Appeal procedure
Table of contents
Requests for rectification regarding the grading of study units
A student who is dissatisfied with
- the grading of a study unit,
- the recognition of studies completed elsewhere, or
- competence demonstrated by other means
may appeal orally or in writing to the teacher involved and make a request for re-assessment. The teacher’s dated decision regarding the request for re-assessment is recorded in the examination papers, or a separate decision is taken.
The request for the re-assessment of a study unit must be made within 14 days of the date on which the student first had access to the grading results and information on how the assessment criteria were applied in his/her case. The request for re-assessment of the recognition of prior learning must be made within 14 days from receiving information on the decision.
A student who is dissatisfied with a decision on a re-assessment request may request rectification from the Appeal Committee within 14 days from the date he/she was informed of the decision. This is described more closely in the next section.
Requests for rectification addressed to the University
A request for rectification, with the exception of requests addressed directly to a teacher (e.g., concerning assessment and grading of studies), must be submitted to the Registry Office of the University. The request must be received by 3 p.m. (Finnish time) on the day of the deadline for submitting a request of rectification.
Mailing address:
Appeal Committee of the University, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä
Street address:
Seminaarinkatu 15, 40100 Jyväskylä
fax: +358 142 601 021
kirjaamo@jyu.fi
Counting of deadlines
If a decision is served by email, it is considered as received on the third day from sending, if not proven otherwise.
If a decision is served by postal mail, it is considered as received on the seventh day from sending, if not proven otherwise.
Request for rectification
A request for rectification must specify in detail the part of the decision and the grounds on which the request is based. The following information must be included:
- the student’s/applicant’s name and contact information
- the name of the unit that made the decision in question
- when the student/applicant received the decision (in case of student selection, the release date of admission decision)
- the decision (sufficiently detailed)
- the kind of rectification being requested
- the grounds for the request of rectification
- copies of documents when necessary
Appeal Committee of the University
The University has a centralised Appeal Committee which handles the requests for rectification. The Rector appoints the Appeal Committee for four years.
The Appeal Committee comprises the chair and eight members who each have a personal deputy. The chair and his/her deputy must be professors. At least half of the other members must be teachers at the University and at least one must be a student. All members, excluding the student members, must hold doctoral degrees.
Deans and directors of independent institutes nominate the persons in their units who prepare the unit’s appeal issues for the decision of the Appeal Committee. The preparation phase starts after the arrival of the request of rectification. The preparation phase includes the hearing of each party before the matter proceeds to the Appeal Committee.
Appeal Committee of the University handles the following rectifications:
1. Appeal procedure against an admission decision
A party dissatisfied with student admission or the selection of students for participation in courses or other instruction may appeal by submitting a request for rectification to the Appeal Committee.
Rectification must be requested in writing within 14 days from publishing the selection results.
In the Joint application to higher education in Finland, the rectification must be requested in writing within 14 days from the final deadline of publishing the selection results in the Joint application (universities may have their own deadlines, which are earlier than the final deadline).
2. Appeal procedure against losing the right to study
A student may, within 14 days from receiving information on the decision, appeal in writing to the Appeal Committee for a review of the decision on losing the right to study.
3. Grade appeal procedure for master’s theses, licentiate theses and doctoral dissertations
A student dissatisfied with the evaluation of a dissertation, licentiate thesis or master’s thesis may submit a rectification request to the Appeal Committee within 14 days from being informed of the decision.
4. Grade appeal procedure for other studies
A student who is dissatisfied with the grading of a study unit other than the ones mentioned in the previous section, or with the recognition of studies completed elsewhere or competence demonstrated by other means may appeal orally or in writing to the teacher involved and make a request for re-assessment. The teacher’s dated decision regarding the request for re-assessment is recorded in the examination papers, or a separate decision is taken. The request for the re-assessment of a study unit must be made within 14 days of the date on which the student first had access to the grading results and information on how the assessment criteria were applied in his/her case. The request for re-assessment of the recognition of prior learning must be made within 14 days from receiving information on the decision. A student who is dissatisfied with a decision on a re-assessment request referred to in this section may request rectification from the Appeal Committee within 14 days from the date he/she was informed of the decision.
5. Appeal procedure against admission to a major subject or line of study
A student may, within 14 days from receiving information on the decision, appeal in writing to the Appeal Committee for a review of the decision on admission to a major subject or line of study.
Abandonment of the rectification process
The student may abandon the rectification process by submitting a written notification of abandonment to the Registry Office of the University.
Decisions of the Appeal Committee
The Appeal Committee must give a reasoned decision in writing on handled issues.
Appeal on a decision
In accordance with Section 84 of the Universities Act, it is possible to request re-assessment of a decision given in the appeal process of the University by appealing to an administrative court (hallinto-oikeus). However, it is not possible to appeal against a decision resulting from an appeal procedure concerning grades or the recognition of prior studies.