FAQs
Academic Appeals
I’m not happy with my marks, can I submit an appeal?
An academic appeal can only be submitted after results have been ratified, it can’t be based on provisional results. The Stage One Appeal Form should be submitted within 21 days of the publication of the relevant results to Student Conduct & Appeals, by email. There are set grounds that an appeal can be submitted on, which are set out on the Form and in the Regulations. Appeals based upon a challenge to academic judgment are not permitted.
Further information about the Appeals Procedure can be found here.
I have received an email stating that my Stage One Appeal will not be forwarded to an Assessment Board, what does this mean?
A Stage One Appeal maybe rejected where the appeal is not made on the correct form or is incomplete; is submitted out of time; does not include independent third party evidence; does not meet the grounds on which to appeal; is frivolous or vexatious. Where an appeal is rejected on this basis you will have the opportunity to contest this decision in writing, by email, to Student Conduct & Appeals within 7 days from the date of notification of the decision.
When will I hear the result of my Stage One Appeal?
Stage One Appeal outcomes should normally be communicated within 42 days of the release of results. The outcome will be communicated by email only to your KCL and personal email accounts, as stored on your student record. If you have not had a decision within this timeframe, please contact Student Conduct & Appeals for an update on your case.
Further information about the Appeals Procedure can be found here.
I’m not happy with the outcome of my Stage One Appeal, is there
anything I can do?
You may submit a Stage Two Appeal if you wish to challenge the decision made by the Assessment Board at Stage One; however there are set grounds that an appeal can be submitted on, which are set out on the Form and in the Regulations. Appeals based on disagreement alone are not permitted. The Stage One Appeal Form should be submitted within 14 days of the Stage One Appeal outcome to Student Conduct & Appeals, by email.
Further information about the Appeals Procedure can be found here.
When will I hear the result of my Stage Two Appeal?
Stage Two Appeal outcomes should normally be communicated within 42 days of the submission of the Stage Two Appeal Form. The outcome will be communicated by email only to your KCL and personal email accounts, as stored on your student record. If you have not received a decision within this timeframe, please contact Student Conduct & Appeals for an update on your case.
Further information about the Appeals Procedure can be found here.
What are the potential outcomes?
Please note that under no circumstances will examination marks, or award classifications, be raised. If your Appeal is upheld, you may be offered either a replacement (with the original attempt annulled) or re-sit attempt. If your Appeal is unsuccessful the mark(s) appealed will remain unchanged.
Mitigating Circumstances
I don’t feel able to undertake my upcoming assessments, what
should I do?
If you believe your ability to complete an assessment might be adversely affected by Mitigating Circumstances, you should complete a Mitigating Circumstances Form as soon as possible, and if you are able to, in advance of the missed/affected assessment dates. If you are not able to submit the Form in advance, it must be submitted within 7 days of the assessments. Mitigating Circumstances Forms should be submitted to your Department.
Further information about Mitigating Circumstances can be found here.
I believe that my performance was affected in my recent
assessments, what should I do?
If you believe your performance in a recent assessment might have been affected by Mitigating Circumstances, you should complete a Mitigating Circumstances Form within 7 days of the assessments; such a Form will only be considered outside of this timeframe in exceptional circumstances, and you may have to wait until the release of your results to submit an Academic Appeal. Mitigating Circumstances Forms should be submitted to your Department.
Further information about Mitigating Circumstances can be found here.
When will I hear whether my Mitigating Circumstances Form has
been accepted?
You will normally be notified of the decision within 7 days of submitting the Form. If you have not had a decision within this timeframe, please contact your Department for an update on your case.
Further information about Mitigating Circumstances can be found here.
Misconduct
My Department have told me they suspect that I have committed
academic misconduct in one of my coursework assignments and
have asked me to attend an interview; what is this?
This meeting has been arranged so that the Department can discuss their concerns with you, and to explore whether the matter can be resolved at departmental level, under the ‘Expedited Procedure’. Following the interview, if you agree with the Department’s conclusions, you will be invited to sign a declaration accepting the misconduct; you will be awarded a mark of 0 and provided with the opportunity to resit your work. If you do not agree with the Department’s conclusions, the matter will be referred to Student Conduct & Appeals and considered by a Misconduct Committee.
