Postgraduate feedback, appeals and complaints
There are a range of reasons why your application may not have been successful. The following information provides details about the University's feedback policy, as well as details about the appeals and complaints procedures for applicants.
If my Masters application is unsuccessful, how can I request feedback?
Your application may have been unsuccessful because:
- you did not meet the specific entry requirements for your course
- you did not meet our standard entry requirements for admission.
We can only respond to you as an applicant in any feedback, appeal or complaint, unless you give us written permission to discuss your application with a parent, guardian, teacher or careers adviser.
If you would like feedback about your application, put your request in writing and email: pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
You must include:
- your full name
- application number and course
- information on why you want feedback after your application was unsuccessful.
You will be sent a letter or email acknowledging receipt of your request and we will aim to respond within 28 working days.
Why has my PhD application been unsuccessful?
We will let you know by email or through our online application system if your application has been unsuccessful.
Your application may have been unsuccessful because:
- you did not meet the specific entry requirements for the area of study
- you did not meet our standard entry requirements for admission
- an appropriate supervisor is not available.
We can only respond to you as an applicant in any feedback, appeal or complaint, unless you give us written permission to discuss your application with a parent, guardian, teacher or careers adviser.
How do I appeal against a decision?
As an applicant, you do not have the right to appeal against our academic judgement. However, you can request a formal review of our selection decision on the grounds that:
- information was missing from the original application
- there has been a misinterpretation of information or data contained within the original application
- there were inconsistencies in the handling of the application.
You can only request a review after receiving feedback on your application, and the review must be requested within 28 days of the feedback being sent to you. You must clearly state why you are requesting a review.
There is a separate fee status appeals process if you want to challenge your fee status assessment.
If you applied for a Masters, you should put your review request in writing to pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk.
If you applied for a PhD, you should put your review request in writing to researchstudentoffice@sussex.ac.uk.
What should I do if I have a complaint about the admissions process?
If you would like to make a complaint, you must write to us within three months of the conclusion of the admissions process.
If you applied for a Masters
You must write to:
Head of Admission Office
ßÏßÏÊÓƵ House
ßÏßÏÊÓƵ
Falmer
Brighton
BN1 9RH
Email: pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
If you are still dissatisfied with the outcome of the complaint, you can send it to the Academic Registrar for final review. You must submit the request in writing within 28 days of receiving the response from the Head of Admissions Office.
You must write to:
Academic Registrar
SSRO, Level 1, Bramber House
ßÏßÏÊÓƵ
Brighton
BN1 9RH
Find out more about our Masters feedback, appeals and complaints procedure [PDF. 48.12KB]
If you applied for a PhD
You must write to:
Head of Research Student Administration
ßÏßÏÊÓƵ House
ßÏßÏÊÓƵ
Falmer
Brighton
BN1 9RH
Email: researchstudentoffice@sussex.ac.uk
If you are still dissatisfied with the outcome of the complaint, you can send it to our Academic Registrar for final review. You must submit the request in writing within 28 days of receiving the response from the Head of Research Student Administration.
You must write to:
Academic Registrar
SSRO, Level 1, Bramber House
ßÏßÏÊÓƵ
Brighton
BN1 9QU
Find out more about our PhD feedback, appeals and complaints procedure [PDF 27.48KB]