University Policies and Business School Resolutions on Assessment
It is essential that you familiarise yourself with and follow all University policies and procedures and Business School resolutions related to assessments. It is also important that you are aware of the many support services available to you. The University Student Centre, Student Support Services within the Business School, SRC and/or SUPRA can provide you with further information in relation to University policies. Failure to inform yourself of these policies and resolutions will not be accepted as an excuse for any non-compliance with these policies and resolutions.
Business School Resolutions
The following resolutions have been adopted by the Business School. These resolutions apply to both undergraduate and postgraduate units offered by the Business School. The policies, resolutions, and services that are relevant to your studies are listed below.
Simple extensions
A simple extension is an informal arrangement between you and your unit of study coordinator. You may be able to receive an extension of up to two working days for non-examination tasks, as outlined in the Coursework Policy 2014 (pdf, 584KB).
Within the Business School, the decision to grant simple extensions remains the prerogative of the Unit of Study Coordinator for each individual unit. You cannot appeal a simple extension decision as the outcome is not considered an academic decision.
Note that, should you need to apply for special consideration after receiving a simple extension, your supporting documentation will need to relate to the original due date, not the date given by the simple extension.
University policy on simple extensions
Click on this link to access a webpage that explains your rights and obligations under the university policy on simple extensions:
Simple Extensions
Maximum word length
Where a maximum word length is specified, you must conform to that maximum word length. Any assessment that exceeds the maximum word length will incur a penalty of 10% of the total available marks when the submission is 10% above the maximum word length and an additional 10% for each 10% over-length thereafter. The word count must be clearly stated within your assessment.
Note that the maximum word length includes in-text referencing but excludes the reference list and any appendices at the end of the assessment. For further information, refer to the instructions provided by your Unit of Study Coordinator for each assessment.
Submission of written assessments
All text-based assessment tasks (e.g. essays, tutorial papers, group reports, presentation slides, take-home exams) must be submitted via Turnitin for ensuring academic integrity. Students are responsible for ensuring that they have submitted the correct assessment file by the due time including generating and retaining a digital receipt.
University policy on use of similarity detection software
Click on this link to access a webpage that explains your rights and obligations under the university policy on the use of similarity detection software: Use of similarity detection software
Academic appeals
There are three escalating stages in the academic appeals process outlined in the Appeals Rule. Each stage is managed by a different unit within the University. You will need to make sure you submit your appeal to the correct unit, depending on the stage of your appeal.
For all appeals matters, including submitting your appeal or requesting updates, you need to use your University email account.
The appeals process does not give you an automatic right to have an assessment reviewed or re-marked and is not a process for negotiating higher marks. Rather, the process requires you to identify genuine grounds for contesting an academic decision before the appeal is considered by the relevant decision-maker.
Informal resolution with original decision-maker
If you believe you have genuine grounds to contest an academic decision about a mark or grade, you can submit a request for informal resolution.
If your request is related to an exam mark, you should review your exam script before submitting an appeal (although this is not mandatory). Often queries can be resolved without making an appeal.
Once you submit an online appeal form, you will receive an email confirming submission of your appeal.
Your appeal will be directed to the relevant academic staff member for consideration. Appeals will be assessed on their merits having regard to merit, procedural fairness, and University policies and procedures. Once they have reviewed your appeal, an outcome will be emailed to your University student email account within 10 working days.
If, after reviewing the outcome and reasons provided, you believe you still have genuine reasons to contest the decision, you may:
- contact the academic staff member within five working days and make an appointment to discuss the appeal. This is optional and choosing not to request a meeting does not prevent you from making an application for review to the Business School.
- attend the meeting to discuss your appeal. If you attend a meeting, the academic staff member will record the outcome and email a copy of this to you.
If you have any questions, email business.informalappeals@sydney.edu.au and include the unit of study code (for example BUSS1000), your name and student ID in the subject line of the email.
Application for Review
If your concerns cannot be resolved through informal resolution with the original decision-maker, the next stage is to submit an application for review to the relevant faculty or administrative unit. An application for review needs to be submitted within 20 working days of receiving an outcome from your request for informal resolution, or the most recent decision made on the disputed decision.
If you have any questions, email business.academicappeals@sydney.edu.au and include the unit of study code (for example BUSS1000), your name and student ID in the subject line of the email.
Appeals against academic dishonesty or plagiarism decisions
For decisions relating to academic dishonesty including plagiarism, you need to make an application for review to the Faculty (Business School).
University policy on appeals
Please refer to the Current Student website for additional information on Academic Appeals.
Important University policies and procedures related to assessment
Disability support
Students with a disability are encouraged by the Business School to register with Disability Services. Once you are registered, Disability Services Officers can liaise with the Business School on your behalf to ensure you are provided with reasonable adjustments and support. See the Disability Support page for further details on how to register.
Academic honesty module
The module will help you understand the University’s commitment to academic honesty. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete and consists of information about academic honesty and interactive que stions to check your understanding. You are recommended to complete the module before you submit your first assessment for the semester. You can complete the module multiple times until this grade is achieved. Students who completed the module in any previous semesters do not need to do it again. You can click here to access the Academic Honesty Module.
University policy on academic integrity and academic dishonesty
Clicking on these links will take you to a webpage which explains your rights and obligations under the University policies on academic integrity and academic dishonesty and plagiarism:
Academic Integrity
Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
Proofreading and editing services
Editing services may only be used for proof-reading and providing advice on structure, conventions of grammar and syntax, using clear language, logical connections within your text, voice and tone, and avoiding ambiguity, repetition and verbosity. If using an editing service, please review the Academic Honesty Procedures (2016) and Academic Honesty in Coursework Policy (2015).
Individual / group work
Assessments listed as individual are intended to be carried out alone. Assessments listed as group are intended to be carried out within the group assigned. Each group member is expected to contribute equally to group work (e.g. preparation, drafting, proofing and checking of all aspects of an assessable group assignment), including ensuring no breaches of academic honesty. In some cases, however, there may be evidence that a group member has failed to adequately contribute. In these cases, the member mark might be lowered.
It is your responsibility in the first instance to attempt to resolve any differences in member contributions. This can be achieved by having clear and explicit expectations of one another, agreed processes to manage differences of perspectives and conflict, and open and authentic dialogue about how best to work as a team to achieve outcomes. Working in diverse groups in collaborative and effective ways to deliver outcomes is a critical part of education and work, and is an important skill to develop. However, if you are unable to resolve these differences, it is your responsibility to let your Unit of Study Coordinator know and provide supporting documentation and evidence in a timely manner and, ideally, well before the due date for the group assessment.
You should not consult other students (for individual work) or other groups (for group work). This means that you should not share research, contribute to each other's planning or writing of the assignment, read and share drafts of assignments and so on.
Due date / closing date
The Due Date for an assessment is the last day on which you can submit the assessment without penalty. If you submit the assessment after that date, you will receive a late penalty, unless excused by special consideration, special arrangement or reasonable adjustment as provided by an Academic Plan.
The Closing Date is the last day on which an assessment will be accepted for marking. Following the closing date, no assessments will be accepted for marking and students will be given zero for the assessment.
Late penalties
Any assessment submitted after 11:59pm on the due date will incur a late penalty of 5% of the total marks per 24 hour period, or part thereof, late (note that this is applied to the mark gained after the submitted work is marked). Since submission is electronic, weekends and public holidays count as days in the same way as working days.
Any assessment submitted after the due time and date will incur a late penalty unless excused by special consideration, special arrangement or reasonable adjustment as provided by an Academic Plan.
Any assessment submitted after the "Closing Date" noted in the Unit of Study Outline will not be marked or assessed.