Skip navigation to main content

You are here: UNE Home / Sciences / Policies / Student-appeals-policy

Academic Appeals Policy

1. Appeals related to unit ass essment

  1. Where a student is dissatisfied with the assessment of an assignment and/or an examination result the student must approach the Unit Coordinator in the first instance to discuss and/or request review of that assessment. Alternatively, the student may submit a complaint via the Course Coordinator for his/her course. It is the normal expectation that such review would resolve most appeals against assessment within a particular unit.

  2. The Faculty will not accept petitions or group complaints. All complaints must be made individually.

  3. If the student remains dissatisfied, the student may appeal in writing to the relevant Head of School. In considering such an appeal the Head of School will discuss the case with the Unit Coordinator concerned. The Head of School will report the outcome of the appeal to the student in writing with a copy to the student file.

  4. If a subsequent appeal in writing against the decision of the Head of School is lodged, it will be referred to the Dean, who will report the outcome of the appeal to the student in writing with a copy to the student file.

  5. Appeals against assessment of assignments and/or examination results must be made within one month of receipt of the assignment or examination result, subject to otherwise stated appeal deadlines. If a student's appeal is unsuccessful at Faculty level, the student may appeal in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

2. Appeals related to assessment of practical work experience units

  1. Where a student is dissatisfied with the assessment of practical work and/or professional experience units the student must approach the Course Coordinator in the first instance. In the case of work that is assessed in full or in part off-campus, such as may be the case in the professional experience components of the BRurSc, BAgr and BNatRes, a detailed report will be sought from the mentor/supervisor at the location where the practical work/professional experience was conducted. The appropriate Course Coordinator will review this report with the student. It would be the normal expectation that such review would resolve most appeals against assessment within a particular unit.

  2. If the student remains dissatisfied following consultation with the Course Coordinator, the student may appeal in writing to the Student Affairs Committee. In considering such an appeal the Committee Chair will discuss the case with the Course Coordinator concerned and, if applicable, with the mentor/supervisor at the location where the practical work/professional experience was conducted. The Committee Chair will report the outcome of the appeal to the student in writing with a copy to the student file.

  3. If a subsequent appeal in writing against the decision of the Student Affairs Committee is lodged, it will be referred to the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), who will report the outcome of the appeal to the student in writing with a copy to the student file.

  4. Appeals against assessments of practical work and/or professional experience units must be made within one month of the assessment being released to the student, subject to otherwise stated appeal deadlines. If a student's appeal is unsuccessful at Faculty level, the student may appeal in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

3. Appeals against the application of Faculty policies

  1. Where a student wishes to appeal against a decision of a Faculty Officer in regard to the application of Faculty policy, the appeal must be made in writing to the Faculty Manager/Academic Coordinator.

  2. The relevant Course Coordinator will consider the appeal. In considering such an appeal the Course Coordinator will discuss the case with the Faculty Officer concerned. The Course Coordinator will report the outcome of the appeal to the student in writing with a copy to the student file.

  3. If a subsequent appeal in writing against the decision of the Course Coordinator is lodged, it will be referred to the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), who will report the outcome of the appeal to the student in writing with a copy to the student file.

  4. Appeals against the application of Faculty policy must be made within one month of the original decision being released to the student, subject to otherwise stated appeal deadlines. If a student's appeal is unsuccessful at Faculty level, the student may appeal in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

4. Appeals related to special examinations, special extensions of time, and exclusion

  1. Applications for special examinations and special extensions of time (SETs) and responses to show cause invitations related to exclusion for inadequate academic progress are considered by the Student Affairs Committee.

  2. Where a student wishes to appeal against a decision of the Committee in relation to special examinations, SETs, and/or exclusion, the appeal must be made in writing to the Faculty Manager/Academic Coordinator. In considering such an appeal the Faculty Manager/Academic Coordinator will discuss the case with the Committee Chair. The Faculty Manager/Academic Coordinator will report the outcome of the appeal to the student in writing with a copy to the student file.

  3. If a subsequent appeal in writing against the decision of the Faculty Manager/Academic Coordinator is lodged, it will be referred to the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), who will report the outcome of the appeal to the student in writing with a copy to the student file.

  4. Appeals against the application of Faculty policy related to special examinations, special extensions of time, and exclusion must be made within one month of the original decision being released to the student, subject to otherwise stated appeal deadlines. If a student's appeal is unsuccessful at Faculty level, the student may appeal in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

5. Appeals against non-failed results for dissertation/theses

  1. The rules of the Faculty governing examination of dissertations/theses contain detailed information on the examination process. The appeals procedure for failed dissertations/theses is outlined in the Faculty rules.

  2. Should an appeal be received in regard to a non-failed result for a dissertation/thesis undertaken in a higher degree of the Faculty, it will be referred to the Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee in the case of MCompSci, MNatRes, MScAg, MScStud and ProfD candidates, or to the Faculty's Research and Research Training Committee in the case of MEngSc, MResSc, MRurSc and MSc candidates.

  3. The Teaching and Learning Committee or the Research and Research Training Committee shall consider the appeal submission and the Head of School’s report make a decision on the appeal and report the outcome of the appeal to the student in writing with a copy to the student file.

  4. Appeals against non-failed results for dissertation/theses must be made within one month of the result being released to the student, subject to otherwise stated appeal deadlines. If a student's appeal is unsuccessful at Faculty level, the student may appeal in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

6. Appeals to the University Ombudsman

  1. Where a student believes that the process detailed above has not been complied with, he/she may appeal to the University Ombudsman for an administrative review. The University Ombudsman will receive and make findings only on matters of due process, not upon the substance of a complaint.


Adopted by Faculty: 14 June 2000
Amended to accord with UNE QA Policy: 1 November 2001
Ratified by Faculty Teaching & Learning Committee: 12 November 2003
Revised following the establishment of the Student Centre: 15 June 2004