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If you’re thinking about appealing your results, you’re not alone. You have 10 working days to submit an appeal after your final results are confirmed, and getting started early gives you the best chance of success.
We’ve broken everything down below so you know exactly what to do next. You can also find out more information on the University’s website.
When can I appeal?
You can submit an appeal within 10 working days of receiving your final results (after they’ve been confirmed by the Assessment, Progression, Awarding Committee).
Your deadline is 11:59pm UK time on the tenth working day. For example, if you got your results on 17 Jun, your deadline would be Tue 1 Jul at 11:59pm.
Can I appeal my results?
Yes. Every student has the right to appeal. But appeals are only successful in specific situations.
Before you apply, ask yourself: do I have clear grounds? Can I provide evidence? If you’re unsure, we can talk it through with you.
What can I appeal on?
You can appeal if one (or more) of these apply:
- Something serious affected your performance
This could include being unwell or in hospital, a medical or mental health issue or something unexpected that stopped you completing work or applying for mitigation (you’ll need to explain why this wasn’t shared earlier).
- Something went wrong with the process.
For example, your marks were added up incorrectly, you were given the wrong assessment info or there was an admin error.
- Bias or unfair treatment.
This is harder to prove. You’ll need clear evidence that bias existed before marking and it affected the outcome.
What can’t I appeal?
There are some things the University won’t accept:
- disagreeing with your mark (academic judgement)
- submitting the wrong file or to the wrong place (submitting an assessment responsibilities)
- internet issues causing late submission.
In some cases, these might count if you had serious circumstances at the time, but you’ll need strong evidence. Find further exclusions on the University website.
How do I submit an appeal?
You’ll need to apply through the Student Records System (SRS) or the MyExeter app (More tab). You can find step-by-step guidance on the University appeals pages.
How long does it take?
The University aims to respond within 30 days. If it’s going to take longer, they should let you know.
What evidence do I need?
This depends on your reason for appealing:
Medical or personal circumstances
You’ll usually need evidence from a medical or health professional that:
- confirms what you were experiencing at the time
- explains how this affected your academic performance
- explains why you couldn’t submit or use mitigation (if relevant)
This could be from a:
- GP
- therapist or psychotherapist
- other qualified health professional
You can also include evidence from Wellbeing Services and the Education Welfare Team if they were aware of your situation at the time.
Your evidence should:
- be on headed paper
- be in English (or officially translated)
- be independent (not from family or friends)
- be verifiable
If you’ve used mitigation before, you’ll also need to explain why this situation was different.
Procedural issues
You should include:
- the relevant University procedure (see the TQA Manual)
- a clear explanation of what went wrong
- evidence showing how this affected you
It helps to highlight the exact part of the procedure that wasn’t followed.
Bias or prejudice
You’ll need strong, specific evidence showing:
- bias existed before marking
- it may have affected your results
This could include:
- email exchanges
- written communication
- statements from others who witnessed the issue
You’ll also need to show how this carried through to the final decision, as marks are reviewed before being confirmed.
Can appealing make things worse?
Appealing won’t count against you, but outcomes can change. Your mark could go up, stay the same, or go down. A resit doesn’t guarantee a higher mark.
What outcomes can I ask for?
You can’t ask for extra marks, but you can ask for things like:
- an uncapped resit
- removal of a late penalty
- a reassessment
- a recalculation of your degree
- a different marker (with evidence of bias)
Can we make a group appeal?
Yes. Appeals are usually made individually, but you can submit a group appeal.
One person will need to act as the group spokesperson, and all students involved must agree to the appeal and sign it.
Will my information be kept confidential?
Yes. Your information will be treated sensitively and confidentially. We know you might need to share personal or sensitive details as part of your appeal. The University will handle this carefully, and your information won’t be shared as standard.
In some cases, limited information may need to be shared to properly review your appeal. For example, with the Mitigation Team to check whether you engaged with mitigation. When this happens, only the necessary information is shared, and it’s always done with care and respect.
What if my appeal isn’t successful?
You can take it further. You have 10 working days to submit a Review Stage Appeal. You’ll need to apply through the Student Records System (SRS) or the MyExeter app (More tab). You can find step-by-step guidance on the University appeals pages.
Your review must be based on one of the following:
- new material circumstances that couldn’t reasonably have been shared earlier
- evidence that something went wrong during the original appeal process
- evidence of bias during the original appeal process
- the decision made was unreasonable based on the information available
You’ll need to provide new evidence or information that wasn’t included in your original appeal. It’s important to clearly explain:
- what this new evidence is
- why you couldn’t provide it earlier
Will this affect my graduation?
This depends on your results and award. In some cases, you may still be able to graduate with credits outstanding if you’ve met the required threshold. Check out the FAQs for more information.
An active appeal won’t stop you graduating, your results stay the same unless your appeal is upheld.
If your appeal is successful, you’ll be given a new outcome and can choose whether to accept it. If you’re unsure what this means for you, contact your Hub or get in touch with us and we’ll help you figure out your options.
What about my visa or finances?
For visa questions, contact the International Student Support Team. For money worries, check undergraduate finance support, postgraduate finance support or international finance support.
How we can support you?
We know appeals can feel overwhelming; you don’t have to do this on your own. Our Advice Team can:
- review your appeal and evidence
- give feedback (up to two times, depending on demand)
- help you understand your options
We can’t write your appeal for you, but we’ll help you get it into the best shape possible.
How should I write my appeal?
- write in clear paragraphs
- keep your timeline clear and in order
- explain exactly how things affected your studies
- only include relevant evidence
- link your evidence clearly to your points
- tell the Faculty Case team if your evidence will arrive late
How do I get help from the Guild?
If you want support, complete our enquiry form as soon as possible. If you contact us within 2–3 working days of your deadline, we may not be able to review everything in detail, so don’t leave it last minute.
Who else can I go to for support?
If this is affecting your wellbeing, you don’t have to deal with it on your own. Your Education Welfare Advisor can support you if your mental or physical health is affecting your studies or if studying is affecting your health. They may also be able to provide evidence for your appeal, but this is at their discretion.
The University’s Wellbeing Services can support you with your mental and emotional wellbeing during this time. You can also access urgent and out of hours wellbeing support if you need help straight away.
We’ve got your back. Whether you’re ready to appeal or just figuring things out, we’re here to help you make the right call for you.
