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Academic appeals

Through the University's Academic Appeal Procedure, we aim to investigate concerns and resolve effectively, fairly and transparently against academic decisions made by the University. The Procedure is used when concerns are expressed in relation to any of the following areas, following receipt of a formal assessment outcome:

Taught Students:

  1. a decision to terminate studies or to require a student to withdraw from their programme of study
  2. the outcome of an examination, assessment or placement
  3. a decision not to make an award
  4. the classification of the award received

Postgraduate Researchers:

  1. a decision to terminate studies, to require a researcher to withdraw from their candidature or to recommend transfer to MPhil candidature
  2. the outcome of an examination, assessment or placement
  3. a decision to refer a research degree submission
  4. the award received

Students considering making an appeal are encouraged, in the first instance, to contact their School to make sure that they understand the assessment decision that has been published and/or the feedback they have received.

Taught Students Academic Appeals Procedure 2025-26 (docx), File Download Taught Students Academic Appeals Procedure 2025-26 (pdf), File Download

Make a formal Academic Appeal

Our Case Creator tool will help you build and submit your case or just explore whether we can accept your academic appeal. Once submitted you will receive an acknowledgement and further information about how an academic appeal is considered and progressed.

An academic appeal must be submitted within 20 working days of publication of your formal assessment results.

Case Creator

 

If you wish and before you start, you can view the list of questions that we’ll ask you.

If you can't log in to access the Case Creator or need an alternative, more accessible, format please contact the Student Cases team at [email protected].

Supporting Information

The onus is on you (the student) to present sufficient supporting information for your case and only what is relevant to your grounds of appeal.

You must provide all the supporting information that you consider most relevant to your case, within two weeks of submitting your case via our Case Creator. Any information not provided at this stage may not be considered when we make a decision.

A list of potential supporting information is provided below. This list is not exhaustive. Please note that where evidence is not in English, an official translation must also be provided, we cannot accept or review evidence which has not been translated into English.

Academic Appeal cases:

  • A brief summary of your key points – explain why you are requesting an academic appeal
  • Your desired outcome
  • Copies of relevant email correspondence
  • Social media chat or text message screenshots
  • Photographs
  • Video or audio recordings – The university will not accept covert recordings as supporting information. Please note that secretly recording people is not advisable, and may violate privacy rights. Secret recording could result in a breach of the University’s Conduct Regulations. If you feel the need to record, it’s best to ask for permission first.
  • CCTV footage.
  • Medical evidence (GP fit notes, appointment notices, medical letters etc).
  • Supporting statement from a friend, religious leader etc to verify your circumstances, if applicable.
  • Timeline – particularly useful for Postgraduate Research appeals, to understand the chronology of events

It is important to make sure the original date and time is visible on items you wish to submit in support of your academic appeal so we can understand how this relates to your assessment(s) and circumstances.

If you need support in preparing your academic appeal you can seek independent advice from Leeds University Union Advice.

 

Guidance and support for students

Free, confidential and independent advice on the academic appeals process is available from the Leeds University Union.

Student visa holders are also advised to seek advice from the Visa Advice Service.

Procedural advice is available on the Student Cases Website and from [email protected] if you have any further questions.