Academic Appeals

An Academic Appeal is a request for the University to reconsider a decision made by a Board of Examiners. This may include decisions about progression, reassessment, awards, classifications or other academic outcomes. 

Before submitting an appeal, please read the Academic Appeals Procedure. 

Important to Know Before You Appeal 

You can only appeal a Board of Examiners decision 

An Academic Appeal can only be submitted after a Board of Examiners has met and made a formal decision about your academic outcome. Module marks are often released before a Board of Examiners meets, on Blackboard. These marks are provisional and remain subject to confirmation by the Board. 

If you have concerns about a mark before it has been ratified by a Board of Examiners, you should raise these concerns with the Module Organiser or your School as soon as possible. In many cases, concerns can be clarified or resolved before the Board meets. 

You cannot submit an Academic Appeal against a provisional mark. 

There are strict time limits 

Academic Appeals must normally be submitted within 20 working days of the formal decision being communicated to you. Appeals submitted outside this timeframe will only be considered where there is a compelling reason for the delay. 

If you are submitting an appeal after the deadline, you must: 

• explain why you were unable to submit your appeal within 20 working days; 

• provide any evidence you may have to support your explanation; and 

• demonstrate why it was not reasonably possible for you to submit earlier. 

Examples of evidence may include medical evidence, hospital records or other independent documentation. Being unaware of the procedure or time limit is not normally considered sufficient reason for accepting a late appeal. 

Grounds for Academic Appeal 

You cannot appeal because you disagree with the academic judgement of examiners. This means you cannot appeal solely because you expected a higher mark, you disagree with feedback or you believe your work deserved a higher grade. 

Academic Appeals can normally only be submitted on one or more of the following grounds: 

Errors of fact 

You believe that an arithmetic, administrative or factual error affected the outcome of the Board of Examiners.  

Exceptional personal circumstances 

Exceptional personal circumstances adversely affected your academic performance. These circumstances should normally have been reported before the Board of Examiners met. 

If they were not reported at the time, you will need to explain why and provide supporting evidence if you have it. 

Procedural irregularities 

There was a defect or irregularity in the conduct of the assessment, or in written instructions or advice relating to the assessment, which adversely affected your academic performance. 

Before You Submit an Appeal 

• Ask yourself the following questions: 
• Has my mark been ratified/formalised by a Board of Examiners? (Your Personal Tutor can help you answer this question). 
• Am I within 20 working days of receiving the decision? 
• Am I appealing on one of the permitted grounds? 
• Do I have evidence to support my appeal? 
• Have I read the Academic Appeals Procedure? 

If the answer to any of these questions is no, your appeal may not be accepted. 

How the Appeals Process Works 

Stage 1: Academic Appeal 

Submit your appeal by completing the dedicated form on the Student Casework Helpdesk portal. 

You should clearly explain: 

• the grounds for your appeal; 

• which decision you are appealing; 

• what evidence you are relying upon; and 

• what outcome you are seeking. 

Supporting evidence should be uploaded at the time of submission. 

Stage 2: Review 

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your Academic Appeal, you may be able to request a review. Requests for review are also made through the Student Casework Helpdesk. 

A review is not an opportunity to repeat the original appeal or submit the same arguments again. 

A review should explain why you believe there was a procedural error in the way the appeal was considered or why new evidence should be taken into account. 

Review requests must normally be submitted within 10 working days of receiving the appeal outcome. 

Former Students 

Former students may still be able to submit an Academic Appeal where the appeal relates to a decision made whilst they were registered as a student. 

As former students will not normally have access to the Student Casework Helpdesk, they should contact the Student Casework Team by emailing studentcases@bangor.ac.uk 

Former students remain subject to the same deadlines and requirements as current students. 

Accessibility and Support 

The University is committed to ensuring that all students can participate fairly in the appeals process. If a disability, health condition, mental health condition or other personal circumstance affects your ability to engage with the process, please let us know as early as possible so that reasonable adjustments can be considered. 

Students may also seek support from Undeb Bangor, the Student’s Union. Personal and Senior Tutors and the Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service.  

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I appeal a mark as soon as it is released? 

You may only appeal a decision made by a Board of Examiners. Marks released before a Board has met are provisional. 

If you have concerns about a mark before it has been ratified, you should discuss these with the Module Organiser or School in the first instance. 

I think my mark is unfair. Can I appeal? 

You cannot appeal against academic judgement. This means you cannot appeal because you disagree with the mark awarded or believe your work deserved a higher grade. You can only appeal if you have grounds to. 

What is academic judgement? 

Academic judgement includes decisions made by academic staff about the quality of academic work, the mark awarded and/or whether academic standards have been met. 

The Academic Appeals Procedure cannot be used to challenge these decisions. 

I missed the 20-working day deadline. Can I still appeal? 

Possibly. You will need to explain why you were unable to submit your appeal on time and provide supporting evidence. Appeals submitted outside the deadline will only be accepted where there is a compelling reason for the delay.  

What evidence should I provide? 

This depends on your appeal grounds. 

Examples may include medical evidence, counselling or wellbeing evidence, correspondence with the University, supporting statements and/or evidence of procedural irregularities. 

The stronger and more independent the evidence, the easier it will be for the University to consider your appeal. 

Can my parent or guardian submit an appeal for me? 

The University recognises that parents, guardians and supporters often play an important role in supporting students. However, the University's relationship is with the student, therefore we normally expect students to engage directly with the appeals process themselves. 

If you would like a parent, guardian or other supporter to be involved, you should provide written permission when you make your appeal or contact the Student Casework by emailing studentcases@bangor.ac.uk. The University may then share information or include them in correspondence where appropriate. 

The appeal will remain the student's appeal and the University may communicate directly with the student throughout the process. 

I have a disability or health condition. Can I receive support? 

Yes. Students who require support or reasonable adjustments are encouraged to contact the Student Casework Team by emailing studentcases@bangor.ac.uk as early as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be considered. 

What happens if my appeal is successful? 

The outcome will depend on the circumstances of the case. Possible outcomes may include reconsideration by a Board of Examiners, correction of an error, or other appropriate remedies under the Academic Appeals Procedure.