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 application is unsuccessful, how can I request feedback?

The most commons reasons why your application may have been unsuccessful are:

  • you did not meet the specific entry requirements for your course
  • you did not have the grades or predictions to meet our typical offer level.

We are happy to provide additional feedback if you are unclear why you were unsuccessful. However, we can only respond to you as the applicant, 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, please put your request in writing and email: ug.applicants@sussex.ac.uk

You should include: 

  • your full name
  • UCAS personal identification number
  • the course you applied for.

You will be sent a letter or email acknowledging receipt of your request and we will aim to respond within 28 working days.


How do I appeal against a decision?

As an applicant, you do not have the right to appeal against our academic judgement. 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.

You should put your review request in writing to ug.applicants@sussex.ac.uk.


What should I do if I have a complaint about the admissions process?

Although we hope you have a good experience in applying to Sussex, we realise that there can be occasions when you have a concern about part of the process and want to make a complaint.

If you would like to make a complaint, you must write to us within three months of the conclusion of the admissions process.

Please write to: 

Head of Admissions Office  
Sussex House  
University of Sussex  
Falmer  
Brighton  
BN1 9RH

Or email: ug.applicants@sussex.ac.uk

If you are still dissatisfied with the outcome of the complaint, you can send it to the Head of the Office of Complaints, Conduct and Funding for final review. You must submit the request in writing within 28 days of receiving the response from the Head of Admissions Office.

Please write to:

Head of the Office of Complaints, Conduct and Funding
Level 1, Bramber House   
University of Sussex   
Brighton   
BN1 9QU

Email: complaints@sussex.ac.uk

Find out more about our feedback, appeals and complaints procedure [PDF 307KB]



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