Stage One · Academic Appeal Supporting Statement
Request for Review of an Academic Decision
Ground-led statement · dated chronology · evidence cross-reference · proportionate remedy
01Case reference
| Applicant | Lina Chen | Student ID | NB2407186 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Programme | MSc Data Science | Academic year | 2025/26 |
| Decision date | 6 July 2026 | Appeal filed | 18 July 2026 |
| Decision challenged | The Board of Examiners' decision that I repeat module DS701 with capped marks following a non-submission of the final applied modelling report. | ||
02Ground and chronology
I submit this appeal under Ground B: previously undisclosed extenuating circumstances for which there was a valid reason for non-disclosure, identified in my university's Academic Appeals Procedure as Ground B — unreported extenuating circumstances.
18 May 2026— I developed acute appendicitis and was admitted for emergency treatment while preparing the final report.2 June 2026— I was discharged with a restricted recovery plan and follow-up appointment.- Affected assessment:
DS701 Applied Modelling Report, due 27 May 2026.
Concise account
On 18 May 2026 I was admitted to Northbridge City Hospital with acute appendicitis and underwent emergency surgery the same evening. The admission and early recovery period covered the final nine days before the DS701 submission deadline. I had completed the analysis but could not finish the validation commentary or submit the report safely from hospital.
03Causal explanation
Why the circumstances were not reported earlier
During admission I had no access to my university laptop and was receiving postoperative pain medication. I emailed my seminar tutor on 20 May to report that I was in hospital, but I did not understand that this informal notice was separate from the online extenuating-circumstances process. After discharge, I first accessed the procedure on 4 June, when the deadline had passed. Evidence E02 records the admission and treatment dates; E03 shows the contemporaneous email.
Direct academic impact
The illness did not concern the quality of marking. It prevented completion and submission of one time-bound assessment. My version history in E04 shows that the analysis files were last edited before admission, while the missing validation commentary and upload occurred during the documented treatment period. Other module results are not challenged.
04Ground-to-evidence crosswalk
| Issue to establish | Evidence reference | What the evidence verifies |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | E02 — Hospital discharge summary dated 2 June 2026 | Admission, surgery and recovery dates overlapping the assessment deadline. |
| Non-disclosure | E03 — Email to seminar tutor sent 20 May 2026 | Contemporaneous notice of hospitalisation and the applicant's state during the reporting window. |
Requested outcome
I respectfully request that the University accept the appeal for consideration and refer the case back to the appropriate academic body to decide whether a fresh first attempt at DS701, uncapped and at the next available opportunity, is permitted under the regulations. I understand that the appeal panel will determine the remedy available.
05Evidence index and declaration
- E01 — Board of Examiners outcome email dated 6 July 2026.
- E02 — Hospital discharge summary dated 2 June 2026.
- E03 — Email to seminar tutor sent 20 May 2026.
- E04 — Timestamped DS701 project version history.
- E05 — Certified English translation of medical evidence, where required.
I confirm that this statement and the documents listed above are complete and truthful to the best of my knowledge. I consent to the University verifying the evidence where its procedure permits.
Correspondence email: lina.chen26@example.com
Signed: Lina Chen | Date: 18 July 2026 |
