King's academic appeal: grounds and 15-working-day limit

Rule checked against King's College London's own pages on 3 November 2026.

For King's, a Stage One academic appeal should be submitted within 15 working days of the release of ratified results; later appeals are accepted only at the discretion of Student Conduct and Appeals. Before a formal appeal, seek advice from your module leader, your programme director and/or KCLSU Advice, and use informal resolution where appropriate. Stage One grounds are evidence that assessments were adversely affected by mitigating circumstances you were unable, or for valid reasons unwilling, to make known before the original decision, or clear evidence of a significant administrative error by the University or in the conduct of the assessment; academic judgement cannot be challenged.

Time limit to appeal

A Stage One appeal form should be submitted within 15 working days of the release of ratified results; later appeals are accepted only at the discretion of Student Conduct and Appeals.^[1]

What to try first

Before a formal Stage One appeal, students should seek advice from module leaders, their programme director and/or KCLSU; informal resolution should be sought where appropriate.^[1]

Grounds you can use

Stage One grounds are (a) evidence that assessments were adversely affected by mitigating circumstances the student was unable, or for valid reasons unwilling, to make known before the original decision, or (b) clear evidence of a significant administrative error by the University or in the conduct of the assessment. Academic judgement cannot be challenged.^[1]

Where to submit

New Stage 1 academic appeals are submitted through Student Records, in the My Academic Appeals section.^[2]

If that fails

If not satisfied with the Stage One outcome, the student can submit a Stage Two appeal form within 10 working days of the Stage One outcome.^[1]

External review

After internal procedures are complete, the student may ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) to review the case; the OIA is free for students.^[2]

Start with your letter and advice

For a King's assessment board decision, the formal route is a Stage One academic appeal. Before a formal Stage One appeal, King's says students should seek advice from module leaders, their programme director and/or KCLSU Advice. Where appropriate, informal resolution should be sought by identifying administrative errors that can be resolved without an appeal, or by discussing academic judgement in relation to marking, which cannot be challenged. KCLSU Advice is listed as free help at King's. You can ask them to explain the form and the evidence you are relying on.

Read your own result letter and note the date the ratified results were released, because that date starts the 15-working-day Stage One deadline. Ratified results are the results released after the assessment board has approved them. Keep a copy of the letter and any later correspondence. Keep copies of what you submit. If evidence comes up, it must be true evidence.

The deadline and the Stage One grounds

A Stage One appeal form should be submitted within 15 working days of the release of ratified results. Later appeals are accepted only at the discretion of Student Conduct and Appeals. The deadline uses working days. The clock starts with the release of ratified results.

Stage One grounds are either (a) evidence that assessments were adversely affected by mitigating circumstances you were unable, or for valid reasons unwilling, to make known before the original decision, or (b) clear evidence of a significant administrative error by the University or in the conduct of the assessment. Academic judgement cannot be challenged. If you rely on mitigating circumstances, the evidence needs to be true and to relate to why you were unable, or for valid reasons unwilling, to make those circumstances known before the original decision.

Submit in the right place

New Stage One academic appeals are submitted through Student Records, in the My Academic Appeals section. Use the Stage One appeal form. A practical order is:

Read your letter and note the release date of ratified results.
Seek advice from your module leader, programme director and/or KCLSU Advice.
Use informal resolution where appropriate.
Check which Stage One ground you are relying on and gather true evidence that supports it.
Submit the Stage One appeal form through Student Records in My Academic Appeals within the 15-working-day limit.

If the Stage One outcome goes against you

If you are not satisfied with the Stage One outcome, you can submit a Stage Two appeal form within 10 working days of the Stage One outcome. Read the Stage One outcome letter carefully and check the date of the Stage One outcome, because the Stage Two time limit runs from it. Keep copies of the Stage One form, the outcome and any evidence you sent. Talk to KCLSU Advice if you are considering Stage Two.

After internal procedures are complete, you may ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) to review the case. The OIA is free for students. The pages we read do not state a time limit for asking the OIA, so confirm it with the OIA or KCLSU Advice.

Common questions

What is the deadline for a King's Stage One academic appeal?

A Stage One appeal form should be submitted within 15 working days of the release of ratified results. Later appeals are accepted only at the discretion of Student Conduct and Appeals.

What grounds can I use for a Stage One appeal at King's?

Stage One grounds are evidence that assessments were adversely affected by mitigating circumstances you were unable, or for valid reasons unwilling, to make known before the original decision, or clear evidence of a significant administrative error by the University or in the conduct of the assessment. Academic judgement cannot be challenged.

What if I am not satisfied with the Stage One outcome?

If you are not satisfied with the Stage One outcome, you can submit a Stage Two appeal form within 10 working days of the Stage One outcome. After internal procedures are complete, you may ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) to review the case; the OIA is free for students.

Sources

General information, not legal or migration advice. This page can't assess your case and doesn't promise any outcome. If the university's current page or your own letter says something different, that applies. If you hold a student visa and the outcome could change your enrolment, a regulated immigration adviser or an immigration solicitor can look at your own situation.