The University acknowledges that you may disagree (have a grievance) with a decision made by a member of staff, and in some instances you may have a grievance with another student. To assist you to resolve the issue, the University has developed several policies.

The underlying principles of the policies are to have the matter handled informally where possible and to address grievances as close as possible to the source of your disagreement.  These and other principles, including a flow chart to assist you with whom you should contact in the event that you need to make a formal complaint, are set out in the UQ policy, Student Grievance Resolution.  The procedures to follow vary, depending on whether your grievance is of an academic or administrative nature, or related to your treatment as a person (e.g. discrimination, harassment or bullying).

Academic matters
Academic grievances include assessment matters as well as teaching standards and exclusion from a program. The steps to take for resolving an academic grievance are set out in the flowchart in section 3.2 of the Student Grievance Resolution policy:

• Step 1: Attempt to resolve the problem with the staff member concerned. 
   
• Step 2: If you are not satisfied with the outcome, bring the matter to the attention of the head of school/head of academic discipline.
   
• Step 3: If the matter remains unresolved, the matter can be raised with your faculty's Executive Dean (or, for PhD and MPhil candidates, the Dean of the Graduate School) preferably in writing.
   
• Step 4: If you disagree with the Dean's final decision in relation to any academic matter, a written appeal can be submitted to either:
  
  
  • The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) with regard to teaching standards, or
     
  • The Senate Student Appeals Committee for other academic matters.

Academic Progression: Show cause application application – unsatisfactory academic performance
If you are required to show cause why your enrolment should not be cancelled under the Enrolment and Academic Progression Rules you can apply to your faculty's Associate Dean (Academic).  You will find a link to the Enrolment and Academic Progression Rules on the University Rules page. 

Information for Research Higher degree candidates
PhD and MPhil candidates should follow the guidelines provided on the Graduate School website for resolving problems during candidature.

Administrative matters
For grievances regarding enrolment matters, please follow the steps set out in the flowchart in section 3.2 of the Student Grievance Resolution policy.

Discrimination, harassment & bullying

Refer to the Discrimination and Harassment policy and see a Discrimination and Harassment Contact Officer for more information.

See UQ's Student Grievance Resolution policy for resolution procedures.

In addition, the Equity Office has formulated some guidelines which may assist you to deal with offensive behaviour in the first instance and in a less formal way.

Sexual harassment

The University has a separate grievance process for sexual harassment. Refer to the Management of Sexual Harassment Grievances policy and see a Discrimination and Harassment Contact Officer  for more information.