Academic Appeals
Academic Appeal Form and Guidance for students attending Middlesex University or programmes validated by Middlesex University at a Partner Institutions.
An Academic Appeal is a formal request that a decision made by an Assessment Board or Programme Progression Board (or equivalent at a Partner Institution) is reconsidered because of special circumstances.
Postgraduate Researchers: please refer to the Postgraduate Research Degrees Regulations as Research programmes have their own appeal procedures.
If, after reading the guidance within the Research Degree Regulations, you wish to proceed with submitting an Appeal please complete the Postgraduate Research Academic Appeal Form.
Middlesex has a number of support mechanisms to help you and you should make use of these at the earliest opportunity.
These include the process for submitting extenuating circumstances and deferral requests to the Assessment Board before it meets and by the published deadline:
Extenuating Circumstances information
Deferral of Assessment information
Information about other support available, including Academic & Learning Support, Counselling, Disability & Dyslexia Service, Learning Enhancement Team, Finance, Student Welfare Advice, Student’s Union can be found at Student Support.
However, occasionally things go wrong, or you experience circumstances beyond your control which impact on your assessment, progression or final award.
The appeals process is intended for the few occasions where no resolution or remedy has been possible at an earlier stage.
If your appeal is successful, the Assessment Board will reconsider its original decision taking full account of your appeal (although you should note that, having fully considered your appeal, the Board is not obliged to change its original decision).
Two important points to note before submitting your appeal:
Reasons for making an appeal
Reason 1 Undisclosed extenuating circumstances
“Extenuating or mitigating circumstances where, for good reason, the Assessment Board was not made aware of a significant factor relating to the assessment of a student when it made its original decision.”
The University gives students opportunities to submit extenuating circumstances as soon as they are known and before the Assessment Board makes a decision. This is to ensure that support is available where possible and that there is fairness to all students as well as to you as an individual. The overall aim is to assess all students on equal terms.
The University takes the view that if a student does not declare extenuating circumstances as soon as they become aware of them, they cannot be taken into account later on unless there are compelling reasons for them not to have been declared at the proper time.
You must therefore be able to present a case to show why it would have been unreasonable for the University to expect you to disclose the circumstances at the time of the assessment, ie,
Or
If your case is accepted, your extenuating circumstances will only be considered on the following grounds:
or
or
What are the possible outcomes from a Justified (successful) appeal based on Undisclosed Extenuating Circumstances?
Reason 2 Material error
“That there was a material error, either in the conduct of the assessment itself, or in the proceedings of the Assessment Board, which significantly affected the Assessment Board’s decision.”
A “material error” is an evidenced error that is both relevant and significant to the decision by the Assessment Board in respect of your award or progression.
You must therefore be able to present a case to show that an error has been made, and the effect it has had on the Assessment Board’s decision.
What are the possible outcomes from a Justified (successful) appeal based on Material Error?
Reason 3 Student academic misconduct
“Grounds listed in the Academic Integrity and Misconduct regulations Section F4, following a penalty imposed for academic misconduct.”
In fairness to other students, penalties are normally greater than what would follow if you had merely failed the assessment. Penalties will normally affect the grade for the whole module and not just the piece of work in question.
If you have received a penalty following an investigation of your work for academic misconduct (for example, plagiarism in coursework, cheating in an examination, etc) you can appeal if:
You must be able to present a case to show why it would have been unreasonable for the University to expect you to disclose the evidence at an earlier stage, ie, when you had the opportunity to respond to the allegation of academic misconduct or, if the circumstances were known to you, why you chose not to disclose them at the time.
And/or
You must indicate which procedures were not followed and why you think that the decision would have been different if they had been followed.
And/or
And/or
What are the possible outcomes from a Justified (successful) appeal based on Student Academic Misconduct?
Academic judgement is based on the need of the Assessment Board to be consistent in its policy towards all students in the cohort. Consistency is maintained through moderation of the cohort’s work by University staff and scrutiny by External Examiners.
