Q: What is a decision of the Board of Examiners?

A: This is a decision which affects your ability to progress to the next year of study. This includes the following decisions:

* Summer reassessment (during August & September)

* Repeat the year (on the same or a new course)

* Reassessment without attendance

* Repeat failed modules part-time

* Proceed to the next stage carrying failed credits (if rules of assessment permit)

* Leave with an exit award of Certificate/Diploma of Higher Education (depending on number of credits attempted & passed)

* Withdraw from the University

For Final year or postgraduate taught students who have passed all modules the Decision of the Board of examiners will include what degree class you graduate with.

Further information: https://www1.essex.ac.uk/students/exams-and-coursework/ppg/ug/outcomes.aspx

Q: What can I appeal against?

A: You can appeal against:

The decision of the Board of Examiners

The decision of the Dean or Progress Committee

A penalty imposed under the Academic Offences Procedure

Q: What are some of legitimate grounds for appeal?

A: The main legitimate grounds for appeal are the following:

(i) Extenuating circumstances of which the Board of Examiners was unaware and of which the student could not reasonably have been expected to inform the Board of Examiners in advance, of such a nature as to cause reasonable doubt as to whether the result might have been different had they not occurred.

(ii) Procedural irregularities in the conduct of the Board of Examiners (including alleged administrative error) of such a nature as to cause reasonable doubt as to whether the result might have been different had they not occurred.

(iii) Other grounds will be considered on their merits.

Q: On what grounds might my appeal be rejected?

A: The following are not considered legitimate grounds on which to appeal, and any appeals based exclusively on one or more of these grounds will be rejected automatically:

i) Disagreement with a mark or grade and/or appeals against the academic judgement of internal or external examiners. Coursework and examinations cannot be remarked, except in cases of procedural irregularities.

ii) Any provisional mark or informal assessment of the student’s work by a member of staff that is not the final mark approved by the Board of Examiners.

iii) The retrospective reporting of extenuating circumstances which a student might reasonably have been expected to disclose to the Board of Examiners before their meeting.

iv) Appeals against the judgement of the Board of Examiners in assessing the significance of extenuating circumstances, and whether and to what extent they affected academic performance.

v) Marginal failure to attain a higher class of degree.

vi) Appeals where the grounds of complaint concern the inadequacy of teaching or other arrangements during the period of study; such complaints must be raised, in writing, before the examination board meets

Q. What is the appeals process?

A: You will need to submit an appeals form detailing what grounds you are appealing on, the reasons for your appeal and what outcome you are seeking. Once you have submitted the form, if you are appealing a progression decision your appeal will be considered by the Dean initially; the Dean has the power to overturn an Exam Board decision. If the Dean does not change the decision, the formal appeals procedure will then be followed if you decide to pursue it further.

You must submit your appeal within 10 working days of the publication of your exam results online.

Q. What can I do if I am not happy with the appeals outcome?

A: If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the appeal, you may request an internal review on the following grounds:

a. procedural irregularity in the appeals process

b. consideration of whether the outcome was reasonable given all the circumstances

c. that new material evidence is now available which the student was unable, for valid reasons, to provide earlier in the process.

The review stage will not normally consider the issues afresh or involve further investigation

Q. Where can I find more information and the appeals forms?

https://www1.essex.ac.uk/students/exams-and-coursework/ppg/ug/appeals.aspx