The University of Sheffield
Complaints and Appeals Procedures

Quick Reference Grid

The summary below gives detailed information on the Complaints and Appeals Procedures available to students. Before taking any of the actions listed below (for example, if you are making an academic appeal), you are asked to read the guidance notes in the relevant section, so that you fully understand the procedure to be followed.

Please fill in all sections of the relevant form, keeping a copy of it and any other material you are planning to submit in support of your case (for example, correspondence or a list of dates when events occurred).

If you plan to consult the Student Advice Centre, please do so as soon as possible before submitting any forms, taking with you copies of all documents relating to your case and any notes or draft statements you may have already prepared.

Academic Appeals Appeals Committee of the Senate
Complaints Procedure Disciplinary Appeals
External Review Fitness to Practise
Harassment and Bullying Library Appeals Procedure

Academic Appeals

Purpose To allow students to apply for a reconsideration of a recommended grade for any module or degree classification or examination.  
Grounds The student needs to be able to show that either there has been a procedural error or that there is new evidence concerning mitigating circumstances that was not made available to the examiners and that it could not have been produced at an earlier stage.

Appeals will not be considered against the academic judgement of the examiners or in respect of the quality of teaching or supervision prior to the examination unless the student could not reasonably have been expected to have made this a subject of a complaint before the examination.		  
Process The student must apply in writing within 14 working days of the publication of the exam results using the Academic Appeals Form below (28 working days for a graduate research student). The appeal will then be considered by the appropriate Faculty Officer. If they find that there is a prima facie case they will either determine that the appeal be upheld or refer the matter to an Academic Appeals Committee where it will be dealt with in accordance with the established Procedures (involving a reopening of the issues originally dealt with by the Examiners).  
Contact Taught Programmes Office  
Advice for Students The Student Advice Centre can advise a student on their position. Student Advice Centre
Regulations General Regulations relating to Academic Appeals  
Procedures Procedures for the Conduct of Appeals  
Downloads Academic Appeals Report Form (WORD 42.5KB) Academic Appeals Report Form (PDF 114KB)
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Appeals Committee of the Senate (Progress of Students)

Purpose The Progress of Students Regulations allow a student to appeal, on specified grounds, against a decision of the Faculty Student Review Committee to the Appeals Committee of the Senate.  
Grounds A student may only appeal against a decision of the Committee upon one or more of the following grounds:-

(a) that there was a material procedural irregularity which rendered the process leading to the initial decision unfair;

(b) that material which the student could not reasonably have been expected to produce at the time of the initial decision casts substantial doubt upon the appropriateness of that decision;

(c) that the initial decision was manifestly unreasonable.		  
Process The student should apply in writing within 14 working days of receiving their decision letter, for their case to be considered by the Appeals Committee of the Senate in accordance with the established Procedures. The Committee may confirm, quash or vary the original decision but has no power to vary any decision made by the Examiners.  
Contact Taught Programmes Office Research Degree Programmes
Advice for Students The Student Advice Centre can advise a student on their position. Student Advice Centre
Regulations General Regulations as to Progress of Students  
Procedures Academic Progress of Students  
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Complaints Procedure

Purpose For informal or formal complaints about the delivery and quality of services received, or about the delivery and quality of teaching, tutorial support, supervisory provision or any other matters relating to a programme of study.  
Grounds This procedure can be used for any complaint except those matters for which a separate procedure exists (see elsewhere in this table).  
Process Having first attempted to resolve matters informally, a student can complete a complaints form (see downloads below), and send it to the address shown on the form. The complaint is considered first by the head of the appropriate department or service (unless the complaint relates to that individual). If it is not resolved at that stage, a student can then submit a further, second stage, complaints form which will be referred by a nominee of the Registrar and Secretary to the appropriate Faculty Officer or other person.