The Board will already have used its discretion in this way if:
Honours degree classification
If you have a list of all the modules you have taken, together with the number of credits they are worth and the grades attained, you can see how your Honours degree classification is considered:
Have you passed enough credit? | ||||
From your list of modules, add up how much credit you have passed at each Level. Include any compensated modules and modules graded Y. Enter this in Column 1. Repeat the same information in Column 2, omitting Level 4 modules. Repeat the same information in Column 3, omitting Level 4 and Level 5 modules. | ||||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | , . | |
Level 4: | ||||
Level 5: | ||||
Level 6: | ||||
Level 7: | ||||
Totals: | ||||
Minimum required: | You need at least 360 in Level 4 or above | You need at least 210 in Level 5 or above | You need at least 120 in Level 6 or above | |
Overall, you need to have passed at least 360 credits for an Honours degree. If you have not met these requirements, it is unlikely that you would have been awarded an Honours degree |
If you have taken Level 5 and Level 6 modules, the Assessment Board will consider two profiles of your grades. If you have only taken Level 6 modules, the Board will consider one profile.
For Profile 1: All modules passed at Level 6 or above:
From your list of modules, fill in this chart, putting the number of graded (ie, numerical) credits you have gained at Level 6 or above in the relevant grid boxes (A1 to G4). Include compensated modules – these are equivalent to grade 16.
Profile 1: Level 6 grades only: | ||||||||||
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | ||
Grades: | total | % | ||||||||
a | 1,2,3,4 | |||||||||
b | 5,6,7,8 | |||||||||
c | 9,10,11,12 | |||||||||
d | 13,14,15,16 | |||||||||
e | Total |
For Profile 2: All modules passed at Level 5 and 6 or above:
Profile 2: Level 5, 6 and 7 grades only: | ||||||||||
J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | ||
Grades: | Level 6 & 7 total | total | % | |||||||
f | 1,2,3,4 | |||||||||
g | 5,6,7,8 | |||||||||
h | 9,10,11,12 | |||||||||
i | 13,14,15,16 | |||||||||
j | Total |
Definitions: | ||
| A clear profile | A borderline profile
|
First class (1st) | 50% at grades 1 to 4 and less than 25% at grades 13 to 16 | 50% at grades 1 to 4 and more than 25% at grades 13 to 16 |
Upper Second Class (2.1) | 50% at grades 1 to 8 and less than 25% at grades 13 to 16 | 50% at grades 1 to 8 and more than 25% at grades 13 to 16 |
Lower Second Class (2.2) | 50% at grades 1 to 12 | |
Third Class (3rd) | 100% at grades 1 to 16 |
A clear profile | A borderline profile | |||||
Is your Profile 1 a Clear Profile or a Borderline Profile? Enter the Classification from the definition above: | ||||||
Is your Profile 2 a Clear Profile or a Borderline Profile? Enter the Classification from the definition above: | ||||||
What classification could I be awarded?
| ||||||
Profile 1: | Profile 2: | Classification: |
| Regulation: | ||
Clear 1st | Clear 1st | 1st | E4.4.2 i | |||
Clear 1st | Borderline 1st | 1st | E4.4.2 ii | |||
Clear 1st | Clear 2.1 | 1st | E4.4.2 ii | |||
Clear 1st | Borderline 2.1 | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 1st | Clear 2.2 | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 1st | Clear 3rd | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 or 3rd | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Borderline 1st | Clear 1st | 1st | E4.4.2 iii | |||
Borderline 1st | Borderline 1st | 1st or 2.1 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Borderline 1st | Clear 2.1 | 1st or 2.1 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Borderline 1st | Borderline 2.1 | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Borderline 1st | Clear 2.2 | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Borderline 1st | Clear 3rd | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 or 3rd | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 2.1 | Clear 1st | 1st or 2.1 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 2.1 | Borderline 1st | 1st or 2.1 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 2.1 | Clear 2.1 | 2.1 | E4.4.2 i | |||
Clear 2.1 | Borderline 2.1 | 2.1 | E4.4.2 ii | |||
Clear 2.1 | Clear 2.2 | 2.1 | E4.4.2 ii | |||
Clear 2.1 | Clear 3rd | 2.1 or 2.2 or 3rd | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Borderline 2.1 | Clear 1st | 1st or 2.1 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Borderline 2.1 | Borderline 1st | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Borderline 2.1 | Clear 2.1 | 2.1 | E4.4.2 iii | |||
Borderline 2.1 | Borderline 2.1 | 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Borderline 2.1 | Clear 2.2 | 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Borderline 2.1 | Clear 3rd | 2.1 or 2.2 or 3rd | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 2.2 | Clear 1st | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 2.2 | Borderline 1st | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 2.2 | Clear 2.1 | 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 2.2 | Borderline 2.1 | 2.1 or 2.2 | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 2.2 | Clear 2.2 | 2.2 | E4.4.2 i | |||
Clear 2.2 | Clear 3rd | 2.2 | E4.4.2 ii | |||
Clear 3rd | Clear 1st | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 or 3rd | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 3rd | Borderline 1st | 1st or 2.1 or 2.2 or 3rd | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 3rd | Clear 2.1 | 2.1 or 2.2 or 3rd | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 3rd | Borderline 2.1 | 2.1 or 2.2 or 3rd | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 3rd | Clear 2.2 | 2.2 or 3rd | Academic Judgement | E4.4.3 | ||
Clear 3rd | Clear 3rd | 3rd | E4.4.2 i | |||
What is ‘Academic Judgement’?
