The Review Stage (Appeal Stage 2)
9. You may request a review of the Stage 1 decision in one or more of the following situations:
• Where you have evidence that the procedures were not properly followed during Stage 1, and that this impacted the decision on your appeal.
• Where you have new, relevant evidence that you can demonstrate you were unable to provider earlier for reasons beyond your control.
• You believe the outcome at Stage 1 was clearly unfair or manifestly unreasonable.
10. You can request a review of the Stage 1 decision by completing the Appeal Review Form: https://forms.office.com/e/sbXRbMkj0H. You should do this within 10 working days of us sending you the Stage 1 outcome. Forms received beyond the 10-working day period will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where you have provided a valid reason, with evidence, for the delay.
11. The Director of Registry Services (or nominee) will determine whether the request is eligible for consideration. The reasons why it may not be eligible are that:
• It is late without a valid reason.
• It does not relate to any of the situations by which a review can be requested.
• It is not supported by new, relevant evidence.
• It is raising new issues not reported in the Stage 1 appeal.
12. A Review Panel meeting will be convened comprising senior managers from academic and professional services areas. No member of the Panel will have had any previous involvement with your case. You will have the opportunity to attend a meeting of the Review Panel if you wish. If you choose to attend, we will:
• Confirm the date of the meeting and the names of those attending no later than two weeks before it is due to take place.
• Provide you with a copy of all the information sent to the Review Panel regarding your appeal.
• Permit you to be accompanied by one other person.
13. The Review Panel’s findings will be reported to you in writing and, where appropriate, will explain any action we will take. The Review Panel’s decision will be final from a university point of view. If you remain dissatisfied with that response, you can apply for a review of your case by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA). We will issue a Completion of Procedures letter which will explain how to do this.
Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA)
14. The OIA is the independent body appointed in the higher education sector to review complaints by students against higher education providers. The OIA will not normally consider a case until the internal procedures of the University have been exhausted and a Completion of Procedures statement is issued. We will issue, or offer, a Completion of Procedures statement at the point that we issue a final decision on your complaint. This will normally be in one of the following scenarios:
• Where your appeal is ruled ineligible for progression at either of the formal stages of the appeals procedure.
• Where we issue the final decision at the review stage of the appeals procedure.
