Make an appeal

This page describes the appeals process for:

• taught students, including:
  • undergraduate students
  • postgraduate taught students
• postgraduate research (PGR) students.

Step 1: Check if you can make an appeal

Submit an Early Resolution Service form

Submit an Early Resolution Service form before making a formal appeal.

You should submit the Early Resolution Service form within 14 days of receiving either:

• your exam board outcome
• notification of the Dean's decision in relation to a recommendation from a registration review panel
• notification of a decision of a progression board.

Acceptable reasons for an appeal

You should only appeal if you have valid grounds. Appeals without valid grounds will be dismissed.

There are three different grounds for appeal:

A. Appeals relating to material irregularity

There has been a material irregularity in the decision-making process sufficient to require the decision to be reconsidered. For example, the University has not applied its regulations correctly.

B. Appeals relating to undisclosed exceptional circumstances

Your performance in:

• assessment
• oral examination (PGR students)

has been affected by illness or other factors (exceptional circumstances) which you were unable, for good reason, to disclose:

• before the deadline prior to the Exam Board meeting
• to examiners (PGR students).

Your appeal will need to explain clearly why you could not submit these at the appropriate time.

Taught students should read our guidance on appeals based on undisclosed exceptional circumstances before appealing on this ground.

C. Appeals relating to disproportionate impact

A penalty for academic misconduct was disproportionate or not permitted under regulations.

When you cannot appeal

• You cannot challenge matters of academic judgement. These are decisions that can only be made with the opinion of an academic expert, including decisions about what mark you have been given for a piece of academic work.
• Taught students:
  • In most cases, appeals are not permitted following mid-year exam boards, which take place in January.
  • Submitting exceptional circumstances does not mean your marks will change (except where a late submission penalty has been lifted).

If you are not eligible to make an appeal

If you are not eligible to make an appeal, you may wish to make a complaint.

A complaint is not another way to challenge a decision of the Exam Board or academic judgement.

Step 2: How to make a formal appeal

You should submit your appeal as soon as possible, and not more than 21 days from the date you receive your decision.

1. Organise any supporting documents that you plan to submit alongside your appeal. All supporting documents should be submitted with the appeal form.

   If there is a good reason why you cannot submit supporting documents at the same time as the form, you should submit the form as soon as you can with an explanation of what supporting documents are missing. Do not delay submitting the form.

2. Complete and submit a Student Appeal form.

   You can save a draft of your appeal form and return to submit your appeal at a later point. If you can't access this form, email student-appeals@bristol.ac.uk for help.

Help with making a formal appeal

Bristol SU academic advice

To get help with preparing a formal appeal, use Bristol SU's Academic Advice service. 

You can use the appeal wizard to create a draft form. Then the Academic Advice team will review it and provide advice, including guidance on supporting documents to provide. Their advice is independent, free, and confidential.

Student visa holders

If you are on a student visa, speak to the Student Visa team.

They can explain how the appeal process and outcome might affect your visa status.

If you miss the deadline

If you cannot submit your appeal by the deadline, submit a late appeal request form. If you can't access this form, email student-appeals@bristol.ac.uk for help.

Step 3: What happens after you submit an appeal

1. We will acknowledge receipt of your appeal by email to your University and personal email address. We will contact you if more information is required or if your form is not fully completed.
2. You can check the status of your appeal.
3. You will receive the outcome (with next steps) by email. This usually arrives within 14 days (includes weekends but does not include public holidays in England or University closure days) of submitting your appeal.

If you do not hear the outcome within 14 days, you can contact the Student Resolution Service by email for an update: student-appeals@bristol.ac.uk.

While you wait for your outcome

You must follow the existing decision and complete any work required until you receive the outcome of your appeal. This includes:

• an exam board's decision
• the Dean's decision in relation to a recommendation from a registration review panel, or
• a progression board decision.

Do not assume that your appeal will be successful. It may not be possible to process an appeal against the requirement to complete a supplementary year of study before the start of the next academic year or in time for you to re-join your programme in your original cohort.

Failure to follow the programme outcome that you have been given may affect your progression or award.

Potential appeal outcomes

When making an appeal, you should ensure you are clear on which outcome you are seeking.

After receiving your appeal outcome

The appeal outcome letter will include:

• information on next steps
• how to progress your appeal if you are not satisfied with the outcome.

To read a detailed explanation:

• Taught students: Regulations and code of practice (Section 36)
• Postgraduate research (PGR) students: Regulations and code of practice for research degree programmes (Section 8)

Step 4: If you are not satisfied with the outcome of a formal appeal

You can request a review of the appeal process:

• if you are not satisfied with the outcome of your formal appeal, and
• within 7 days of the formal stage decision. This includes weekends but does not include public holidays in England or University closure days.

More information will be provided in your formal stage outcome letter.

Acceptable reasons for a review

Appeals may proceed to the review stage once the formal appeal process is complete.

To request a review, you must show that one or more of the following grounds apply:

1. New supporting evidence is available that could affect the outcome of your appeal, and you have valid reasons why this was not disclosed at the formal stage.
2. A material irregularity occurred during the formal stage, which means the decision should be reconsidered.

When you cannot request a review

Appeals will not be allowed at the review stage if:

• all of the requested outcomes have been allowed at the formal stage
• the outcomes requested are not allowed under the regulations
• the requested outcome would not have changed your academic outcome, classification, or final award, even if granted.

To read a detailed explanation:

• Taught students: Regulations and code of practice (section 36.8.3)
• PGR students: Regulations and code of practice for research degree programmes (section 8.15).

How to request a review of an appeal

1. Complete the Appeal progression form (Word document).
2. Send it to appeal-progression@bristol.ac.uk.

If you are concerned or worried

Contact the Student Wellbeing Service if you'd like to talk to someone about:

• how you are feeling
• how you might discuss your exam board outcome with your family
• any other worries related to the process.

Regulations and Code of Practice

This process is in accordance with the:

• Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes
• Regulations and Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes