10.1.4 Grounds for Appeal

1. Appeals will only be considered if they are based on one or more of the following grounds and are accompanied by supporting evidence that was not available to be presented for consideration by the relevant Examination Board, or the relevant academic department considering a student’s academic progress under the Academic Regulation on Academic Progress:

(i) exceptional extenuating circumstances which have had an adverse effect on the student’s academic performance. Where a student could have reported exceptional circumstances prior to

(a) the release of their examination results
or
(b) exclusion

those circumstances cannot subsequently be cited as grounds for appeal.

(ii) defects or irregularities in the conduct of the assessments, or in written instructions provided, or in advice given, which could have had an adverse effect on the student’s performance. Where a student could have reported defects or irregularities prior to

(a) the release of their examination results
or
(b) exclusion

those circumstances cannot subsequently be cited as grounds for appeal.

(iii) evidence of prejudice, or of bias, or of inadequate assessment on the part of one or more of the examiners, or evidence of prejudice or bias on part of the person(s) administering the Academic Regulation on Academic Progress. Where a student could have evidenced prejudice, bias or inadequate assessment prior to

(a) the release of their examination result
or
(b) exclusion

those circumstances cannot subsequently be cited as grounds for appeal.

2. An appeal will only be considered if the student can provide good reasons why the grounds for appeal had not previously been made known to their academic department and/or were not made known to the relevant Examination Board.

3. Exceptional extenuating circumstances (whether relating to University issues, personal or medical problems or any other issue), which were not submitted to the student’s academic department by the due date may only be considered as grounds for appeal in the most exceptional circumstances (for instance where the student was unable to disclose the circumstances in advance because of a medical condition that had prevented them from doing so).

4. Although the University permits the submission of extenuating circumstances and corroborative evidence under confidential cover, the fact that a student did not wish to disclose personal information will not normally be considered as an exceptional circumstance. Students would need to provide evidence to support the reason they give for not submitting this evidence ahead of the relevant Examination Board, or upon the request of their academic department or Faculty under the Academic Regulation on Academic Progress. In cases where good reason for late or non-submission is not established, the appeal will not be considered further.

5. Any ground(s) upon which a student wishes to base their appeal must be accompanied by additional corroborative evidence that has not already been submitted for consideration, and which clearly demonstrates how it affected their performance. This must be dated at the time the student was affected by the circumstance(s), or, if dated later, it must be clear that the person certifying the circumstances was in a position to verify them at the time they occurred.

6. The following are not considered to be special circumstances and will therefore not be considered at the point of appeal:

(i) problems with computers or printing

(ii) lack of access to resources

(iii) illness for which no medical evidence is available

(iv) more than one assessment deadline on the same day

(v) inability to answer questions or struggling with material

(vi) crisis games, performance productions, departmental study trips

(vii) non-academic activities (e.g. military training).

7. Guidelines on special circumstances and acceptable documentary evidence can be found at: Assessment of Taught Schemes: Academic Registry, Aberystwyth University.

8. Appeals that fail to meet any of the above criteria will be rejected and will not be considered by the Academic Appeal Panel. The student will be informed of this by the Academic Registry.

9. Appeals based on the following grounds will be rejected immediately:

(i) appeals questioning academic judgement. For the purposes of this procedure, academic judgement is the decision made by academic staff on the quality of the work itself or the criteria being applied to assess the work. Through a variety of means including staff appointment, induction and training procedures, anonymous marking and internal and external moderation, the University ensures that academic judgements are sound. Students are encouraged to seek feedback on their marks from the relevant academic staff

(ii) appeals based on factors which were already known to the University and/or Examination Board concerned when the decision regarding the student’s performance was determined

(iii) appeals based on disappointment or dissatisfaction with results. Students who suspect that an error may have occurred in relation to the transcription of marks should raise the matter directly and in writing with their academic department in the first instance

(iv) appeals based on a student’s inability to familiarise themselves with the requirements of their courses regarding attendance, the submission of work and methods of assessment

(v) the University will not consider appeals based on information or circumstances about which the student had not informed their academic department because they claimed they did not know they should report special circumstances; they did not think the special circumstances would affect their performance at the time; or they did not mention the circumstances at the time, due to embarrassment and/or shyness.