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?
Interim precautionary measures may include:
- Suspension of a student’s registration;
- Exclusion from the whole or part of the University; and/or
- Conditions on the student’s studies.
approach to Police involvement?
The University may temporarily suspend a disciplinary investigation until the criminal justice matter has concluded. The University may still proceed with the disciplinary procedure where a student has been acquitted in criminal proceedings.
Right to be represented?
General misconduct
Students have the right to be accompanied by a member of YUSU or GSA Advice and Support team, or a member of University staff. A student may request in writing for someone other than those listed above to attend.
The University does not normally permit legal representation at any disciplinary meetings, but in exceptional circumstances, the University may consider external legal representation at Disciplinary Panel Hearings.
Academic misconduct
A student may be accompanied by any member of the University and exceptions may be made for non-University accompaniment at the discretion of the Chair. The student must notify the Chair in advance if they intend to bring a representative from outside the University.
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 University may impose:
- An action plan and conditions for improvement in conduct;
- A verbal warning;
- A formal written warning;
- Compulsory attendance at a workshop, training and/or coaching session;
- An apology in person or in writing;
- Restorative measures relevant to the misconduct;
- Restrictions, such a requirement not to contact a person impacted by misconduct;
- Payment of repair, cleaning and/or replacement costs up to a maximum of £500;
- Partial or full exclusion from specific events, parts or the whole of the campus;
- Suspension from the University for a specified period of time (no more than two academic years); and/or
- Permanent expulsion from the University.
Academic misconduct
Depending on the seriousness of the misconduct the University can impose a range of sanctions from a verbal warning to permanent expulsion.
Right to appeal?
Yes.
General misconduct
Where a student wishes to appeal a decision, they must do so in writing clearly stating the grounds for their appeal within 14 days of receiving the outcome.
Students can appeal on the following grounds:
- There was a procedural irregularity at the formal stage e.g. there was a material failure by the University to follow the student disciplinary procedure; or
- There is evidence of bias; or
- The outcome was not fair and proportionate in all the circumstances (i.e. no reasonable decision-maker, properly directing themselves and taking into account the relevant facts, could have reached that decision); and/or
- New material evidence is available which the student was unable, for valid reasons, to provide earlier in the process.
Academic misconduct
Students may only appeal against decisions of a Standing Committee on Academic Misconduct Investigatory Panel (StAMP) on the grounds that:
- The Academic Misconduct procedures were not followed properly;
- The StAMP Investigatory Panel reached a decision that was not reasonable in all the circumstances;
- New evidence is available which could not reasonably have been brought to the attention of the StAMP Investigatory Panel at the time of its investigation;
- There was bias or reasonable perception of bias during the academic misconduct process; and/or
- The penalty imposed by the StAMP Investigatory Panel was disproportionate or not permitted under the Academic Misconduct procedures.
The appeal must be submitted within 28 days of the decision.
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.
We treat all personal data in accordance with our data protection policy.