University & Student Disputes.
If you are facing an academic appeal, a misconduct allegation or fitness-to-practise proceedings at university, early advice can protect your studies and your future. We help students across England and Wales challenge decisions and complain to the OIA.
What kinds of university disputes can we help with?
University and student disputes cover the formal procedures a university uses when something goes wrong with your studies. We advise students on academic appeals, allegations of academic misconduct, fitness-to-practise and fitness-to-study proceedings, disciplinary hearings, and complaints. These processes move quickly and often carry tight internal deadlines, so it pays to get advice as soon as you can.
The framework is broadly the same across England and Wales. Each university runs its own internal procedures, and at the end of them you receive a Completion of Procedures letter that opens the door to the independent ombuds.
What are the grounds for an academic appeal?
An academic appeal challenges a decision about your marks, progression or award. Universities usually limit the grounds to a short list, most often a procedural irregularity, new evidence that you could not have presented earlier, or evidence of bias or a conflict of interest.
What you generally cannot challenge is “academic judgment”, the examiners’ view of the quality of your work. That limit also applies at the ombuds stage. We help you frame your appeal within the permitted grounds and present the strongest version of your case.
Academic misconduct allegations
Allegations of academic misconduct include plagiarism, collusion, contract cheating, fabricating data, and the misuse of generative AI tools. The consequences can be serious, from a capped mark to expulsion, and a finding can follow you into professional life.
These cases turn on detail and process. We help you respond to the allegation, test the evidence, and put forward mitigation where appropriate, so that any outcome is fair and proportionate.
Fitness to practise and fitness to study
If you are training for a regulated profession, medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, social work, teaching or veterinary science, among others, your university will have a fitness-to-practise procedure. A finding can affect not only your degree but your registration with a professional regulator.
Fitness-to-study procedures are different again. They focus on your ability to engage with your course, often where health or wellbeing is involved. We advise on both, with care for what is at stake.
Complaining to the OIA
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) is the independent ombuds for student complaints in England and Wales. Once your university’s internal procedures are complete, you can complain to the OIA within 12 months of your Completion of Procedures letter.
The OIA looks at whether the university acted reasonably and followed its own procedures. It can recommend remedies such as compensation, a fresh hearing or a remark, though its decisions are recommendations rather than orders. You can find out more from the OIA. Getting the internal stages right matters, because they shape what the OIA can later consider.
Can you challenge a university decision in court?
Sometimes. Where a university or the OIA has acted unlawfully or unfairly, judicial review may be available. It is a public law challenge to the lawfulness of a decision, not a rehearing of the merits, and strict time limits apply. Our tribunal appeals and judicial review page explains when this route is appropriate. Where a dispute is really about a contract or consumer rights, a civil claim may fit better, which we cover under civil litigation.
How we can help
We act for students at every stage, from a first response to an allegation, through internal hearings and appeals, to a complaint to the OIA. We give straight advice about your prospects and the options open to you. We charge by the hour and provide a written estimate at the outset. To talk through your situation in confidence, you can request a callback or contact our education team.
Straight advice when the stakes are high, from a first response to an allegation through to a complaint to the OIA.
Our approachClear advice. Practical next steps.
Every university & student disputes matter is different. We start by understanding your situation before we recommend an approach.
We won't push you toward a process that doesn't fit. We won't drag things out. And we'll always tell you what something will cost before we start it.
- A dedicated specialist for your matter, backed by the wider Robertsons education law team
- Transparent pricing — clear written costs before any work begins
- Plain-English advice — no jargon, no surprises
- Offices across South Wales and the South West
Real stories from real clients
“Rhys Palmer was amazing and covered every angle of my case. He uncovered the flaws in the university's approach that led to my full exoneration from allegations of academic misconduct using AI.”A S Academic misconduct
“My experience with Robertsons Solicitors was very effective. They were prompt and informative when I asked questions and helped me navigate what was a difficult process with skill and dexterity.”Sam Benson Academic appeal
“We sincerely thank Rhys Palmer and Dannielle Howard for their support in securing an extension for my Masters of Optometry course. Without their help, qualifying as a fully qualified optometrist would not have been possible.”Jai Chandarana University course appeal
Who would be looking after you?
