Academic appeals

An academic appeal allows a student to request a review of decisions made regarding assessment outcomes, progression, or final awards. These decisions are made by the Subject and Award Board for validated programmes, which approves assessment results, and determines progression and degree classifications. This process does not cover concerns related to teaching quality, academic or administrative support, or facilities. Such matters should be addressed through the Complaints Procedure. If a student’s concern includes elements of both an appeal and a complaint, guidance will be given on how each aspect will be handled and through which procedure.

A student can only appeal against marks that have been ratified by an Assessment Board.

Informal Stage Early Resolution
 
Students who have questions about their grades, progression, or award outcomes are encouraged to seek clarification before beginning a formal appeal. This early, informal stage is designed to resolve straightforward issues such as factual errors or minor procedural inconsistencies that can be addressed quickly without extensive review.
 
Requests for clarification should be directed to the appropriate contact, such as the Lecturer, Module Leader, Programme Leader, or a Student Support Officer. These inquiries must be made as soon as possible and within 10 working days of receiving confirmed results from either the Subject and Award Board, or partner Board of Examiners.
 
If an issue is identified that clearly stems from a simple error or a process irregularity requiring minimal investigation, the relevant department will be asked to correct it. Where formal results have already been confirmed, the Chair of the respective board will be notified and must approve any changes to student records.

If the concern cannot be resolved informally, the student will be informed and may proceed to submit a formal academic appeal.

Formal Appeals Stage 1
Students must submit the Academic Appeals Form within 10 working days of receiving confirmed results from the Subject and Award Board to quality@futurelearn.com.

• Appeals submitted before results are ratified will not be accepted.
• Late appeals will only be considered with strong evidence explaining why the deadline could not be met.

The form is available via the Student Services Team and must include:

• Clear appeal grounds
• Supporting documents
• Evidence of any informal resolution attempts

The Academic Quality Lead or nominated person will acknowledge receipt within 5 working days.

• Appeals missing key information may be returned to the student for clarification or additional evidence.
• For group-related assessments, one student may act as the spokesperson.
• Each group member must confirm their participation in the appeal.

The Academic Quality Lead or nominee will assess whether the appeal meets the criteria for consideration. Appeals outside the allowed timeframe or grounds will be rejected with written reasons. Students may respond within 10 working days to request a formal review.

The Academic Quality Lead or nominee may consult academic staff for relevant information. Appeals will be reviewed by a senior academic (e.g. an alternative subject Programme Leader) not previously involved in the case. A decision is typically communicated within 20 working days.  Group appeal results are sent to the spokesperson.

Students will receive a written outcome explaining the decision and next steps. If the appeal is upheld, the relevant Board Chair will arrange updates to student records. In cases involving a new award classification, students must return the original certificate before receiving a replacement. If timelines cannot be met, students will be informed of the reason and provided with a new expected response date.

Requesting a Review Stage 2

If a student disagrees with the outcome of their formal appeal, they may request a further review within 10 working days of receiving the decision. Late requests are unlikely to be accepted. Valid grounds for review include:

• There was a procedural error during the formal appeal process.
• New, relevant evidence has come to light that couldn’t reasonably be provided earlier.

Students must complete the Stage 2 Appeal Review Form within the 10-day timeframe to quality@futurelearn.com. The request must:

• Clearly state the grounds for review.
• Explain why the initial outcome was unsatisfactory.
• Include relevant supporting documents.

The Academic Quality Lead or nominee will confirm receipt within 5 working days. They will verify the request meets the required criteria and deadlines. A review panel of two senior academic staff (uninvolved in the original appeal) will be formed, supported by the Academic Registrar or nominee. The panel may ask the student for further details or evidence, at least 5 working days will be given to respond.

Possible outcomes include:

• The appeal is upheld in full or in part, with appropriate action taken.
• The appeal is rejected.

Students will receive a written outcome within 20 working days of submission. This decision is final.

The academic appeals process is not intended to encourage students to challenge disappointing results.

Students should not appeal because they disagree with the Subject and Awards Board – for instance to complain about the decision of academic staff on the quality of their work. This is defined as academic judgement.

The appeals process excludes complaints against services provided by FutureLearn including the delivery of a programme and the teaching the student receives.

If a student has concerns that these factors are having an impact on their ability to perform at their best in assessments, they will need to raise these through a separate complaints procedure as soon as they are aware that they are being affected by a service delivery shortfall. Waiting for results before speaking up about such complaints will probably be too late.