Special Cases team
The Special Cases team is responsible for handling all academic appeals and certain categories of progress cases.
The Special Cases team is made up of the Special Cases Manager, Case Officers and Administrators. The purpose of the Special Cases team is to ensure consistency and fairness in consideration of student appeals and progress cases.
The Special Cases team reports to the University Teaching Committee. The University Teaching Committee has oversight of the policies applied by the Special Cases team.
The Special Cases team is supported by the Special Cases Advisory Group, which it can call on to provide guidance and advice as necessary.
Read our Special Cases and Complaints Behaviour and Communications Policy (PDF 
, 123kb) to find out more about how we address issues relating to communications.
Dissolution of the Special Cases Committee
In May 2023, Senate agreed to the dissolution of the Special Cases Committee and transfer of the delegated authority assigned to it to Student and Academic Services (Special Cases). Read more on the background to the change: SCC DIssolution Summary Staff (MS Word 
, 57kb)
Special Cases Taught Programmes Advisory Group
Purpose
To support the work of the Special Cases team.
Reporting structure
The group will not be responsible for reporting, this responsibility will remain with the Special Cases Team.
Terms of reference
- To provide a second opinion on the cases which are referred to them by the Special Cases Team. Cases may be referred by the Special Cases Team when they are deemed to be particularly unusual or complex, or when a new precedent may be established.
- To have regard at all times to principles of equity, fairness and transparency and to bear in mind relevant equality and diversity, confidentiality and data protection policies and legislation.
Membership
Some existing members of the Special Cases Committee will be retained on the new advisory group.
The advisory group should comprise:
- Three members of the Faculty of Sciences, appointed by the Dean or their nominee
- Three members of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, appointed by the Dean or their nominee
- Three members of the Faculty of Social Sciences, appointed by the Dean or their nominee
When considering an individual case, two members of the advisory group should be present. These members will not be from the same faculty as the student concerned, and will not have had any previous involvement in the student appeal.
Meeting schedule
The group will meet on an ad hoc basis as requested by the Special Cases Team to provide advice on individual cases. Case meetings will normally be held online.