Handling complaints and disclosures

Within the collegiate University front-facing staff are likely to receive complaints or disclosures from students.  This page provides information on:

• What information should be provided to students in advance about complaints or appeals
• How to respond to an informal complaint
• Additional mechanisms for responding to postgraduate student concerns
• How to respond to student disclosures

What information should be provided to students in advance about complaints or appeals

It is important for services, Departments and Faculties to clearly advertise complaint and appeal procedures to students, in handbooks, on their webpages and where relevant, via email.

Information about available procedures should not be replicated in these sources, as information may become outdated.  Instead a short description and link should be provided, for example:

​Student Complaints Procedure

​Where a student is dissatisfied with any provision, action or inaction by the University students are able to raise a complaint.  Students are expected to initially raise a complaint with a suitable member of staff within the [Department/Faculty/Service], in the first instance this is XXXX [if you have a Responsible Officer who initially handles complaints].  However, where the matter is serious or where students remain dissatisfied, a complaint can be raised with the central University.  Complaints need to be raised in a timely way and within 28 days to ensure an effective remedy can be put in place. Find further information here: www.studentcomplaints.admin.cam.ac.uk/student-complaints​.

Examination Review Procedure

​Where a student is dissatisfied with examination results, the Examination Review Procedure can be initiated within 28 days of formal notification of the results.  Find further information here: www.studentcomplaints.admin.cam.ac.uk/examination-reviews.​​

​Student and staff behaviour

​Where a student is dissatisfied with the behaviour of another student or a staff member because it amounts to harassment or sexual misconduct then the student can raise this with the University, so that action can be taken.  Find further information here: www.studentcomplaints.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporting.

​​How to respond to an informal complaint

The Student Complaint Procedure expects students to raise complaints directly with Department/Faculty/Service within 28 days of the matter arising (though there may be reasons to extend this deadline).  The Student Complaint Procedure states that students will normally be informed of the name and contact details of the Responsible Officer [the person authorised by the Department/Faculty/Service to respond to student complaints at the earliest stage - called 'local resolution'].  If your Department/Faculty/Service doesn't have a Responsible Officer then consider appointing one to ensure that complaints are managed consistently.  Responsible Officers can seek advice from OSCCA at studentcomplaints@admin.cam.ac.uk at any time.

The Responsible Officer should respond to the complaint in a timely manner and normally within 21 calendar days of its receipt. The response should be in writing if the complaint was in writing or if an investigation has been undertaken (this could include meeting with the student).  The response should include:

• an explanation of the complaint - to confirm understanding of the issue
• an explanation of any investigation that has been undertaken (including reviewing written documentation or speaking with relevant staff)
• a response to the complaint
• any actions that will take place as a result of the complaint
• information about the next stage of the Procedure where the Complainant remains dissatisfied with the response.

The Student Complaint Procedure expects complaints at this level to normally receive a response within 21 days.  Where this is not possible, the Responsible Officer or staff member responding to the complaint should update the Complainant within that period to indicate the reasons for delay and when a response is likely to be provided. 

When sending a written response, you must outline the next stage of the Student Complaint Procedure.  For example:

​If you are dissatisfied with my response then you have 28 days from the date of this email to raise a formal complaint with the University.  If you wish to submit a formal complaint then you will need to submit the form available on this webpage: www.studentcomplaints.admin.cam.ac.uk/student-complaints and all evidence that you wish to be considered to studentcomplaints@admin.cam.ac.uk within 28 days.  You should include a copy of this correspondence with your complaint.

Further guidance for those responding to complaints is available within the Preventing and Handling Complaints Leaflet and Guide to responding to a complaint.

How to respond to student disclosures

In addition to raising complaints about a department/faculty or service, the student may choose to disclose information regarding themselves or another student or staff member.  Depending on the type of disclose, there is information available about courses of action that can be taken. More often than not, the student will just want you to listen.  Don't panic, ask unnecessary questions, or require the student to take immediate action.