If things go wrong

If you experience problems with your studies, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible. Some suggested contact points may be found in your programme handbook. Depending on the nature of the problem, it may be possible to get extra help or advice, but it is likely to be more difficult the longer you wait. It may not always be possible to resolve a problem informally, and in this case, the University has procedures which allow for a more formal review.

There are also many ways in which students can express their views on an on-going basis, for example, through surveys, module evaluation and student representation. See the Student Voice section of the Quality Manual for more information.

A range of help and support services are available from the University's Student Centre.
The links on the left hand side of the page take you to information you may need if you make use of more formal processes, these cover:

• Making an Extenuating Circumstances (EC) claim relating to one or more assessments. ECs are defined as circumstances which are unforeseen and outside your control and which can be shown to have had a direct and substantial impact on your academic results. This may include an impact on your capacity to study prior to an assessment, on your ability to complete an assessment, and/or on your performance during an assessment.
• Submitting a Student Appeal. An Appeal is a request for a review of a decision about your assessment, progression or award and may be made only after a decision has been made by an Assessment Board.
• Submitting a Student Complaint. A complaint can be made about any aspect of the student experience or the wider University, including educational aspects, and can be made by an individual student or by a group of students. The Complaints procedure is different to the Appeals procedure (above) which covers decisions relating to assessment, progression or award.
• The University's expectations concerning Student Conduct and mechanisms for investigating misconduct. Misconduct can be defined as improper interference, in the broadest sense, with the proper functioning or activities of the University or those who study or work in it; this includes actions which damage the University. There are a number of mechanisms in place for investigating reports of student misconduct and/or academic misconduct.

If you already know what procedure you need then you should go directly to the Academic Services web pages for detailed procedures, forms and guidance.