning his/her final result shall forward it to the Academic Systems Manager.

The Academic Systems Manager will then deal with the appeal according to the published procedures. The full Academic Appeals procedure can be found below:

• Academic Appeals Procedure