Student Code of Conduct

The Student Code of Conduct sets out the standard of behaviour the University expects of its students so that everyone can undertake their studies in a supportive and non‑threatening environment.

Students are expected to behave responsibly on campus, and during other activities associated with the University.  

Any behaviour that affects the safety or wellbeing of students or staff is regarded as misconduct.

The University works with residents’ associations, local representatives and the police to help make our campus and the surrounding areas safe and friendly environments to live. Any behaviour that damages these relationships is also regarded as misconduct.

For misconduct, penalties might include a warning, a fine or a compulsory course.

For serious misconduct, students can be banned from campus, suspended from University or expelled. 

If students live in University-owned accommodation and are found to have committed serious misconduct, or persistent lower-level misconduct, their contract can be terminated and they will have to move out - further information on potential outcomes is in section 3.23.

When a student is accused of serious misconduct, precautionary action may be taken to ban them from campus immediately - further information on precautionary action is in section 3.8 to 3.12.

General

3.1 Where it is alleged that a student has breached the Student Code of Conduct, the matter shall be dealt with in accordance with one of the procedures set out below. In matters relating to halls of residence, penalties that are imposed through the Student Code of Conduct cannot over‑ride the provisions of the Terms and Conditions of Residence.

Standard of Proof

3.2 The standard of proof that shall be used in all cases that are dealt with under this procedure shall be the balance of probabilities, which is the standard of proof that is used in Civil Law. This means that a Disciplinary Panel will be satisfied that an event occurred if the Disciplinary Panel considers that, on the evidence available, then occurrence of the event was more likely than not. 

Allegations

3.3 Allegations of misconduct in Halls of Residence associated with the University should be reported to the Student Living team. All other allegations of misconduct should be reported to the Student Case Management team.

3.4 A student who wishes to make a complaint about the conduct of another student should use the Student Complaints Procedure. The University also has an anonymous reporting route for students who have experienced harassment or sexual misconduct. The “Report and Support” system guides students to appropriate support and provides information on how to take matters further if the student wishes. 

If a report is made anonymously it can be much harder to investigate and to preserve fairness to all parties. Allegations that are made anonymously, whether by students or by other persons, will be considered at the discretion of the University. In exercising this discretion, the factors that will be taken into account will include:

i) the gravity of the allegation;

ii) the credibility of the allegation;

iii) the likelihood of being able to conduct a fair investigation;

iv) whether there is good reason for the complainant to remain anonymous.

3.5 If a student: 

i) persistently makes allegations outside of the Student Complaints Procedure; and/or

ii) does not respect the confidentiality of other parties during an investigation; and/or

iii) persistently seeks to publicise allegations about other staff or students that have been resolved or not upheld; and/or

iv) is adjudged to have made malicious or vexatious allegations;

then disciplinary action may be taken against them. 

Initial Assessment

3.6 When Student Case Management, or Student Living, receive an allegation of misconduct they will conduct an initial assessment and recommend one the following options:

i) there is no case to answer and no action should be taken;

ii) that some form of informal resolution such as mediation is appropriate;

iii) the student is required to attend an informal meeting;

iv) that a fixed penalty fine should be issued under the summary procedure;

v) the case should be referred to a Level 1 Disciplinary Panel;

vi) the case should be referred to a Level 2 Disciplinary Panel.

vii) that an investigation is required before a decision can be made on the appropriate process. An investigating officer will be assigned to conduct a full investigation.

3.7 As part of an investigation a student may be invited to an investigatory interview with the investigating officer. This will not be a disciplinary hearing but will be part of the process for deciding whether disciplinary action is warranted. A second member of staff will attend the meeting to take notes. These notes may be used in a disciplinary hearing. Students will normally be given 5 working days notice of the interview, together with a written summary of the allegations. Students have the right to be accompanied or represented at the meeting by a member of the University – usually an advisor from the Students’ Union Advice Centre. If further information or evidence arises during the course of the investigation, a student may, at the discretion of the investigating officer, be invited to a follow-up interview.

3.8 The recommendation, and the investigation report if relevant, will be provided to the appropriate senior member of staff who will make a final decision on the appropriate procedure to follow. Where there appears to be a clear case of misconduct the matter may be referred directly to a disciplinary panel without investigation.

