Appeals, complaints and discipline

Appeals and complaints are overseen by the Division of Teaching, Learning and Student Development. The conduct and discipline of students is overseen by the Division of Campus Life, within the Directorate for the Student Experience.

Academic Appeals

The University of Manchester has an Academic Appeals Procedure for students who wish to appeal against a final decision of a board of examiners, or a progress committee, or a graduate committee or equivalent body which affects a student’s academic status or progress in the University.

Academic Appeals Procedure (Regulation XIX)

The University of Manchester operates a three-stage process, in line with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA)’s Good Practice Framework:

Stage One (Doctoral Academy – for details, see below section).
Stage Two (Faculty).
Stage Three (review stage – central Teaching & Learning Delivery team).

If students remain dissatisfied when internal processes are complete, they may be eligible to complain to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA).

Stage One

Before submitting a Stage One Appeal

A student considering an appeal is strongly encouraged to discuss the matter with their PGR advisor, supervisor, Head of PGR, or other appropriate people in their department. This discussion helps the student understand the reasons for the result or decision they wish to appeal.

Submitting a Stage One Appeal

If the student wishes to proceed to a Stage One Appeal, they must complete the Stage One Appeal form within 20 working days of receiving their results or decision letter. The original results or decision letter will include both the details of the appeals process and a direct link to the appeal form.

After submitting a Stage One appeal

Once an appeal is received, the Doctoral Academy will acknowledge receipt via email and provide an estimated timeline for the outcome, which typically takes up to 20 working days to process. Unless the appeal results in a change to the original decision, the decision will remain in effect throughout the process. Student Visa-holding students are advised to consult the Student Immigration Team regarding any potential immigration implications during the appeals period.

After receiving the Stage One Appeal outcome

If the student is not satisfied with the Stage One Appeal outcome, they may submit a Stage Two Appeal to the Faculty.

Instructions for the Stage Two Appeal process, including submission procedures and deadlines, will be included in the Stage One Appeal outcome letter.

Further support for Academic Appeals

Support for students navigating appeals, complaints and misconduct processes:

You can also contact our FSE Appeals and Complaints team.

Student Complaints

Reg XVIII is The University of Manchester's procedure to deal with complaints from students. Complaints provide useful feedback information and, where appropriate, are used to improve services and facilities.

The University currently defines a complaint as ‘an expression of dissatisfaction by one or more students about the University’s action or lack of action, the standard of service provided by or on behalf of the University’, or unacceptable behaviours as defined by the Policy on Dignity at Work and Study.

The procedure is designed for complaints in respect of the student’s experience at the University related to the provision of programmes, or parts of programmes of study, services or facilities by the University, and/or the actions or lack of actions by the University or its staff.

Complaints, both informal and formal, should be made as soon as possible, and in any case within eight weeks of the events or actions (or lack of actions) that have prompted the complaint.

Please note: Complaints about the admissions process are not handled by the Admissions team directly. If you wish to make a complaint related to admissions, you should follow the formal complaints process outlined on this page.