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Submit a queryMacquarie University is committed to a transparent, equitable and consistent approach on decisions that affect students.
The University makes a range of decisions affecting students, from course admissions and Recognition of Prior learning, to marks you receive for a particular unit, as well as a range of other decisions. The University aims to make fair and equitable decisions and has established policies and procedures to ensure this happens.
If you have been notified of a decision made by the University and you are not satisfied with the decision-making process, you may be able to lodge an appeal.
Not all decisions can be appealed, however the decisions that can be appealed are outlined in the sections below, including links to the relevant rules, policies and procedures. These documents set out the processes that are followed in our decision making.
If you are uncertain of the procedures or need help to submit your Grade Appeal, contact Student Advocacy.
Appeals are when you request that the university review the process by which a decision was made. Appeals do not review the merits of that decision; instead the focus is on the decision-making process. For example, you can appeal because you believe a Grade Appeal was not conducted fairly, but you cannot appeal the outcome of a Grade Appeal because you disagree with the outcome of the Grade Appeal.
Your appeal must clearly identify how the procedure for dealing with your issue was unfair, and detail that one or more the following grounds for appeal occurred:
You also need to demonstrate that you suffered substantial injustice as a result of the decision.
You must provide reasoning and supporting information to show that the decision made by the University was unfair due to one of the grounds listed above. You must also demonstrate that as a result of one of these grounds existing or occurring, the decision was substantially unfair.
When the University makes a decision that affects you in the categories outlined below, you will receive a notification of that decision which will include information on your right to appeal the decision and steps on lodging an appeal. You may only appeal on specific grounds and within the time frame specified - appeals outside this time frame will not be considered.
You have the right to appeal any of the following types of decisions. You will also find links to the relevant policy or procedure for each type of decision, as well as the timeframe for submitting an appeal below.
If you are uncertain of the procedures or need help to submit your appeal, contact the Complaints, Appeals and Misconduct team or Student Advocacy for advice.
Your appeal should be submitted via the University’s appeal system.
If you are uncertain of the procedures or need help to submit your appeal, contact the Complaints, Appeals and Misconduct team or Student Advocacy for advice.
It is important that your appeal makes the connection between the grounds you are appealing on, and your personal circumstances. It is also important that you provide any information that supports your appeal.
You will receive confirmation that your academic appeal has been received. You will be kept informed of what is happening and the next steps in the process via your student email account.
We aim to process your appeal as quickly and informally as possible. However, some appeals are more complex and may take more than 30 working days to finalise.
You will receive notification of the outcome of your appeal from the university to your student email address.
Your appeal will be unsuccessful if you are unable to demonstrate that one of the grounds existed or occurred and that the decision was substantially unjust.
If your appeal is successful (ie if your appeal is upheld), there may be a number of possible outcomes:
If your Appeal is unsuccessful, you also have further options outside of the University.
Agencies that you may consider contacting include:
For more information or to enquire about appeals, please contact the Complaints, Appeals and Misconduct team or Student Advocacy for advice.