This process relates to appeals submitted by applicants for funding to undertake full-time research study who have been unsuccessful.

The only acceptable grounds for appeal will be procedural irregularity or bias in the selection process.

The process will be as follows:

Stage 1

• the applicant will write to the Research Office within three weeks of the date of notification of the outcome of their application indicating the grounds for appeal.
• the Research Office will request the Dean of the appropriate faculty with the Chairperson of Research Degrees Committee (or a nominee external to the faculty) to convene a meeting of the appropriate selection panel to review the selection materials. The review will be chaired by the Dean and a decision will be made in consultation with the Chairperson of Research Degrees Committee (or nominee). Support will be provided by the Research Office.
• If no prima facie case is disclosed in the review of the selection materials, the Dean will write to the applicant indicating that no evidence of procedural irregularity or bias could be found.
• If a prima facie case is disclosed in the review of the selection materials the Dean will recommend that appropriate remedial action be undertaken, i.e. that the applicant be given the opportunity to be interviewed again by a different panel and his or her ranking amended where appropriate.

Stage 2

• should the applicant choose not to accept the decision that there is no prima facie case under 2b.i. (above), he or she has recourse to the PVC (R&I) and must write within three weeks of the notification of the outcome of the review indicating why the decision is not acceptable.
• the PVC (R&I) will convene a panel including the Head of Equality and a lay member of the Council and supported by the Research Office. This panel will review the selection materials and correspondence and will determine whether or not there is a case. No staff involved in the selection process or Stage 1 of the appeal should be involved in Stage 2.

• If no case is disclosed, the PVC (R&I) will write to the applicant indicating the outcome.
• If a case is disclosed the PVC (R&I) will agree that appropriate remedial action, as indicated under 2b.ii. (above) is carried out