How to make an appeal

Appeals to the Standing Committee on Examination Results (SCER)

This information is applicable if you wish to appeal for a review of your result for part of your degree or your final classification. (See the bottom of this page if you wish to request a review of an individual module mark or the outcome of an Extenuating Circumstances Form).

An overview of the appeal process, guidance for students and the form you need to fill in to make an appeal are available to download here:

• Procedures for considering appeals of results (document)
• Flowchart of procedures (PDF - 59KB)
• Appeal of Result form (MS Word - 1 MB)

The deadlines for making an appeal can be found within the Appeal of Result form above.

Appeals for a review of marks

A student who considers that he or she has been awarded an incorrect mark for a module may request that the mark be reviewed, provided that the grounds for the request do not relate to the academic judgement of the Examiners. The procedures relating to students' requests for review of alleged assessment irregularities in relation to module marks are as follows:

(i) A student who wishes to request a review of an alleged assessment irregularity in relation to module marks (or equivalent) should submit the request to the School Director of Teaching and Learning of the School responsible for examining the module in the first instance. The School Director of Teaching and Learning will determine whether the grounds for the request are admissible (i.e. that they do not relate to the academic judgement of the Examiners): if the grounds are admissible, the case will be given substantive consideration; if not, the student will be advised accordingly. If the School Director of Teaching and Learning establishes that there has been an irregularity in relation to the mark, he or she will seek an appropriate amendment of the mark (requesting approval, as appropriate, from the relevant Teaching and Learning Dean (on behalf of the University Progression Board or University Awarding Board) and External Examiners).

(ii) If a student is not satisfied with the response of the School Director of Teaching and Learning, the student may submit the request to the relevant Teaching and Learning Dean, who will determine whether the grounds are admissible: if so, the case will be given substantive consideration; if not, the student will be advised accordingly. In giving a case substantive consideration, the Teaching and Learning Dean is required to investigate the alleged irregularity, and, if there is clear evidence that there has been an irregularity in relation to the mark, he or she is required to ensure that the mark is appropriately amended (seeking approval, as appropriate, from the External Examiners).

(iii) There may, on occasion, be cases where an alleged irregularity relates to the conduct of the University Progression Board or University Awarding Board. In such cases, the student has the right to submit a case for consideration by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), who will investigate the case and, if there is clear evidence that there has been an irregularity in relation to the mark, is required to ensure that the mark is amended (seeking approval, as appropriate, from the External Examiners).

It should be noted that the Senate Standing Committee on Examination Results is responsible for considering requests for the review of results for a Part of a programme or for a Final Examination. Where a student believes that a mark has affected the result for a Part of a programme or for a Final Examination, he or she should apply to the Senate Standing Committee on Examination Results.

Appeal of an Exceptional Circumstances Outcome

You have the right to appeal against a School-level or University Standing Committee on Special Cases decision in respect of an exceptional circumstances request. If you wish to pursue this option, please do the following:

1) Download and complete the EC Appeal Form - Word Version or, if you prefer, here is a PDF version of the form that you can print off to complete by hand and return: EC Appeals Form (PDF Version).

2) Get any official documents or paperwork that you need to support your appeal.

3) Send the form and the documents the Student Appeals and Academic Misconduct Officer (ecfappeals@reading.ac.uk) before the deadline. You were notified of your deadline for appeal in the email which confirmed the outcome of your exceptional circumstances request.