Academic Appeals
The College’s regulations, policies and guidance documents can be accessed through Governance Zone. Advice on the appeals process, as well as support preparing an appeal is available from the KCLSU Advice Service. You can find forms for all stages of appeals in the respective sections below.
Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Taught) students
Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Taught) students may appeal against decisions made by an Assessment Board on matters such as module results, progression and reassessment decisions, as provided by the A6 Regulations for Academic Appeals.
The process involves two stages: -
- Appeals concerning decisions of Assessment Boards of Taught Programmes (‘Stage One’); and
- Appeals to the Director of Students & Education (‘Stage Two’)
Stage One Appeals
Stage One Appeals must be submitted on a Stage One Appeal Form within 21 days of the publication of results of the relevant examination(s), and lodged with the Student Conduct & Appeals Office. Appeals received after this deadline will only be accepted at the discretion of the Director of Students & Education (or nominee).
In accordance with the A6 Regulations, an Assessment Board may review a decision if it is satisfied that one or both of the following grounds are met: -
(a) Where there is evidence that the student's examination may have been adversely affected by mitigating circumstances which the student was unable, or for valid reasons unwilling, to divulge to the Assessment Board before its decision was reached;
(b)Where there is clear evidence that the student's examination may have been adversely affected by a significant administrative error on the part of the College or in the conduct of the examination.
Appeals which are based upon a challenge to the academic judgment of the examiners will not be considered. Additionally, appeals which involve the retrospective disclosure of mitigating circumstances are rarely successful; students are expected to inform the College of any such circumstances by submitting a Mitigating Circumstances Form ('MCF') as soon as possible either before the examination, or within 7 days of it. By presenting yourself for an assessment, students are deemed to have declared themselves to be in a position to undertake the assessment.
Stage One Appeal Forms must be accompanied by independent, third party evidence of the mitigating circumstances or significant administrative errors upon which the appeal is based. It is the student's responsibility to submit all evidence by the deadline for their appeal, and to have certified translations undertaken, where appropriate.
The Director of Students & Education may refuse to forward a Stage One Appeal to the relevant Assessment Board where: -
(a) The appeal has not be made on the correct form, or the form is incomplete;
(b) The appeal was submitted after the deadline;
(c) The appeal does not contain any independent, third party evidence;
(d) The appeal contains no evidence that either of the appeal criteria have been met;
(e) The appeal is frivolous or vexatious.
In such instances, the student will have the opportunity to contest the decision and, if successful, the matter will be forwarded to the Assessment Board for consideration.
Upon receipt of an appeal, the Assessment Board will determine whether the criteria for an appeal have been met. Where they have, the Board will decide whether to modify or confirm its original decision. The Board will normally meet and communicate its decision through the Student Conduct & Appeals Office within 42 days of the publication of results of the examination(s) to which the appeal relates.
Stage Two Appeals
Following the completion of a Stage One Appeal, students may submit a Stage Two Appeal in the instance that they are dissatisfied with the previous outcome. Stage Two Appeals must be submitted on a Stage Two Appeal Form to the Student Conduct & Appeals Office within 14 days of the date of the Stage One Appeal outcome letter. Appeals received after this deadline will only be accepted at the discretion of the Director of Students & Education (or nominee).
In accordance with the A6 Regulations, a Stage One decision may be reviewed if one or both of the following grounds are met: -
(a) If, in the view of the Director of Students & Education, the Assessment Board's handling or consideration of the case was not undertaken in accordance with the procedure outlined in these regulations and the Stage One Appeal Form; and if sufficient evidence remains that the request for a review warrants further consideration;
(b) If, in the view of the Director of Students & Education, giving due consideration to the evidence previously provided, the decision of the Assessment Board in response to the representations made could not reasonably be sustained.
The Director of Students & Education (or nominee) will determine whether the criteria for an appeal have been met. Where they have, an Appeal Committee will be convened; otherwise, the appeal will be dismissed. This decision will normally be communicated within 42 days of receipt of the Stage Two Appeal.
