Academic appeals

Please follow this link to the 'B4: Regulations for academic appeals' for the 2023/24 academic year. N.B. These Regulations are updated by the University on a regular basis. Please follow this link to the Academic and Student Regulations and Procedures webpage for the latest version.

What you can appeal

• Academic progress decisions, such as, a decision to terminate your course
• Decisions on your credits or marks, or if a doctoral degree, your degree classification or outcome
• A penalty for failing to make progress including programme termination
• An outcome of an extenuating circumstances application

What you can't appeal

1. You cannot appeal an academic judgement.

The University will not consider an academic appeal if you are challenging an academic judgement. An academic judgement is where only the opinion of an academic expert will suffice i.e. a marker.

Situations where the University will therefore not consider an academic appeal on the basis of academic judgement include:

• Where you are appealing an academic judgement on the content or learning outcomes associated with programmes, modules and courses that have been approved by the University
• Where you are appealing an academic judgement on captured content and live teaching events
• Where you are appealing an academic judgement on the merits of your work submitted for assessment
• Where you are appealing an academic judgement on the research methodology that you have followed

2. You cannot appeal an academic decision that has not yet been confirmed.

The University will not consider your appeal if the decision that the appeal is based on has not yet been made or been confirmed i.e. you must have received ratified marks if appealing marks.

3. You cannot appeal an academic decision that you have already appealed.

The University will not consider an appeal where the substance of the appeal relates to a matter that you have already appealed.

4. You cannot appeal an academic decision using evidence that is dishonest or has been acquired dishonestly.

5. You cannot appeal an academic decision if the evidence put forward to support the appeal can be shown to be malicious or represent a way of harassing the University by consuming the time and resources of its staff or a way of harassing members of staff and other students.

6. Decisions made in relation to academic misconduct, which has a separate appeal process. If you wish to submit an appeal regarding the outcome of an Academic Integrity process or the application of an academic misconduct penalty, please find details here.

Grounds to make an appeal

Any student who believes they have grounds for appeal against a decision by the University should follow the procedure as outlined in the regulations for academic appeals. The regulations outline the time limits for submitting appeals.

The University considers that an academic appeal may be made when there is independent evidence to show:

• That staff or bodies have failed to follow regulations and/or procedures or have failed to follow them with due care.
• That staff or bodies have shown bias or prejudice towards the student in the way they have made the relevant academic decision.
• That the student's performance was affected by extenuating circumstances that they could not report at the time for valid reason.
• That the student’s performance was affected by extenuating circumstances that were reported at the time and relevant new evidence has since become available which has not been taken into account in making the relevant academic decision.

How to make an appeal

You can make an appeal if you are a current student registered to study for a University of Surrey qualification or the award of its academic credits whether at the University, studying at a distance or at an Associated or Accredited Institution.

Former students can also appeal if they do so within the specified time frame, that is, within 10 working days of being notified of the decision.

Regulation 25 of the regulations for academic appeals refers to the maximum time period for when an academic appeal must be submitted to OSCAR. This is no more than 10 working days after being notified of the decision you wish to appeal:

“A student wishing to appeal against an academic decision as defined in regulation 15 above, is required to do so within 10 University working days of being notified of the decision. Appeals should be submitted to OSCAR on-line and in accordance with published requirements as to the format, content and length of submission. Further details are available on the OSCAR web pages. If the appeal is received on time it will be assigned to an OSCAR Case Manager. If a student is unable to provide all supporting evidence by the appeal submission deadline (for example, if they are awaiting receipt of a medical letter), then they are still required to submit their appeal within the 10 University working day timeframe (including a complete supporting statement and any available evidence) but may request an extension in respect of the submission of any pending evidence. Such requests should explain the reason the extension is required and be made by email to OSCAR at the time of the appeal submission.”