Some of your university & student disputes team at Robertsons.
Dannielle Howard
Dannielle works in the Education Law department at Robertsons Solicitors, supporting clients on school exclusions, admissions appeals and special educational needs matters. She helped develop the firm's Education Law team alongside Rhys Palmer and was shortlisted for "Legal Assistant of the Year" at the 2023 Wales Legal Awards.
View profileFfion Davies
Ffion is an Education Law Executive. She supports clients through university and school matters, with a particular interest in SEN and ALN cases, working alongside the department's solicitors to help secure positive outcomes for children, families and students.
View profileRhys Palmer
Rhys is Associate Director in the Education Law team. He specialises in SEND and EHCP appeals, school exclusions and admissions, and disputes involving university students — acting for families and students across England and Wales. A recognised voice on education law, he has been quoted by national media including The Independent and Times Higher Education on student rights and university accountability.
View profileQuestions clients ask us about university & student disputes
The OIA covers both England and Wales — all higher education providers in both countries that are registered with the OIA must comply with its scheme, and students at those providers can complain to it after exhausting internal procedures. The regulatory framework differs: in England, the Office for Students regulates higher education; in Wales, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (Medr) — which replaced HEFCW in 2023 — has a broader remit covering further and higher education. For students at Welsh universities, the internal complaints process, the OIA route, and the legal remedies available are broadly the same as in England. The Welsh language dimension may be relevant for students at Welsh-medium or bilingual institutions — universities in Wales have obligations under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 that English universities do not.
The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator for higher education in England. It registers and regulates universities and other higher education providers, sets conditions of registration relating to quality, access, and student outcomes, and can investigate providers that are failing students. The OfS does not handle individual student complaints — it does not have the power to resolve disputes between students and their university or to award compensation. If you have a complaint about your university, the OfS can be made aware of systemic issues, but the right route for individual complaints is through the university's own procedures and then, if necessary, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator. In Wales, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (Medr) performs a broadly equivalent regulatory role.
The OIA is the independent body that considers student complaints about higher education providers in England and Wales. Before complaining to the OIA, students must exhaust the university's internal complaints and appeals procedures and receive a Completion of Procedures letter — this is the document that confirms the internal process has concluded. Once received, the student has 12 months to submit a complaint to the OIA. The OIA can consider complaints about a wide range of issues including academic appeals, disciplinary matters, discrimination, and service quality. It can recommend remedies including compensation, changes to academic outcomes, and policy changes. OIA decisions are not legally binding, but universities almost always comply with them.
University students have a range of legal rights when their education goes wrong. The contract between a student and their university is governed by consumer protection law — students are consumers, and universities must deliver what they promise. If a university fails to provide the course, facilities, or support it contracted to provide, students may have a claim for breach of contract or under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Students also have rights under the Equality Act 2010 if they experience discrimination or a failure to make reasonable adjustments for a disability. Internal complaints procedures, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), and in some cases the courts all provide routes to challenge a university's decisions or seek compensation.
Universities are subject to the Equality Act 2010 and must make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities — including physical, mental health, and neurodivergent conditions. Reasonable adjustments in higher education commonly include: extended time in examinations; alternative assessment formats; accessible accommodation; support workers or note-takers; assistive technology; and adjustments to attendance requirements. The duty is anticipatory — universities should have general adjustments in place — and reactive — they must respond to individual students' needs. If a university fails to make reasonable adjustments, a student can bring a disability discrimination claim through the OIA and, ultimately, through the county court. Students should register their disability with the university's disability service and request adjustments in writing, creating a paper trail.
Have a question that isn't covered here? Speak to one of our university & student disputes specialists directly.
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