Further information on the Misconduct Regulations can be found here.
If I don’t attend the interview with my Department, what will happen?
You are expected to attend the interview. If you are unable to attend please inform the Department immediately, outlining the reason(s) why you cannot attend. The Department will determine whether your interview can be postponed or whether to refer your case to Student Conduct & Appeals to be considered by a Misconduct Committee.
Further information on the Misconduct Regulations can be found here.
Further guidance about Committee procedures can be found here.
An Examination Conduct Report was given to me after my exam
today; what does this mean?
Such a report means you are suspected of breaching the exam rules during your exam. All reports are submitted to Student Conduct & Appeals, who will consider the allegations. They will determine which of the three permitted outcomes apply:
- the matter may be escalated to a Misconduct Committee;
- you be issued with a warning;
- no action be taken.
You will receive the outcome as soon as possible after the examination period.
Further information on the Misconduct Regulations can be found here.
I was given a warning after my exam today; what is this?
If you have been given a warning, you have been deemed to have committed a minor breach of the Examination Regulations. The warning will be kept on your student record and may be taken into consideration if you are reported for any further breaches of the Misconduct Regulations. It will not affect your mark, and the paper you have just completed will be marked as normal. No further action will be taken after a warning has been issued, the case will be closed; however, if you wish to contest the warning, the matter will be referred to a Misconduct Committee for consideration.
Further information on the Misconduct Regulations can be found here.
I have been invited to a preliminary enquiry interview; what is this?
Such an interview will have been arranged to discuss allegations of misconduct reported to Student Conduct & Appeals, as part of the investigatory process. It provides an opportunity for you to respond to the allegations and to provide any evidence you wish to be considered.
Following the interview, Student Conduct & Appeals will determine which of the three permitted outcomes apply:
- the matter may be escalated to a Misconduct Committee;
- you be issued with a warning;
- no action be taken.
Further information on the Misconduct Regulations can be found here.
I have been told my case is going to a Misconduct Committee;
what does this mean?
If your case has been referred to a Misconduct Committee for consideration, the allegations against you have been deemed to be a major breach of the Misconduct Regulations.
Student Conduct & Appeals is responsible for organising the Misconduct Committee to consider your case; and you will receive information regarding the Committee and all of the relevant documentation at least 14 days before the Committee. You may submit any additional documentation, evidence and the names of any witnesses no later than 7 days before the Committee.
The Committee will consider all of the evidence before it, and make a decision as to whether the charge is upheld or not. If they uphold the charge, they will consider which penalty/ies are appropriate. The decision of the Committee will be communicated to you within 7 days of the hearing.
Further information on the Misconduct Regulations can be found here.
Further guidance about Committee procedures can be found here.
If I don’t attend the Committee, what will happen?
You are expected to attend the Hearing. If you do not attend your case can proceed in your absence. If you are unable to attend please inform Student Conduct & Appeals immediately, outlining the reason(s) why you cannot attend. The Chair of the Committee will determine whether your Hearing can be postponed.
Further information on the Misconduct Regulations can be found here.
Further guidance about Committee procedures can be found here.
I’m not happy with the outcome of the Misconduct Committee,
what can I do?
You may submit an appeal against the findings of the Misconduct Committee if you wish to challenge its decision; however there are set grounds that an appeal can be submitted on, which are set out on the Misconduct Committee Appeal Form and in the Regulations. Appeals based on disagreement alone are not permitted.
The Misconduct Appeal Form should be submitted within 14 days of the Committee outcome to Student Conduct & Appeals, by email.
You should normally receive a decision within 42 days of receipt. If you have not received a decision within this timeframe, please contact Student Conduct & Appeals for an update on your case.
Further information on the Misconduct Regulations can be found here.
Complaints
I would like to make a complaint, what should I do?
In the first instance, complaints should be raised informally with a relevant individual, such as a Personal Tutor, Senior Tutor, or Head of Department for a local level investigation to be undertaken at Stage One of the Student Complaints Procedure.
If your complaint relates to the conduct of another student, it will be considered under the Misconduct Regulations; and if you are seeking an academic outcome, such as a resit, it will be considered under the Appeals Procedure.
Further information about the Student Complaints Procedure can be found here.
