Student complaints

The University of Birmingham is committed to providing a high quality educational experience, fully supported by a range of academic and administrative services and facilities.  However, we understand that from time to time, things do go wrong, and the University recognises the need for students to be able to express their dissatisfaction where this happens.

Please ensure that you read the full Code of Practice on Student Concerns and Complaints for your cohort (i.e. as defined by the academic session in which you commenced your studies) before submitting your form.

• Codes of Practice, Policies and Guidance

Raising a concern - formal stage:

• Concern review form (Word - 58KB)

Senate review panel - review stage: 

• Senate review panel submission form (Word - 58KB)

Postgraduate Research Student Supervision Experience Concerns:

• Guidance for PGR supervision experience concern form

• PGR supervision experience concern review form (Word - 98KB)

A Student may submit a complaint about the conduct or behaviour of a current University of Birmingham Student or Students by using the ‘Complaints about other Students’ form to request that their complaint is considered in accordance with the University’s Code of Practice on Student Concerns and Complaints. Types of behaviour that could be complained about using this form could include:

• Harassment (including sexual harassment)
• Violent, indecent, disorderly, threatening, intimidating or offensive behaviour or language by another student (including that of a sexualised nature)

Raising a concern or complaint about another student - formal stage:

• Guidance for students submitting complaints about other students: The formal complaint and conduct investigation process (PDF - 109KB)

• Complaints about other students submission form (Word - 93KB)

If your report is about harassment, then it may be more appropriate to follow the procedures outlined in the Policy on Harassment and Bullying before submitting this form: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk//Documents/university/legal/harassment-bullying.pdf   

Before completing this form, you may wish to:

• Seek advice or support from your Wellbeing Officer, Guild Advice or another source of advice/support
• Read the information on the Report + Support webpages: Report + Support - University of Birmingham
  
• Read the guidance on the reporting options available to you: 
  • Part 1. Reporting Options Guidance for Students (PDF - 110KB)
• Read the guidance for students who wish to make a complaint about another student:  
  • Part 2. Guidance on the formal complaint and conduct investigation process (PDF - 110KB) and
  • Part 3. Guidance for reporting students on attending a College Misconduct and Fitness to Practise Committee (PDF - 98KB)
• Read the Code of Practice on Student Concerns and Complaints: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/registry/policy/complaint-appeal/complaints/index.aspx

The Student Conduct, Complaints and Appeals Team will receive the form and decide who should deal with the concern. In cases of alleged harassment, an Investigating Officer will consider whether the alleged behaviour or conduct may amount to harassment under the Policy on Harassment & Bullying, and/ or a breach of University Regulation 8: Student Conduct. 

Third parties such as parents, friends, spouses, sponsors or employers may not normally raise a concern/complaint on behalf of a student.

Anyone discussing a student's personal details with a parent or other third party may inadvertently be breaching the Data Protection Act.

If a student is unable to pursue the concern/complaint on his/her own, the student may authorise another individual to have access to personal information in order to do so. The student will need to complete a personal data disclosure form (PDF - 49KB) for each individual who is to be part of the discussion on the concern/complaint.

In most University processes a student may be accompanied to a meeting by a "Friend". This is defined as a member of the staff of the University, a registered student of the University, a Sabbatical Officer of the Guild of Students or a Guild Advisor of the Guild of Students.

• Student charter 

Guild Advice is an independent, free, and confidential service for all students of the University of Birmingham. They specialise in five main areas: academic, employment, finance, housing, and immigration. You can access support via Guild Advice through a weekday drop-in service, an online enquiry service, or from the website resources.

• Guild Advice at the Guild of Students (formerly the Advice and Representation Centre)

If you have any queries about the Student Concerns and Complaints Procedure please contact:

• Email: student-complaints@contacts.bham.ac.uk

• Please note the following pages are a protected resource for staff use only. A staff ADF username and password will be required to access this information.

  • Further guidance for staff involved in dealing with student concerns