Each university has its own distinct set of disciplinary policies and procedures. Please use the links below to reveal the information of interest.
Links to procedures and policies
Precautionary / interim measures?
Subject to various grounds and the student’s right to make representations, the University may whilst a general misconduct investigation is ongoing:
- Suspend or exclude a student;
- Impose conditions not amounting to a complete exclusion; and/or
- Impose conditions requiring a student not to approach or contact named students or staff.
approach to Police involvement?
This University will not ordinarily pursue disciplinary action against a student while they are the subject of a police investigation, but it reserves the right to do so; particularly if the safety of one or more members of the University is at risk.
If the student is convicted, this will be taken as evidence that the events occurred and the any caution or sentence will be taken into consideration by the University.
Right to be represented?
General misconduct
Where there is a hearing, the student is entitled to bring a supporter. The supporter must be an Education Adviser from the SU, a fellow student, a member of University staff, or a Union representative.
Academic misconduct
The student is entitled to bring a supporter to the hearing. The supporter must be either; an Education Adviser or other representative from the SU, a fellow student, a member of staff, or a Union representative. The supporter may take notes on the student’s behalf, make representations on the student’s behalf, and ask questions, but may not answer questions on the student’s behalf.
N.B. Even where universities state that legal representation is not permitted, we have often successfully argued that students ought to be in accordance with the principles of natural justice.
Penalties?
General misconduct
The Senate Disciplinary Committee has the power to impose one or more of the following:
- to fine to any amount;
- to order the withdrawal of computing facilities for an appropriate period;
- to order the withdrawal or withholding, for an appropriate period, of permission to have a motor vehicle on the site;
- to require the payment of compensation in respect of injury to the person or damage to property;
- to impose conditions breach of which will be misconduct under the Code;
- to suspend or exclude a student from the whole or a part of University premises; or
- to expel the student.
Academic misconduct
A panel of the Academic Misconduct Committee has the power to apply one or more of the following penalties/actions:
- any of the penalties/actions listed as available to the Academic Misconduct Officer (listed above);
- award a mark of zero for the entire module in which the academic misconduct has occurred;
- award a mark of zero for all the assessments in the semester;
- award a mark of zero for the whole year;
- require the student to take reassessments (as a result of being awarded zero marks) in the following session before being allowed to progress or complete their course;
- in the case of PhD students, confirm the student’s probationary status and require the student to undertake another annual (confirmation) review;
- require a research student to resubmit a thesis with or without a viva;
- require a research student to register for a period of supervision before being allowed to resubmit a thesis;
- suspend or terminate the student’s course; and/or
- withdraw the award of a degree or other qualification from a former student of the University.
Right to appeal?
It depends.
General misconduct
A student may appeal against any finding of misconduct, or penalty, or both within seven working days of receipt of written confirmation of the decision.
An appeal may be brought only on one of the following grounds:
- that there is fresh evidence or evidence which was for good cause not presented to the Officer with Summary Jurisdiction or the Senate Disciplinary Committee and which in either case might reasonably have resulted in a different decision;
- that the decision was made in excess of the jurisdiction conferred on the officer or committee;
- that there was a procedural irregularity that resulted in unfairness to the student; and/or
- that the decision of the officer or committee was manifestly unreasonable.
Academic misconduct
Students may request a review of their case within one month of being notified of the decision.
In order for a review request to be considered the student must establish the following grounds:
- A procedural irregularity occurred in the handling of your case of academic misconduct; and/or
- A compelling argument that the decision and/or penalty was unreasonable and/ or disproportionate, including the decision not to accept a request for a Self-Referral.
Member of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (“OIA”) Scheme?
Yes – this means that you could potentially complain to the OIA once you have exhausted the University’s internal procedures.
Contact our Student & University lawyers:
If you require further information or advice from our team of specialist lawyers, please contact a member of the team using one of the methods below.
This information was drafted in the months leading up to September 2023. It does not constitute legal advice. As University policies are updated from time-to-time, the information on this page may contain some inaccuracies and you should always check your University’s resources and/or seek legal advice where appropriate.
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