SMS MSc Student Handbook 2020/2021 (Jan 2021 Start)
13. Appeals and Complaints
An academic appeal is a request to review a decision about progression, assessment or award. Before you submit an appeal please speak to the School of Mathematical Sciences about the decision you wish to appeal as many issues can be resolved without the need for an appeal. The School of Mathematical Sciences will be able to provide you with feedback on your marks, or degree classification. Please note that appeals cannot provide feedback on academic work. Appeals against academic judgment are not permitted, this means you cannot appeal simply because you think the mark you have received is too low.
There are two grounds for appeal:
- procedural error: Where the process leading to the decision being appealed against was not conducted in accordance with Queen Mary’s procedure, such that there is reasonable doubt as to whether the outcome might have been different had the error not occurred. Procedural error shall include alleged administrative or clerical error, and bias in the operation of the procedure.
- that exceptional circumstances, illness, or other relevant factors were not made known at the time for good reason, or were not properly taken into account.
An appeal must be submitted within 14 days of the notification of the decision you want to appeal and should be submitted from your Queen Mary email to appeals@qmul.ac.uk.
Further information about how to appeal
and the appeal form can be found on the Queen Mary website: http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/students/student-appeals/appeals/index.html.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your appeal you may submit a Final Review to the Principal’s nominee. Once a Final Review is complete you will be sent a Completion of Procedures letter which outlines the final decision of Queen Mary and the reasons for the decision.
Complaints
Before submitting a complaint you are advised to speak to a member of staff in the School of Mathematical Sciences as most issues can be resolved informally without the need for a formal complaint.
If your issue it not resolved through the informal process then you will need to complete the Stage 1 complaint form and submit this to the School of Mathematical Sciences for investigation under the Student Complaints Policy:
http://www.arcs.qmul.ac.uk/students/student-appeals/complaints/index.html.
Most complaints are resolved at Stage 1 but if your matter is still not resolved then there are two further stages to the policy, which are the institutional level and review stage.
When the complaint process is finished you will be issued with a Completion of Procedures letter explaining the final decision and the reasons for it.
Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA)
If you are unhappy with the outcome of an appeal or complaint then you may submit a complaint to the OIA within 12 (twelve) months of receiving your Completion of Procedures letter. The OIA is the independent body set up to review student complaints and is free to students. For further information regarding the OIA please visit their website: http://www.oiahe.org.uk/