An appeal is a request you can make to the university to ask them to reconsider a decision made by the University Assessment Board. Providing that there is a valid reason. All appeals will be managed confidentially - unless disclosure is needed to progress the appeal. Your appeal may be upheld if there is a valid reason.

 

Submit an Appeal

If you think you have grounds for an appeal the next step is to make the appeal. To do this simply complete the Academic Appeal form including all the relevant information such as the assessment in question, module, and an outline of your grounds for appeal. Alongside this form you must also provide the assessment office with the relevant dated documentary independent evidence.

You must submit your appeal to Assessment@cumbria.ac.uk within ten working days of the publication of your results as any forms submitted outside of this will be deemed invalid and will not be processed

 

What Counts as Evidence?

As evidence must be independently verifiable letters from family members or friends can not normally be accepted. It is important to keep your personal tutor up to date with any adverse personal circumstances that may be affecting your studies. This is because if your circumstances mean that there is no verifiable evidence available your personal tutor may be able to provide a letter of support as evidence on your behalf.

You may also be expected to evidence discussions held with your tutors about possible extensions to deadlines or alternative assessment methods that may have been available at the time of submission.

Other evidence can include;

• Medical certificate - with dates, time frame and a medical opinion about the likelihood of the illness on your ability to study/submit an assessment.
• Hospital/doctor’s letter
• Solicitor’s letter
• Death Certificate

Newspaper articles, copies of internet pages, or photographs will not be considered as verified evidence unless they directly link you the circumstances discussed. Make sure your evidence is factual and as complete as possible when you submit it.

 

Can You Appeal on the Grounds of Extenuating Circumstances?

Yes. if you do this your appeal will first be reviewed by an EC panel. The panel look for an explanation with supporting evidence to explain why you did not submit an EC claim in the appropriate time frame. It is important to note that not knowing about the EC process or not engaging with discussions of possible extensions with the programme teams will not be considered grounds for an appeal.

 

What Other Grounds Can You Make an Appeal On?

Where there has been or could have been material administrative error or regulatory or procedural irregularity which has affected the outcomes (including results) of your results. Where unfair treatment, bias or perception of bias is alleged as part of the assessment or other relevant process which for good reason had not been considered previously under the University Complaints Procedures.

 

Need Support With Submitting an Appeal?

Our UCSU support team is always happy to help and they are experts at helping students make appeals. You can book an appointment with them here: https://www.ucsu.me/support. You can also read more about the appeals process by heading to the university website here.