Academic appeals
Find out about Kingston University's procedures, policies and regulations regarding academic appeals.
Making an academic appeal in 2025/26
To ensure assessment and marking of course work is fair and accurate, Kingston University has robust procedures in place. If you have evidence that any of these processes have not been followed you may have a case for appeal. On this page you will find information about the appeals process and the policy documents you need to read before making an appeal.
You can only appeal against marks that have been ratified by an Assessment Board.
If your appeal includes queries about missing marks, or what you think might be incorrect marks, you should speak to your course team directly in the first instance so that this can be addressed quickly. If, following this, you still believe that you have grounds for appeal then the appeals procedure should be used.
Please note that you can expect to receive a response to your appeal within 20 university working days. Until you receive an appeal outcome, you must assume that the decision of the assessment board stands and you must engage with whatever assessments you have been set.
What is an academic appeal?
Assessment Boards make decisions on assessment outcomes, student progress and awards. An academic appeal is a request for a review of an Assessment Board decision.
You might have grounds to appeal if you have evidence:
- that there was a significant irregularity in the assessment process;
- that there was evidence of bias or a perception of bias in the assessment process; or,
- that the Assessment Board was not aware of a significant factor relating to your assessment. This includes mitigating circumstances that you could not present to the Assessment Board when it made its original decision.
The academic appeals process is not intended to encourage students to challenge disappointing results.
You should not appeal because you disagree with the Assessment Board – for instance to complain about the decision of academic staff on the quality of your work. This is defined as academic judgement.
The appeals process excludes complaints against services provided by the University including the delivery of a programme and the teaching you receive.
If you have concerns that these factors are having an impact on your ability to perform at your best in assessments, you will need to raise these through a separate complaints procedure (see General Regulation 2), as soon as you are aware that you are being affected by a service delivery shortfall. Waiting for your results before speaking up about such complaints will probably be too late.
Before you make an appeal
2025/26 Academic Appeals
Please read the relevant regulations documents before you start your academic appeal:
- Taught courses – AR8: Academic Appeals 2025/26 (PDF)
- Research degrees – AR9: Academic Appeals 2025/26 (PDF)
- Third party representative form 2025/26 (Word doc)
You can seek independent advice from Kingston Students' Union Advice Centre. Visit the KSU website for academic advice.
How to make an academic appeal
You must submit your academic appeal within 15 working days of your results being published.
- Use your Kingston University Student ID to log in to OSIS
- Go to the "Your Studies" tab
- In the list shown you will see the title "Appeals", and a link to the online appeals system
- You will find further instructions provided on screen.
If you have difficulties accessing the system please contact the IT service desk.
If there are reasons preventing you from making an online submission, please contact [email protected].
Contact the Academic Registry
If you have questions about the University's policies and regulations, please email us.