The Assessment Board has used its academic judgement to decide which classification to award you. This is based on the following considerations:
Masters degree classification
If you have a list of all the modules you have taken, together with the number of credits they are worth and the grades attained, you can see how your Masters degree classification is considered.
Have you passed enough credit?
| |
From your list of modules, add up how many credits you have passed at each Level. Include any compensated modules and modules graded Y: | |
Level 7: Dissertation/project | You need at least 60 credits from your dissertation or project. |
Level 7 without the Dissertation/project grade | A further 90 credits, making a total of 150 credits at Level 7. |
Level 6 or 7 | 30 credits. |
Overall, you need to have passed at least 180 credit points for a Masters degree. If you haven’t met these requirements, it is unlikely that you would have been awarded a Masters degree. |
Profile of all modules passed at Level 7:
From your list of modules, fill in this chart, putting the number of graded (ie, numerical) credits you have gained at Level 7 in the relevant grid-boxes (Aa to Dd). Do not include Level 6 credit. Put your dissertation grade in column G.
Profile of Level 7 grades only | ||||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | |
grades: | Total | % | Dissertation | |||||
a | 1,2,3,4 | |||||||
b | 5,6,7,8 | |||||||
c | 9,10,11,12 | |||||||
d | 13,14,15,16 | |||||||
e | Total |
For a clear Distinction award:
and
If
and
you will have been awarded a Merit unless the Assessment Board considers that a Distinction is appropriate due to extenuating circumstances, bearing in mind the need to be consistent in its policy to the interpretation of classification for all students in the cohort.
For a clear Merit award:
and
If
and
you will have been awarded a Pass unless the Assessment Board considers that a Merit is appropriate due to extenuating circumstances, bearing in mind the need to be consistent in its policy to the interpretation of classification for all students in the cohort.
For a Pass award:
You should continue as if you had not submitted an appeal: ie) the Assessment Board's original decision remains in force until the Board is notified by the Secretary to Academic Board that the decision is cancelled.
You should therefore meet any requirements for a referral, resubmission of work or resitting an examination, until the appeal is completed. This will not influence the outcome of the appeal.
You are responsible for the consequences of not complying with the original decision of the Assessment Board if the outcome to your appeal is not in your favour.
You will normally be permitted by an Assessment Board to continue to the next stage of your studies if you have complied with all the University and Programme of Study regulations apart from the decision you have appealed against. This is solely to help ensure that, if your appeal is upheld, you would not be academically disadvantaged. This entitlement will continue until the date of the letter formally notifying you of the outcome to your appeal. The letter will tell you whether you would be entitled to continue on the programme.
However there are exceptions to this permission and it is possible that the Assessment Board may not allow you to continue if
or
or
If you are applying for a job or further course of study, you may inform your prospective employer or university of the classification and grades you have been awarded by the Assessment Board, but may add that you have submitted an appeal, and the decision may be reviewed: However, do not assume that your appeal will be successful.
You may attend the Graduation Ceremony if you have graduated and accepted an invitation. (No announcement or publication at the Ceremony mentions the classification of award).
If you are unsure, you can ask for advice through UniHelp.
Your appeal application will be checked to ensure
If your appeal application does not meet the above requirements, you will be notified by email that the appeal has been rejected.
If your appeal application has been completed appropriately, two members of Academic Registry Appeals Team will initially consider and investigate your case.
