Submitting an academic appeal
An appeal is a challenge to a decision by an academic body that makes decisions on student progress, assessment, or awards. A full list of these academic bodies can be found within the Appeals Policy. Most typically, appeals relate to decisions of Assessment Boards, Exceptional Circumstances Panels, and Academic Conduct Review Panels.
Grounds and timescales
You can appeal an academic decision if you believe:
- we have not applied our regulations, policies or procedures correctly, and/or
- there is relevant new information or evidence that you did not provide, and you have a valid reason why you did not submit it at the time
We expect appeals to be submitted within 10 working days (two weeks) from the date of the decision being appealed. If you need a little longer, please contact appealsandcomplaints@shu.ac.uk to request this. Appeals submitted outside this timescale without an agreed extension will not normally be considered unless there is a valid reason for the late submission.
Submitting the appeal
You can submit an appeal by completing a Student Concerns Form. Please visit the link below to access this form.
Appeals and Complaints | Sheffield Hallam University (shu.ac.uk)
The questions on the concerns form have been designed to provide us with the information we need to respond to your appeal as quickly as possible. Please answer all the questions asked therefore and submit evidence where appropriate. This will prevent any unnecessary delays caused by having to go back to you for the missing information.
What happens next
Your concerns form will be triaged within a few days of it arriving. We will write to you if we cannot consider it further due to it being submitted late or without valid grounds. Otherwise, the issues raised will be investigated and considered by the Appeals Panel.
The Chair of the Appeals Panel will write to you with its decision on your appeal. We aim to conclude all cases within 60 working days although we are generally able to do so much sooner than that. Where necessary, we will prioritise cases where the decision being appealed affects your ability to remain on the course, progress to the next level of study, or to graduate.
If you are dissatisfied with the response to your appeal, you can challenge this at Stage 2 of the appeals process. If you remain dissatisfied after that, you can apply to the external Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education for a review of your case. Details about how to escalate your complaint will be provided in the decision letters.
If you require any help or advice regarding an appeal, you can contact:
Hallam Help
Students’ Union Advice Centre
Submitting a complaint
A complaint is a concern raised by one or more of our enrolled students about teaching or service-related matters.
Grounds and timescales
We will consider a complaint if it has been raised within the academic year in which the concerns occurred. Complaints raised outside the academic year in which they occurred will not be considered unless there are valid reasons why they could not have been raised sooner.
Concerns by former students will be considered up to three months after them ceasing to be a student.
Submitting the complaint
You can submit a complaint by completing a Student Concerns Form. Please visit the link below to access this form.
Appeals and Complaints | Sheffield Hallam University (shu.ac.uk)
The questions on the concerns form have been designed to provide us with the information we need to respond to your complaint as quickly as possible. Please answer all the questions asked therefore and submit evidence where appropriate. This will prevent any unnecessary delays caused by having to go back to you for the missing information.
What happens next
Your concerns form will be triaged within a few days of it arriving. We will normally contact you within 10 working days (two weeks) to let you know how it will be taken forward. This could include it being referred to the formal complaints process for investigation r a suggestion about how your concerns may be resolved quickly outside of the formal process.
The Head of Student Policy, Casework and Compliance will write to you with their decision on your complaint. This will include an explanation of any redress or remedial action where appropriate and necessary.
We aim to conclude all cases within 60 working days and the investigator will keep you informed about progress. Where necessary, we will prioritise cases where the decision being appealed affects ability to remain on the course, progress to the next level of study, or to graduate.
If you are dissatisfied with the response to your complaint, you can challenge this at Stage 2 of the complaints process. If you remain dissatisfied after that, you can apply to the external Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education for a review of your case. Details about how to escalate your complaint will be provided in the decision letters.
If you require any help or advice regarding a complaint, you can contact:
Hallam Help
Students’ Union Advice Centre