Quality Manual – Chapter 8

Grievances, Appeals, and Ethics

8.1. Student Grievances and Complaints

The University is committed to addressing grievances and complaints promptly, and to help resolve them in a reasonable manner. A provision has therefore been established for students to report any irregularities in their course of study through lodging a formal complaint with the University, after which an independent investigation into the matter concerned will take place. Students lodging complaints should identify themselves properly (i.e. no anonymous complaints) and follow the steps stipulated in the Procedures for Dealing with Student Complaints of Sub-degree, Professional and Continuing Education Programmes (Appendix 8-1). The Procedures serve as a guide for students in pursuit of complaints and a framework for the University to handle student complaints. These Procedures are based on the principle that complaints received shall only be considered on matters of procedure that might have resulted in the complainant being unfairly treated.

8.2. Appeals against Academic Results

Whilst ultimately there may be no appeal against an academic judgement, under certain circumstances students may still wish to appeal against their results, which are handled in the following manner.

Students who wish to appeal against their results in a particular course should first discuss the matter with the course teacher. Students still wishing to lodge an appeal afterwards should do so in writing to the assessment panel/ examination board concerned within two weeks of the grade release date. No grade appeal will be entertained thereafter.

8.3. Ethics

Ethics for members of the University are detailed in the University websites. Some useful documents include:

  • Policies and Regulations on copyright in CUHK Library11
  • Policy on Intellectual Property12
  • Diversity and Inclusion Policy13
  • Policy Against Sexual Harassment14
8.4. Whistleblowing Policy

The Whistleblowing Policy is established to enable staff, students and other relevant parties to report their concern, in good faith and on a strictly confidential basis, about perceived irregularities in the operation of the University and the activities undertaken by its staff members that fall outside the scope of existing University policies and procedures. Members of the University can be assured that they can report such perceived irregularities without fear of reprisal or retribution.

For further details, please refer to the policy document on the University’s website15.


11 https://www.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/research/copyright/guidelines/compliance

12 https://www.orkts.cuhk.edu.hk/images/Policy/Policy_on_IP_2020.pdf

13 https://www.dio.cuhk.edu.hk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/diversity-inclusion-policy-en4980.pdf

14http://policy-harass.cuhk.edu.hk/images/Content/Revised-Policy_Eng_Final_Clean.pdf

15https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/english/documents/whistleblowing-policy.pdf?20190306