If your appeal concerns extenuating circumstances:
If your appeal is that a material error had occurred associated with the calculation of marks or award classification or award title:
If your appeal is against a penalty for academic misconduct:
No members of staff who were the decision-makers in your academic misconduct case will be involved with your appeal.
or
For appeals against a penalty for academic misconduct, if the Senior Manager of the University agrees that the appeal is Justified or Partly Justified, they will refer the case back to the Academic Misconduct Office for action. You will be notified by email of this outcome to your appeal and the Academic Misconduct Office will contact you in due course about what action is being taken, which may include holding an Academic Misconduct Hearing.
You will receive regular communication from the Appeals Team about the progress of your appeal.
You will be informed in writing of the outcome to your appeal.
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome to your appeal, you may request a Review of the appeal process. See FAQS “What happens if my appeal is Not Justified?”
In normal circumstances, we aim to complete the whole process within 90 calendar days of receipt of your full appeal.
There will occasionally be circumstances when, for good reason, the University will need to extend the timeframe. If this happens, you will be notified by email.
No - any change in the Assessment Board's decision will not disadvantage you.
Your appeal is kept as confidential as possible and within the University. Whilst the investigation is being carried out, the following people may be informed:
Your appeal case will be kept on confidential file for up to six years, following which it may be destroyed.
Members of the Faculties/School’s staff are unable to discuss your appeal with you while it is being processed, but if you would like information on its progress, please contact the Appeals Team.
If you would like advice about your status or progress as a student while your appeal is being considered, please contact UniHelp or the Student Union.
If the people considering your case decide that there are grounds for appeal, the Chair of the Assessment Board may be invited to request the Board to review its decision in the light of the information in your appeal case file. If the Chair agrees that this is appropriate action you would be notified by email of this outcome to your appeal.
The Board is obliged to take full consideration of your case and will either change its original decision in your favour or decide that no change is made to the original decision.
If the Board agrees a change is to be made, this is called an Informal Settlement as it did not require an Appeal Panel (see FAQS) to consider the case.
An Appeal Panel would only be held if an Informal Settlement could not be reached.
Following the decision that you do have grounds for appeal, an Appeal Panel is held only if an Informal Settlement cannot be reached.
The Panel is called to clarify evidence by questioning those who have submitted it, including yourself, enabling the Appeal Panel to reach a just decision.
If a Panel is to be called, you will be invited to attend and will be sent all the relevant information.
The Panel normally consists of three senior members of staff from as many Schools as practical and one Student Union representative. No-one is eligible to be a Panel member who has taught you or is likely to teach or assess you.
You can be accompanied by a companion, bring and question witnesses, and comment on the evidence.
If the Appeal Panel finds that an injustice appears to have been caused to you, it will submit all its findings for the Assessment Board's consideration and require the Board to review its decision.
The Board is obliged to take full consideration of your case and would either change its original decision in your favour or decide that no change is made to the original decision.
The original decision of the Assessment Board will be confirmed, and you will receive a letter informing you of the outcome to your appeal and the reasons behind the decision that it is Not Justified.
The letter will include information about the opportunity to request a Review (see FAQS) of your appeal if
This is not a re-opening of your original appeal.
Dissatisfaction with the outcome of your appeal is not alone a valid reason for requesting a Review.
Within 10 working days of receiving the decision that your appeal is Not Justified, you can request a Review if
This is not a re-opening of your original appeal.
Dissatisfaction with the outcome of your appeal is not alone a valid reason for requesting a Review.
The Reviewer will be a senior member of University staff who is neutral to you and has not previously been involved with the appeal case.
The Review will include consideration of:
The Reviewer will seek to resolve any injustice through appropriate action and inform you of the outcome.
If you were to be dissatisfied with the outcome to the Review, you could take the matter further by requesting a review of the University’s handling of your appeal by the ombudsman for higher education: the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA).
All this information in greater detail will be in the letter of outcome sent to you following your appeal.
If you do not request a Review within 10 working days of the letter giving the outcome to your appeal, you can request a Completion of Procedures Letter which will enable you to request a review of the appeal by the OIA. You would need to present the OIA with exceptional reasons for not requesting the University to review your appeal first.
Academic Appeal Form - Use this form to request consideration of your appeal