Where an Appeal Committee is convened, the student shall normally receive at least 14 days' notice of the hearing, and will be invited to present their case to the Panel. The Chair of the relevant Assessment Board (or nominee) will also be invited to give evidence. The Committee will determine whether there is sufficient reason to challenge the decision of the Assessment Board; where it concludes such reason is present, it can set aside the original decision and replace it with one of its own, or refer the case back to the relevant Assessment Board, with commentary, for re-consideration. The decision of the Committee will be normally communicated to the student and the Chair of the relevant Assessment Board within 7 days of the decision.
Office of the Independent Adjudicator
When all internal procedures are complete, students may request an independent review of their case by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, if they remain dissatisfied with the College’s final outcome.
Postgraduate (Research) students
Appeals concerning decisions of examiners: thesis and oral examination
A student may appeal against the decision of an examiner where the outcome was such that they were not awarded the degree they were enrolled upon, namely the degree of PhD or MD(Res), the degree of MPhil (other than the MPhilStud), the degree of MPhilStud in respect of the thesis/oral examination only, or a professional doctorate in respect of the thesis/oral examination only.
An appeal must be submitted on a PGR Appeal Form to the Student Conduct & Appeals Office within 21 days of the publication of the result of the examination.
In accordance with the A6 Regulations, the Principal will allow an appeal to be heard, if s/he is satisfied one or both of the following grounds are met: -
(a) Where there is evidence that the student's performance at the oral examination may have been adversely affected by mitigating circumstances which the student was unable, or for valid reasons unwilling, to divulge to the examiners before the decision was reached;
(b) Where there is clear evidence of significant administrative or procedural error on the part of the College in the conduct of the examination, and that this accounted for the student's performance.
The Principal also has the discretion to take into account grounds other than those stated above, including grounds of compassion, in deciding whether to allow an appeal to be heard.
The Principal will determine whether the criteria for an appeal have been met. Where they have, an Appeal Committee will be convened; otherwise the appeal will be dismissed. This decision will normally be communicated within 42 days of receipt of the appeal.
Where an Appeal Committee is convened, the student shall normally receive at least 7 days' notice of the hearing, and will be invited to present their case to the Panel. The examiners, or other relevant staff, will also be invited to give evidence. The Committee will determine whether there is sufficient reason to challenge the decision of the examiners; where it concludes such reason is present, they can set aside the original examination and ask that a new one be conducted, or refer the case back to the examiners for re-consideration. The decision of the Committee will normally be communicated to the student and examiners within 7 days of the decision.
Appeals against PhD upgrade and MD(Res) transfer decisions
A student may appeal against a decision not to approve an upgrade from MPhil to PhD, as set down in the Core Code of Practice for Research Degrees.
An appeal must be submitted on a PGR Appeal Form to the relevant Faculty/Institute/School, Campus Academic Centre, or Records Office within 21 days of the notification of the upgrade decision. This must take place before the College is able to consider any appeal under the B4 Academic Progress Regulations.
In accordance with the A6 Regulations, the Head of Graduate Studies will allow an appeal to be heard if s/he is satisfied one or both of the following grounds are met: -
(a) Where there is evidence that the student's performance may have been adversely affected by mitigating circumstances which the student was unable, or for valid reasons unwilling, to divulge to the examiners before the decision was reached;
(b) Where there is clear evidence of a significant administrative or procedural error on the part of the College in the conduct of the upgrade process, and that this accounted for the student's performance.
The Head of Graduate Studies also has the discretion to take into account grounds other than those stated above, including grounds of compassion, in deciding whether to allow an appeal to be heard.
The Head of Graduate Studies will determine whether the criteria for an appeal have been met. Where they have, an Appeals Panel will be convened; otherwise the appeal will be dismissed. This decision will normally be communicated within 42 days of receipt of the appeal.
The Appeals Panel will consider a detailed account of the factors leading to the Upgrade Panel's decision, a statement from the student's supervisor(s), the original PGR Appeal Form, and any further comments received from the student. The decision of the Panel will normally be communicated to the student and the examiners within 60 days of receipt of the appeal. In the event that the Panel dismiss the appeal and uphold the decision to terminate the student's registration, removal proceedings shall be instigated under the B4 Academic Progress Regulations. The student has the right to appeal against their removal in accordance with the B4 Regulations.
Office of the Independent Adjudicator
When all internal procedures are complete, students may request an independent review of their case by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education ('OIA'), if they remain dissatisfied with the College's final outcome.