Students must note that the processes described below are not intended to cover or be used in place of the Mitigating Circumstances policy. Students who experience unexpected circumstances which affect an assessment should follow the mitigating circumstances procedure as outlined in the Mitigating Circumstances Policy in the Handbook.

ACADEMIC APPEALS – OVERVIEW OF PROCESS

You can submit an appeal about an academic outcome based on one or more of the following grounds:

1. Circumstances exist (or existed) affecting your performance of which, for a good reason, the relevant decision-making body may not have been made aware when its decision was taken, and which might have had a material effect on its decision.
2. A material administrative error or procedural irregularity has taken place in the assessment process (or in putting into effect the regulations for your programme of study) of such a nature as to cause significant doubt whether the decision you are appealing might have been different if the error or irregularity had not occurred.
3. You have evidence of prejudice or bias by one or more of your examiners.
4. Your supervision or training in respect of research for a dissertation or thesis (or equivalent work) was unsatisfactory to the point that your performance was seriously affected.

An appeal cannot challenge academic judgement, including challenges to examiners’ scores and feedback.

The University Appeals process is conducted in 3 stages:

• Stage One – Early Resolution. This review is conducted at School level.
• Stage Two – Formal Consideration. This review is conducted at Faculty level.
• Stage Three – Review Request. This review is conducted at University level.

Full details of the process of each review stage are provided below.

However, please also note that to facilitate the review of potential academic appeals based on Point 2 above, the Manchester MBChB Programme also utilises a ‘procedural concern’ form as detailed below.

MBChB PROCEDURAL CONCERN PROCESS (Pre-Appeal)

Procedural Concerns should be submitted immediately after an assessment, to highlight a material administrative error or procedural irregularity that has taken place in the assessment process, if you feel this has potentially affected your outcome for the assessment.

In the first instance you should report it on the day to the invigilator for a written exam or the local Clinical Education Campus team for the CCA. They will log your concern on their incident form which is sent to the assessment office.

In addition, you should also log your own Procedural Concern via this Microsoft Form: Procedural Concern Form.

This allows you to record your version of events. You will be asked on the form if you notified someone at the time of the assessment, or if this was not the case, why this was not possible.

You will not receive a response to your Procedural Concern, but it will be kept on record. If, after receiving your results you feel that the material administrative error or procedural irregularity has adversely impacted your performance, you have the option to commence the appeals process starting with a Stage One Academic Appeal (considered at school level) as detailed later. Your Procedural Concern will then be considered in the eventuality of you submitting a Stage One Academic Appeal.

 Flowchart of steps:

 

Academic Appeal, Stage One – Early Resolution

Stage One Academic Appeals must be submitted within 20 working days of being notified of the decision you are appealing against.

Complete the Stage One Academic Appeal form: Stage One Academic Appeal form (manchester.ac.uk)

The School will conduct an initial assessment to check the appeal:

• Is on time, within 20 working days of the publication of confirmed results or the decision being appealed.
• Meets one or more of the grounds to appeal.
• Is not a challenge to academic judgement.
• Is supported by relevant evidence where necessary.

If your appeal does not meet all of the above, the School will write to you within 10 working days to explain why.

If your appeal is considered eligible, it will be reviewed by the School and you will receive an outcome letter.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can choose to progress to Stage Two.

All evidence and reasoning relating to your appeal must be included with the Stage One application. Any new evidence or reasoning presented at Stage Two or Three will not be considered if there is not a clear and credible reason why this was not submitted or declared in the Stage One application.

Academic Appeal, Stage Two – Formal Consideration

Stage Two Academic Appeals must be submitted within 10 working days of receiving the Stage One outcome.

A Faculty Officer will review your appeal and the response from the School. The Faculty Officer may decide that your appeal is not eligible for consideration at Stage Two because the School has already made a decision at Stage One that the Faculty Officer thinks is reasonable.

If the Faculty Officer decides to review your appeal at Stage Two, they may request further documents and evidence from you. Please note that you are usually expected to provide all the evidence that you wish to be considered in an appeal at Stage One.

Your appeal will be considered and you will receive a Stage Two outcome letter. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can choose to progress to Stage Three.

Academic Appeal, Stage Three – Review Request

If you do not agree with the decision to dismiss your appeal after it has been considered by your Faculty, you can request that the decision is reviewed.

A Stage Three review is not a reconsideration of the appeal. A review is to check that the appeals procedure has been properly followed, and that the Faculty Officer’s decision was reasonable based on all available evidence.

You can request a review up to 10 working days after receiving your Stage Two outcome.

More information about the three stages of the appeal process can be found here: Quick Guide to Academic Appeals and Academic Appeals Procedure Regulation XIX

Information about the support available to you during the appeals process can be found here: Available support – factsheet for students who are accessing the University’s appeals process