Help with Academic Appeal

I just finished my first year at UoM in a four-year integrated masters biosciences degree. The threshold to continue in the four year program is 60% and I receieved a 59.818. I am looking to appeal this decision. My tutor says it is worth it to appeal because I am so close to the grade boundary. I also did very well on the only essential unit for my degree which he also says to highlight. I was hoping for advice on what else to include in this appeal.
In terms of things that might have impacted my grades I have moved from a different country to go to school here. Additionally during my first semester exams a close family friend passed away in the middle of exam season. I was wondering if this is a viable reason to include as I felt it impacted my performance in the three exams I took after.

Reply 1

Anonymous #2

read your academic regulations, in my uni you can’t appeal due to academic judgement (aka you can’t appeal that they should increase your grade). However, you can appeal due to other circumstances such as the death of a friend, however, if they accept ur appeal (in my uni, you have to submit again, rather than increasing you grade)

It’s all about checking ur uni regulations, i would also say go talk to an SU caseworker for appeals

Reply 2

gjd800

You'd need to appeal on the premise that there were significant mitigating circumstances that you were unable to disclose at the time of their occurence.

The upshot is that you will have to demonstrate why you couldn't tell them about it at the time via the relevant MitCircs forms.

Moving country is not an acceptable reason for mitigation, but the death might be provided that you can meet the criterion above.

Fair warning: in my experience, Manchester are particular sticklers for the 'you should have disclosed this at the time' line in response to retrospective mitigation. I'd get to the SU and have a caseworker go through this with you so that you have the best chance. You will really have to do some work to explain why you didn't flag this during the exam period.

In terms of potential outcomes, they won't change grades, but the exam boards do have the power to discount exams or change their weighting in order that students get the best possible outcome.

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

Original post by gjd800

You'd need to appeal on the premise that there were significant mitigating circumstances that you were unable to disclose at the time of their occurence.
The upshot is that you will have to demonstrate why you couldn't tell them about it at the time via the relevant MitCircs forms.
Moving country is not an acceptable reason for mitigation, but the death might be provided that you can meet the criterion above.
Fair warning: in my experience, Manchester are particular sticklers for the 'you should have disclosed this at the time' line in response to retrospective mitigation. I'd get to the SU and have a caseworker go through this with you so that you have the best chance. You will really have to do some work to explain why you didn't flag this during the exam period.
In terms of potential outcomes, they won't change grades, but the exam boards do have the power to discount exams or change their weighting in order that students get the best possible outcome.

I reached out to the SU and I am waiting on their reply now, I also reached out to the student support hub in my school. I chose not to apply for mitigating circumstances at the time because their rules state that it only applies to the passing of a family member or dependant (I later spoke to my advisor and he said I should have applied anyways). I spoke to him today and he says that I have a good chance because I am so close to the grade boundary, have some other first class grades, and have the mitigating circumstances situation.

Reply 4

gjd800

Original post by Anonymous

Yes, on the face of it, it all sounds good to me. It's a silly rule re death of dependents etc and I'm quite surprised Engineering still include that as a qualification. To my knowledge, the other Schools no longer make such a determination.

You're on top of this and have done all the right things. Very best of luck.