• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Review of Grade
• Grounds for Review of Grade Application
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Applying for a Review of Grade
• Consideration of Review of Grade Applications
• Outcomes of Review Applications
• Section 5 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) There may be instances where a student believes that their final grade in a unit does not correctly reflect their performance against the criteria. Students may choose to informally discuss their concern with the academic responsible for the unit. Where the informal approach is not appropriate, or the student wishes to take the matter further, this policy provides a process for a more formal application for a Review of Grade.

Section 2 - Definitions

(2) Review of Grade: A review of grade is an appeal by a student against the final grade issued at the end of a teaching session.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

Review of Grade

(3) This policy applies to all units offered by the University in both award and non-award enrolments, but does not apply to continuing education studies (short course or modular units).

(4) The review will be of the final grade issued at the end of a teaching session.

(5) A student may apply for a review of grade provided the student has completed all the essential assessment requirements set down in the unit outline issued at the commencement of instruction of the unit.

(6) A grade cannot be reviewed where the grade awarded is the outcome of a determination under the Misconduct - Student Academic Misconduct Policy or the Misconduct - Student Non-academic Misconduct Policy.

(7) There will be a prescribed charge for a review of a passing grade.

(8) The formal review of grade(s) will be undertaken by the academic unit responsible for teaching that unit.

(9) This section does not apply to appeals against level of Honours, or level of graduation.

Grounds for Review of Grade Application

(10) A student may apply for a review of a final grade if they have reason to believe that:

1. the unit co-ordinator did not provide a unit outline as required;
2. the assessment requirements as specified in the unit outline were varied in an unreasonable way;
3. assessment requirements specified in the unit outline were unreasonably or prejudicially applied to the candidate;
4. a candidate is of the view that a clerical error has occurred in the computation of the grade;
5. due regard has not been paid to the evidence of illness or misadventure.

Section 4 - Procedures

Applying for a Review of Grade

(11) Students seeking review of individual items of assessment should, in the first instance, approach the academic staff member responsible for the marking of that assessment item. Where, after such discussion, the student believes an error persists or the result is not a fair reflection of the student's work, the student may apply for review at the end of the session following notification of the final grade.

(12) An application for review of grade must be in writing and lodged with the Student Centre, together with the prescribed charge (if appealing against a passing grade), within ten University working days of the official notification of results on the web. The Student Centre shall forward the application for review of grade(s) to the Assessment and Graduation Unit to be registered and sent to the relevant academic unit for consideration.

(13) An application for Review of Grade for a unit that has been the subject of a determination under the Misconduct - Student Academic Misconduct Policy or the Misconduct - Student Non-academic Misconduct Policy will be rejected.

(14) A separate application must be lodged for each unit. A separate fee must be paid for each unit. The charge will be refunded to any student whose application is successful.

(15) The grounds for the application for review of grade(s) must be clearly stated. It is not sufficient merely to state that there has been an error or an injustice.

Consideration of Review of Grade Applications

(16) The Head of the relevant School may reject the application when:

1. the student has not completed all essential requirements of the unit;
2. no reasonable grounds are stated in the application for review of grade(s);
3. in the normal course of events, the piece or pieces of work have already been assessed by at least two people knowledgeable in the field;
4. reasonable grounds exist to review the grade, but such a review, if conducted, would not result in any alteration of the grade; or
5. the student has not completed all essential requirements (except in some cases of special consideration).

(17) Where the Head of School accepts the application, s/he will obtain from the Unit Coordinator a written response to the grounds for the review of grade. The application and the response will be considered by a School committee (no more than three academic staff, none of whom have been involved in teaching the units which are the subject of review). The School committee will then submit recommendations to the School Assessment Committee. The School Assessment Committee will confirm or review the recommendations and advise the Assessment and Graduation Unit, Office of the Academic Registrar.

(18) School Assessment Committees will meet within one month of each of the dates on which Review of Grade applications close.

Outcomes of Review Applications

(19) Where a student's review of grade is successful, the Assessment and Graduation Unit will refund the prescribed charge (if applicable) and notify the student electronically via their UWS student email account to view the amended final grade online.

(20) Students whose application for a review of grade is rejected will be advised in writing by the Assessment and Graduation Unit of the reason for the outcome and will not be entitled to a refund of any prescribed charge paid.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(21) Nil.