Academic misconduct appeals

You must have received an email confirming the panel's decision before you can appeal an academic misconduct penalty.

If you want to appeal an exam board outcome instead, see our make an appeal guidance.

Step 1: Check if you can make an appeal

Acceptable reasons for an academic misconduct appeal

You should only appeal an academic misconduct penalty if you have valid grounds (reasons). We will dismiss appeals without valid grounds.

There are two different grounds for appeal:

a. Appeals based on new evidence

You may appeal if you have new supporting evidence that is both:

• relevant to the finding of academic misconduct
• could affect the outcome.

You must also have a good reason for not providing this evidence at the time of the panel.

Important: You cannot appeal with evidence based only on exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances cannot usually reduce or overturn a penalty for academic misconduct in an assessment. A penalty may be reduced or overturned only if your circumstances are so severe that you are judged not to have been responsible for your actions.

b. Appeals based on a significant error in the process

You may appeal if evidence shows a significant error occurred in the process used to reach the decision.

Examples include:

• You were not given the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
• Relevant evidence was not considered.
• The correct procedures were not followed.

When you can appeal

You have 14 days to appeal from the day you receive the outcome of the academic misconduct panel. This includes weekends but not public holidays in England or University closure days.

When you cannot appeal

You cannot challenge matters of academic judgement. This means decisions that can only be made with the opinion of an academic expert, including the decision that academic misconduct occurred.

You cannot appeal just because you disagree with the findings or opinions of an academic misconduct panel.

Step 2: How to make an academic misconduct appeal

You should submit your appeal as soon as possible, and no later than 14 days from the date you receive your academic misconduct panel outcome.

1. Gather any documents that support your appeal. You must submit all supporting documents with your appeal form.

Do not submit documents that relate only to exceptional circumstances unless the circumstances were extremely severe.

2. Complete an academic misconduct appeal form (Office document, 67kB).

3. Email your form and supporting documents to srs-academicintegrity@bristol.ac.uk.

If you have a good reason why you cannot submit supporting documents with your appeal form, submit the form as soon as possible and explain which documents are missing. Do not delay submitting the form.

If you miss the deadline

If you cannot submit your appeal by the deadline, you can request permission to submit a late appeal by completing a late appeal request form.

If you cannot access this form, email srs-academicintegrity@bristol.ac.uk for help.

Help with making a formal appeal

Bristol SU academic advice

For help with preparing an academic misconduct appeal, use Bristol SU's Academic Advice service. This service is independent, free, and confidential.

Step 3: What happens after you submit an appeal

1. Confirmation that we have received your appeal

We will email you to confirm that we have received your appeal. We will also contact you if we need more information or if you have not completed all sections of the appeal form.

2. Appeal outcome

We will email you the outcome within 14 days of submitting your appeal. This includes weekends but does not include public holidays in England or University closure days.

If you have not received the outcome within 14 days, you can email the Student Resolution Service for an update: srs-academicintegrity@bristol.ac.uk.

While you wait for your appeal outcome

While you wait for the outcome of your appeal, you must:

• follow the existing decision of the Exam Board, and
• complete any work you have been asked to do.

After receiving your appeal outcome

The appeal outcome letter will include:

• information on next steps
• how to submit a complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) if you are not satisfied with the outcome. 

Questions

If you have any questions or need help understanding the process, email srs-academicintegrity@bristol.ac.uk.