Academic Appeals
To address concerns
The University, the Social Sciences Division, the Faculty of Law, and the CSLS all hope that provision made for students at all stages of their course of study will make the need for complaints (about that provision) or appeals (against the outcomes of any form of assessment) infrequent.
Where such a need arises nevertheless, the simplest way to achieve a satisfactory resolution is to initiate a cordial discussion with the person immediately responsible for the issue that you have concerns about.
If your concern relates to teaching or other academic provision made by the Centre or the Law Faculty, then we advise you to raise it with the Centre's Director of Graduate Studies. If your concern is about practical arrangements and facilities within the Centre, you should discuss it with the Centre Administrator. If you feel unable to approach one of those individuals or after talking to them you think that the issue has not been dealt with in a satisfactory manner, you should feel free to contact the Centre Director. Your concern or complaint will be considered with the utmost attention.
If your concern relates to teaching or other provision made by your college, you should raise it either with your College Advisor or with the appropriate college officer such as the Senior Tutor or Tutor for Graduates. And whether your concern is about either the college itself or the CSLS, the college staff will be able to explain how to take your complaint further if you are dissatisfied with the outcome of its consideration.
Sources of advice are also available at the university level. You can approach bodies such as the University of Oxford Counselling Service or the Student Advice Service provided by the Oxford University Students' Union. Both have extensive experience in offering guidance about procedure, particularly in the case of sensitive matters that may be more easily discussed with someone who does not know the people involved. You may wish to take advice from one of these sources before you initiate a complaint.
Complaints
If you raise a concern but are dissatisfied with the outcome, you may take the issue further by making a formal complaint to the Proctors under the University Student Complaints Procedure (https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/complaints).
Academic Appeals
An academic appeal is an appeal against a decision made by an academic body (e.g. a full examination board or the set of examiners appointed to transfer status or to confirm it). An appeal can only be made on grounds such as procedural error or evidence of bias. There is no right of appeal against an academic judgement.
If you have any concerns about your assessment process or outcome it is advisable to discuss these first with your subject or college tutor, your senior tutor, course director, director of studies, supervisor or college or departmental administrator as appropriate. They will be able to explain the assessment process that was undertaken and may be able to address your concerns. Queries must not be raised directly with the examiners.
If you still have concerns, you can make a formal appeal to the Proctors who will consider appeals under the University Academic Appeals Procedure: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/complaints