UniMelb academic appeal: deadline, review step, grounds

Do the faculty review first if the decision is a result

If you want to appeal an assessment or examination result, you cannot use the appeals form yet. You must first seek a review with your faculty through the Seeking a review of a result process. The pages we read say that if you have not completed the relevant review step, you are not ready to submit an appeal.

Other decisions have their own review routes. An award or scholarship decision and a credit or advanced standing decision go through the Student complaints and grievances process. A selection decision goes through the Academic Registrar using the Selection feedback and review request form. A special consideration decision goes through the Special consideration review process.

The pages we read do not state how long the faculty review takes. Ask your faculty, or ask the UMSU Advocacy Service, so you know where the review sits against the appeal deadline.

The appeal time limit

An appeal must be lodged within 20 University business days from the date of the original decision, using the online student appeals form. Two conditions matter: the clock starts on the date of the original decision, and the count is University business days, not calendar days.

The pages we read do not state what happens if you lodge late. Confirm that with the University before you rely on any assumption about it.

What your appeal has to show

You cannot appeal simply because you are dissatisfied with a decision. Your appeal needs one or more of these grounds:

• a procedural irregularity has occurred, which may include that you did not receive a fair hearing in all the circumstances
• there is new information that could not reasonably have been provided at the time of the original decision, and that would probably have affected the decision or any penalty imposed
• the decision was manifestly wrong
• the penalty imposed was manifestly excessive, inappropriate or not available in the circumstances

Failure to read and act on a notice or correspondence sent to your University email account is not a ground of appeal. Any documents or evidence you rely on must be true and must be yours to use. Do not write up new records of past events to fill a gap.

How to lodge the appeal

1. Confirm the decision is appealable and that you have completed any required review or complaint step.
2. Draft your appeal statement. It must describe the decision being appealed clearly, state the ground or grounds, summarise the basis for each ground, attach the notice of the original decision, and include any relevant material you wish to rely on.
3. Complete the online student appeals form and submit it within the 20 University business days.
4. Keep a copy of the statement, the attachments and the date you submitted.

If you are unsure whether your ground fits, the UMSU Advocacy Service, listed under Free help, can talk through the process with you.

After you submit, and if the outcome goes against you

The pages we read say that where there is sufficient merit to proceed, the appeal is referred to a panel for determination. The panel decides to uphold the appeal in full or in part, or to dismiss it. The pages we read do not state how long that takes, so ask the University or the UMSU Advocacy Service for the current timing on your matter.

Once the University's internal review and appeal processes are exhausted, you may seek an external review, including by complaint to the Victorian Ombudsman or the National Student Ombudsman.