If a student is still not satisfied with a decision taken in respect of a complaint or appeal, they may submit a Case Review Form requesting that their case be reviewed by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor.		  
Contact

Complaints

Taught Programmes Office

Case Review

Student Conduct and Appeals Office

(Liz Buckton)
Advice for Students The Student Advice Centre can advise a student on their position. Student Advice Centre
Procedure Student Complaints Procedure Case Review Panel Procedure (WORD 37KB)
Downloads

Complaints Form (WORD 36.5KB)

Complaints Form (PDF 139KB)

Case Review Request Form (WORD 40.5KB)

Case Review Request Form (PDF 125KB)
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Disciplinary Appeals

Purpose The Discipline Regulations allow students to appeal, on specified grounds, against a decision made in line with any of the disciplinary procedures under those Regulations.  
Grounds The student may appeal on the grounds that:-

(a) there was a material procedural irregularity which rendered the process leading to the original decision unfair;

(b) that the penalty imposed was too severe as being disproportionate to the charge; or

(c) that material of which the student could not reasonably have been expected to be aware at the time of the original decision casts substantial doubt upon the correctness of that decision.		  
Process The student should write to the Director of Student Services within 14 working days of notification of the decision of the Discipline Committee or the Director of Accommodation and Commercial Services (ACS). The Director of Student Services may refer the case to the Disciplinary Appeals Committee of the Senate which may confirm, vary or quash the original decision, or refer the matter back for a rehearing by a differently constituted Discipline Committee.  
Contact The Secretary to the Discipline Committee is Liz Buckton, who can give guidance on aspects of the Discipline Regulations.  
Advice for Students The Student Advice Centre can advise a student on their position. Student Advice Centre
Regulations Regulations as to the Discipline of Students  
Procedure Notes on the Procedures relating
to the Discipline of Students Regulations		 Unfair Means Guidance
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External Review

Process If recourse to the University's internal procedures has not resulted in the resolution of a complaint or appeal to a student's satisfaction, (ie the internal procedures have been exhausted), the student may wish to consider pursuing their complaint with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA).  
Procedures Once internal procedures have been exhausted, the University will issue the student with a completion of procedures letter. Once they are in possession of this letter, the student may submit their complaint to the OIA via a complaint form (which must be received by the OIA within three months of the completion of procedures letter).  
Advice for Students The Student Advice Centre can advise a student on this process. Student Advice Centre
Website Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA)  
Downloads OIA Complaint Form  
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Fitness to Practise

Purpose The Fitness to Practise Regulations (which only apply to specific programmes of study) allow a student to appeal against a decision of the Faculty Fitness to Practise Committee to the Appeals Committee Of the Senate, on specified grounds.  
Grounds The student may appeal on the grounds that: there was a material procedural irregularity which rendered the process leading to the initial decision unfair; that material of which the student could not reasonably have been expected to have been aware of at the time of the initial decision casts substantial doubt upon the appropriateness of that decision; that the initial decision was manifestly unreasonable.  
Process The student should apply in writing within 14 working days of receiving their decision letter, for their case to be considered by the Appeals Committee of the Senate in accordance with the established Procedures. The Committee may confirm, quash or vary the original decision but has no power to vary any decision made by the Examiners.  
Contact Taught Programmes Office  
Advice for Students The Student Advice Centre can advise a student on their position. Student Advice Centre
Regulations General Regulations relating to Student Fitness to Practise  
Procedures Fitness to Practise  
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Harassment and Bullying

Purpose The University of Sheffield is committed to promoting the highest standards of behaviour to maintain a working, learning and social environment where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. Ours is a motivated and diverse University community, where staff and students have a right to expect high standards from each other and to work together to maximise the benefits of difference.  
Grounds If you believe you are being subjected to harassment or bullying of any form, you do not have to feel it is your fault and you do not have to tolerate it. Any student who suffers from harassment or bullying from any individual or group throughout their student experience will have the support of the University in seeking to ensure that the harassment or bullying ceases. There are various ways in which an individual can deal with harassment, ranging from asking the person to stop to taking up a formal complaint.  
Contact The Harassment and Bullying Support Network
Email: harassment@sheffield.ac.uk
Tel: 0114 222 9621		 Student Advice Centre
Web links Tackling Harassment and Bullying at the University of Sheffield  
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Library Appeals Procedure

Purpose Section 16 of the Library Regulations sets out a procedure for students to appeal against a decision of the Librarian to impose a fine, charge or other penalty.  
Grounds Any student who feels they have a case can appeal.  
Procedure A student should write to the Director of Library Services within 14 working days of a fine being notified. A written response will be supplied. If the student remains unsatisfied with the decision, they should write to the Chairman of the Information Services Committee within 10 working days of the decision being notified to ask for the case to be reviewed.  
Contact Assistant Director for Customer Services  
Advice for Students The Student Advice Centre can advise a student on their position. Student Advice Centre
Regulations Regulations relating to the Library  
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