Registry

Purpose

If a Review Sub-Committee has considered your case but you wish to to dispute its decision you may (if you meet the Grounds below) submit an Academic Review Appeal.

Grounds

You must demonstrate that there were procedural irregularities in the conduct of the Review Sub-Committee and/or there is substantial and relevant new evidence that has not been previously considered during the academic review process (as outlined in Regulation 17 of the University Regulations).

You should note that dissatisfaction with a mark or set of marks, or any other aspect of the properly exercised academic judgement of the examiners is not valid grounds for an academic review or review appeal.

Process

You must write to the University Secretary within 14 days of receipt of notification of the decision of the Review Sub-Committee.

Copies of the original request for an academic review should be submitted to the University Secretary within the 14 day deadline, including any supporting documentation. You should also append a further written statement explaining the reasons why you consider the decision of the Review Sub-Committee to be flawed. If you wish to supply any new or additional information that you had not previously disclosed during the academic review process, you should explain clearly both its relevance to your case and the reasons why it was impossible to disclose the information at an earlier stage.

You will be sent an acknowledgement that your appeal against the outcome of an Academic Review has been received. It will be considered by the University Secretary, who will decide from the information provided by you and by your Faculty or School whether to reject the appeal or to convene a Student Academic Appeals Committee.

You will be notified in writing of the University Secretary’s decision. If a Student Academic Appeals Committee is to be convened you will be contacted directly regarding the date of the Committee hearing. Further information about the Student Academic Appeals Committee can be found in Statute 28 of the Standing Orders of Senate.

Both the decision by that Committee, and the decision by the University Secretary not to convene a Student Academic Appeals Committee, is final and may only be disputed through the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), which is an independent body set up to review student complaints. The written notification of the outcome of the Academic Review Appeal request will formally confirm that the University’s internal procedures have been completed and will contain contact information for the OIA.

Flowchart showing the Academic Review Appeals process

Your request for an academic review appeal must be submitted in full within 14 days of notification of a decision by the Review Sub-Committee.

Please send your request and supporting documentation to:

Office of the University Secretary 
University of Bath
Bath, BA2 7AY
universitysec@bath.ac.uk

Advice

The Students' Union Advice and Representation Centre provides guidance and offers support to students throughout the Academic Review Process.

Procedures and Regulations

• Academic Review Form
  (.pdf version)
  (.doc Word version)
• University regulations
• Regulation 17 covers academic reviews and review appraisals.
• QA35 - the University's quality assurance code of practice covering Assessment Procedures for students on non-NFA programmes.
• New Framework for Assessment: Assessment Regulations (NFA)

Links to Further Sources of Support

You are encouraged to seek advice and support when considering the Academic Review process. Support is available from:

• The Students' Union Advice and Representation Centre which provides guidance and support to students in connection with academic reviews and assessment offences.
• The Director of Studies for your programme.
• Your personal tutor.

Additional support in respect of your welfare is available from Student Services.

Additional information

• Flowchart showing the Academic Review Appeals process
• What are Individual Mitigating Circumstances?
• Summary information for students about Individual Mitigating Circumstances and assessment
• University Secretary’s Office - The University Secretary oversees compliance with relevant legislation, University policies and governance structures.
• The Office of the Independent Adjudicator - The OIA is an independent body, external to the University, set up to review student complaints.