Can I make a joint complaint with other students?
You may submit a ‘group complaint’ to the College for consideration, in accordance with the stages set out in the Student Complaints Procedure. In order to manage the complaint, the group may be asked to nominate one student to act as group representative. In such cases, we will normally communicate with the nominated representative only.
Further information about the Student Complaints Procedure can be found here.
I’m not happy with the outcome of my Stage One Complaint, is there
anything I can do?
If you are not satisfied with the resolutions proposed at Stage One, you can initiate a formal, Stage Two Complaint. A Stage Two Complaint Form should be submitted to Student Conduct & Appeals, by email, within 3 months of the incident/sequence of events giving rise to the complaint.
Further information about the Student Complaints Procedure can be found here.
When will I receive the result of my Stage Two Complaint?
Stage Two Complaint outcomes should normally be communicated within 21 days of the submission of the Stage Two Complaint Form. The outcome will be communicated by email only to your KCL and personal email accounts, as stored on your student record. If you have not received a decision within this timeframe, please contact Student Conduct & Appeals for an update on your case.
Further information about the Student Complaints Procedure can be found here.
I’m not happy with the outcome of my Stage Two Complaint, is there
anything I can do?
You may submit a Stage Three Appeal if you wish to challenge the decision made by the Complaint Investigator at Stage Two; however there are set grounds that an appeal can be submitted on, which are set out on the Form and in the Regulations. Appeals based on disagreement alone are not permitted. The Stage Three Complaint Appeal Form should be submitted within 14 days of the Stage Two Complaint outcome to Student Conduct & Appeals, by email.
Further information about the Student Complaints Procedure can be found here.
When will I receive the result of my Stage Three Complaint?
Stage Three Complaint outcomes should normally be communicated within 42 days of the submission of the Stage Three Complaint Form. The outcome will be communicated by email only to your KCL and personal email accounts, as stored on your student record. If you have not received a decision within this timeframe, please contact Student Conduct & Appeals for an update on your case.
Further information about the Student Complaints Procedure can be found here.
Bullying / Harassment
I’m being harassed by another member of the College community,
what can I do?
We takes reports of bullying and harassment very seriously, and are committed to providing and promoting a positive environment which is free from prejudice, discrimination, harassment and bullying.
There are dedicated webpages on this area, which include information on how to raise a concern, the sources of support within King's, and our It Stops Here campaign.
Fitness for Registration and Practise
I have been told my case is going to a Fitness to Practise Committee;
what does this mean?
If your case has been referred to a Fitness to Practise Committee for consideration, the Faculty have concerns that you may not be fit for registration and practice.
Student Conduct & Appeals is responsible for organising the Fitness to Practise Committee to consider your case; and you will receive information regarding the Committee and all the relevant documentation at least 14 days beforehand. You may submit any additional documentation, evidence and the names of any witnesses no later than 7 days before the Committee. The Committee will consider all of the evidence before it, and make a decision as to whether you are fit for registration and practice or not. If they find you unfit, they may make an order to terminate your studies or impose conditions.
Further information on the Fitness to Practise Regulations can be found here.
Further guidance about Committee procedures can be found here.
I’m not happy with the outcome of the Fitness to Practise Committee,
what can I do?
You may submit an appeal against the findings of the Fitness to Practise Committee if you wish to challenge its decision; however there are set grounds that an appeal can be submitted on, which are set out on the Fitness for Registration and Fitness to Practise Appeal Form and in the Regulations. Appeals based on disagreement alone are not permitted.
The Fitness to Practise Appeal Form should be submitted within 14 days of the Committee outcome to Student Conduct & Appeals, by email.
You should normally receive a decision within 28 days of receipt. The outcome will be communicated by email only to the personal and private email account stored on your student record. If you have not had a decision within this timeframe, please contact Student Conduct & Appeals for an update on your case.
Further information on the Fitness to Practise Regulations can be found here.
Sources of Help and Support
What sources of help and support are there in the College?
Office of the Independent Adjudicator
I’m not happy with the final decision of the College, what can I do?
If you have exhausted the university's internal procedures and are dissatisfied with the final decision, you may escalate your case to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (‘OIA’) for an independent review to be undertaken.
Further information on the OIA can be found here.