Results Day can provoke very mixed reactions. It can either be a cause for joy and celebration, or an unpleasant surprise. In some cases, you may want to consider submitting an appeal. 

This blog post has simplified the process down, but you must consult the original documents for the full detail.  

THE PROCESS 

You can appeal your final grades on two grounds: 

• Procedural Error 

“The examination board did not follow the correct procedure such that there is reasonable doubt that the decision would have been the same if board had followed the correct procedure”  

• New Information about Exceptional Circumstances (ECs) 

“There is new information about exceptional (mitigating) circumstances that affected the examination outcome”  

You can appeal under either, or both grounds.  

Things to consider before making an appeal  

Appeal Process Overview 

• You can only appeal when you have a full set of final marks.  

• Finalists can only submit appeals once they have received their final classification. 

• You must submit your appeal by 11.59pm (23.59, UK time)?within 10 working days of receiving all of your final results. For example, if your final results are emailed to you on Friday 12 July 2024, you must submit your appeal by 23:59 on Friday 26 July 2024. 

• It can take up to 180 days to fully conclude an appeal. 

• There are two appeal stages, if your appeal is rejected under Stage One you have the opportunity to request a review of this decision or to provide further information under Stage Two. The outcome you receive under Stage Two is final. 

• The appeals process is a last resort for candidates who were unable to engage with the School's other procedures at the right time. This includes extensions, deferrals and exceptional circumstances. 

FIRST, you should know what you can and cannot appeal against.  

What can I appeal against 

• Any result; e.g. final degree classification, course mark etc. can be appealed against on the ground of procedural defect. 

• Furthermore, you can appeal against the following on the basis of new information about exceptional circumstances:  

• Your final degree classification; 

• Not being awarded a degree, or a decision to class you as a ‘Final Fail’ 

• A mark or grade of ‘Absent’, ‘Incomplete’ or ‘Fail’ 

• If you are appealing against your final degree classification based on exceptional circumstances, then you have to meet these requirements:  

• Your classification marks are no more than three marks below the next higher classification in a single course, and/or: 

• Your aggregate is no more than fifteen marks away from the next higher classification on aggregate if you are an undergraduate student; or no more than ten marks away from the next higher classification on aggregate if you are a postgraduate student 

What does NOT count:  

• Challenging the academic judgement of individual examiners or the Examination?Boards.  

So you have decided you want to submit an appeal

First, make sure you have everything you will need.  

If you are appealing based on exceptional circumstances, you will need to provide evidence of:  

• The exceptional circumstances 

• Why you did not report these circumstances at the appropriate time, as set out in the procedure for submitting exceptional circumstances. 

• If you need additional time to submit evidence, you must contact the Assessment Regulations Team (ART) before the appeal deadline to explain your reasons and ask for permission 

• You can see the LSE’s ‘Standards of Evidence’, for guidance on submitting evidence.  

Then, it’s time to submit an appeal: 

• You must use this form: Appeals submission form 

• Appeals must be completed in full, in English, and together with any relevant supporting information (such as a medical certificate/doctor's letter) and be submitted to ssc.appeals@lse.ac.uk.  

Here is the guidance in more detail: Appeal Regulations  

Top tip! Review Section 9 of the Appeals Regulations document for the most common reasons for appeals being rejected at LSE.

Written by Mia Lobo (Advice Assistant)