Academic Appeals

What you can appeal

You can appeal the outcome of an Extenuating Circumstances claim if:

• your EC claim was rejected because it was submitted after the deadline
• you were unable to provide evidence to support your claim by the deadline
• you think that evidence and/or information provided in support of your claim was not properly considered
• no explanation was given for the decision

You can appeal a Progression and Award Board decision (your results) if:

• you feel you had extenuating circumstances but you were unable to submit an EC claim at the correct time
• the assessment procedure was not applied or was applied incorrectly, and this had a significant negative impact on the decision

You can appeal an Assessment Offences Panel outcome if:

• the assessment misconduct procedure was not applied correctly, and this had a significant negative impact on the outcome
• substantial new evidence has come to light
• the decision reached was unfair based on the available evidence
• the penalty imposed was excessive

What you can't appeal

You cannot appeal a grade simply because you are unhappy with it

If you've received a grade that you are unhappy with but feel that you've worked really hard and deserve a better grade, you should seek advice from your module leader to help you understand the grade and feedback you have been given.

You are unhappy with the teaching or supervision on your programme

If you are unhappy with the teaching on your programme, feedback you've received, your supervision or support you have received, you may be eligible to submit a Student Complaint, details of what is covered by this procedure can be found here - Student Complaints Procedure

Provisional grades

Your grades are not final until the Progression and Award Board (PAB) have approved them. You cannot submit an appeal until your results have been published under the 'Student Results' heading on the portal.

You cannot appeal an academic decision that you have already appealed

We are unable to consider an appeal if you have already submitted a previous appeal regarding the same decision.

When should you submit an appeal?

You must submit your appeal within 14 calendar days of your decision being published. For example,

• the date of your extenuating circumstances decision email
• the date the Progression and Award Board publish your results letter on the student portal
• the date of the outcome email following your Assessment Offences Panel

Please do not submit your academic appeal before the above decision has been published as you appeal will not be considered.

How do you submit an appeal?

Submit your appeal by logging in to the Digital Student Centre (DSC) and clicking My Support > Academic Appeals. A video on how to appeal via the DSC can be found here: Digital Student Centre | Submitting an Academic Appeal | Videos & Movies on Vimeo.

When submitting your appeal, make sure you include all the information and evidence that you want the Investigating Officer to consider. Once your appeal has been submitted, you cannot usually add more details later.

If your exams or assessments were affected, be clear about the dates. If you spoke to a member of staff or someone from the Greenwich Students’ Union, let us know who it was and what advice you were given.

Remember: a longer appeal or more evidence doesn’t automatically mean a stronger appeal. Focus on being clear and concise. Make sure your evidence directly supports your case, and consider including a timeline of key events to help explain your situation.

If you cannot access the Digital Student Centre, please raise a ticket with the IT Service Desk.

What evidence do you need?

What if you don't agree with the outcome of your appeal?

If you are unhappy with the outcome of your appeal, you may have the opportunity to submit a Final Review Request. Details of how to request a review can be found in your outcome letter or further details can be found at Final Review Policy and Procedure | Documents | University of Greenwich.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a successful appeal increase my grade?

No. Even if your appeal is successful, the outcome can never uplift or change your grade. You may be offered an opportunity to improve your grade through reassessment.

How long will it take to receive my outcome?

We aim to finalise academic appeals within 28 days but they can take up to 90 days. We will try and resolve appeals in a timely manner.

Should I keep attending lectures while I wait for my academic appeal outcome?

You should follow the decision that you received on your outcome - either EC decision, results letter decision or Assessment Offences Panel decision - until you receive your appeal outcome. For example, if your results letter explains that you have to resit your failed assessments, then continue to work toward your resits until you receive the outcome of your appeal.

Help and advice

If you are considering submitting an appeal, we advise you to contact the Greenwich Students' Union  Advice Team, your Faculty Student Advisors, Academic Tutor or Module Leader. They will be able to help you decide if you have valid grounds for an appeal and discuss your options and next steps. Other university can be found at

• Student Wellbeing Service (Counselling & Mental Health)
• Student Wellbeing Service (Disability & Dyslexia)
• Medical Services
• Wellbeing Hub
• Student Centres