The Academic Appeal process can seem daunting, here you can find information about what circumstances you can appeal and how and when to submit your appeal.
When you submit an academic appeal, you are asking the university to review a recent decision by the Progression and Award Board, Extenuating Circumstances Team or Assessment Offences Panel.
It is important to remember that you can't submit an appeal that challenges a grade or a decision just because you are unhappy with it, or that you've worked really hard and feel that you deserve a better grade. If you are unhappy with the grade you have been given for an assessment, you should seek advice from your module leader to help understand the grade and feedback you have been given.
Before submitting an academic appeal, please read the information below and note that it is only guidance. It supports, but does not replace, the Academic Appeals Policy & Procedure which we recommend that you read, along with the Guidance Notes.
What you can appeal
You can appeal the outcome of an Extenuating Circumstances claim if:
- your EC claim was rejected because it was submitted after the deadline
- you were unable to provide evidence to support your claim by the deadline
- you think that evidence and/or information provided in support of your claim was not properly considered
- no explanation was given for the decision
You can appeal a Progression and Award Board decision (your results) if:
- you feel you had extenuating circumstances but you were unable to submit an EC claim at the correct time
- the assessment procedure was not applied or was applied incorrectly, and this had a significant negative impact on the decision
You can appeal an Assessment Offences Panel outcome if:
- the assessment misconduct procedure was not applied correctly, and this had a significant negative impact on the outcome
- substantial new evidence has come to light
- the decision reached was unfair based on the available evidence
- the penalty imposed was excessive
What you can't appeal
You cannot appeal a grade simply because you are unhappy with it
If you have received a grade that you are not happy with but believe that you did your best and met the criteria, you cannot submit an appeal against this grade as this is known as 'academic judgement'.
You are unhappy with the teaching or supervision on your programme
If you are unhappy with the teaching on your programme, feedback you've received, your supervision or support you have received, you may be eligible to submit a Student Complaint, details of what is covered by this procedure can be found here - Student Complaints Procedure
Provisional grades
Your grades are not final until the Progression and Award Board (PAB) have approved them. You cannot submit an appeal until your results have been published under the 'Student Results' heading on the portal.
You cannot appeal an academic decision that you have already appealed
We are unable to consider an appeal if you are essentially appealing a decision that you have already appealed and received an outcome for.
You cannot appeal against an Assessment Offences Investigative Interview outcome
If you’re unhappy with the outcome of your investigative interview, you can request that your case is escalated to an Assessment Offence Panel. Further information can be found in the Assessment Misconduct Procedure.
When should you submit an appeal?
You must submit your appeal no later than 14 calendar days after you have received the decision that you are appealing. For example,
- the date of your extenuating circumstances decision email
- the date the Progression and Award Board publish your results letter on the student portal
- the date of the outcome email following your Assessment Offences Panel
Please do not submit your academic appeal before your results letter has been published on the portal
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a successful appeal increase my grade?
No. Even if your appeal is successful, the outcome can never uplift or change your grade. You may be offered an opportunity to improve your grade through reassessment.
How long will it take to receive my outcome?
We aim to finalise academic appeals within 28 days but they can take up to 90 days. We will try and resolve appeals in a timely manner.
Do I need to provide evidence with my appeal?
Most appeals will need to be supported by evidence to ensure that the best resolution can be achieved. If you are finding it difficult to obtain evidence, please submit your appeal form and explain why you cannot submit your evidence with your appeal form and we may be able to extend your deadline while you obtain your evidence.
Should I keep attending lectures while I wait for my academic appeal outcome?
You should follow the decision that you received on your outcome - either EC decision, results letter decision or Assessment Offences Panel decision - until you receive your appeal outcome. For example, if your results letter explains that you have to resit your failed assessments, then continue to work toward your resits until you receive the outcome of your appeal.
Help and advice
If you are considering submitting an appeal, we advise you to contact the Greenwich Students' Union Advice Team or your Personal Tutor or Programme Leader. They will be able to help you decide if you have valid grounds for an appeal and discuss your options and next steps.
Further help and advice can be found in the Guidance Notes and Academic Appeals Policy & Procedure.