Precautionary Action

3.9 Where the initial assessment identifies an allegation of serious misconduct, or where the University becomes aware that a student is under investigation by the relevant authorities on suspicion of having committed a criminal offence, a full risk assessment will be conducted. An appropriate Senior Member of Staff will consider whether any risks have been identified that require precautionary action.

The Senior Member of Staff will normally be one of the following:

• Academic Registrar
• Director of Student Services
• Assistant Academic Registrar
• Director of Education Services
• Director of Student Management
• Director of Curriculum Management
• Director of Assessment Management

Where one or more of the following conditions is satisfied the Senior Member of Staff may place restrictions on the student’s access to University facilities:

1. the student’s continued presence compromises the reputation of the University;
2. there is a reasonable suspicion that the student has been supplying illegal drugs;
3. there is a risk that the student might harm others;
4. there is a risk that the student might cause damage to property;
5. there is a risk that the student’s continued presence may inhibit a proper criminal or University investigation;
6. there is a risk that the student’s continued presence may cause serious distress to other students or staff.

Precautionary action can include:

1. immediate suspension from University;
2. restrictions on the campuses and/or buildings of the University that the student may visit or the departments and/or services of the University that the student may access;
3. termination of Licence Agreement for halls of residence managed by the University (giving the period of notice required under the terms of occupancy), or for the immediate transfer of the student to other residential accommodation (including another hall of residence that is managed by the University).
4. A requirement not to contact particular named students or named members of staff.

3.10 Students are given 14 days to submit representations against precautionary action in writing to Student Case Management. Any representations are considered by the Senior Member of Staff.

3.11 If representations are considered and restrictions remain in place, the student will be informed that they have the right to appeal the precautionary action. Any appeal should be submitted within 14 days to Student Case Management and will be considered by the Academic Registrar (or the Chief Operating Officer in cases where the Academic Registrar took the decision to impose restrictions).

3.12 The Academic Registrar or Chief Operating Officer may either decide to retain the existing restrictions, or make some alternative decision that satisfies the institution’s over-riding responsibility to ensure the safety, wellbeing and good order of the University or hall of residence community. The decision of the Academic Registrar or Chief Operating Officer shall be communicated to the student in writing and shall be final.

3.13 Any precautionary action taken is reviewed by Student Case Management no less than once every month. The student can also request a review at any point if they believe there is a material change in the circumstances of the case. If there has been a material change the matter will be referred back to the Senior Member of Staff for reconsideration.

Precautionary action not an assumption of guilt and is not considered a disciplinary sanction. Any breach of a precautionary action will be treated as a disciplinary offence.

Informal meeting

3.14 Where misconduct can potentially be addressed without a formal process, an informal meeting between the student and a member of staff from the Student Case Management Team may be held to discuss the matter. Other members of staff, such as academic staff, may also attend.

Following this meeting the Student Case Management Team will determine which of the following outcomes are most appropriate:

1. there is no case to answer and no action should be taken;
2. that some form of informal resolution is agreed, such as mediation, a training course or an apology.
3. the case should be referred to a disciplinary panel;
4. that further investigation is required before a decision can be made on the appropriate process. An investigating officer will be assigned to conduct a full investigation.
5. A warning letter is issued.

The outcome of the meeting is recorded in a letter from Student Case Management. The letter can include a warning about the possible consequences of any further breach of the Student Code of Conduct. 

3.15 If a student does not attend an informal meeting the senior member of staff can either:

i) send a warning letter in the student’s absence;

ii) refer the matter to a disciplinary panel.

3.16 Students can choose to reject a warning letter and request that instead their case is considered by a disciplinary panel. Any such request must be made within 14 days of the meeting.

Summary Procedure

3.17 Where a member of staff directly witnesses evidence of misconduct on University premises, the matter may, at the discretion of the relevant senior member of staff, be dealt with under this Summary Procedure. In such cases, the student may accept a fixed penalty fine of up to £100, which must be paid within 14 days of the date of the written notification to the student. If the student does not accept the fixed penalty fine, the matter will be referred to a Level 1 Disciplinary Panel.

Level 1 and Level 2 Disciplinary Panels

3.18 Level 1 Panels will comprise two eligible members of staff, one of whom will chair the Panel. For Level 2 Panels the chair of the panel shall normally be an academic Head of Department, or the Director or Head of an administrative or Professional Services area. One member of the panel shall be a senior member of staff of the University and the other member of the panel shall be a member of the Students’ Union or other student representative of the Students’ Union.

3.19 At disciplinary panel hearings, the Investigating Officer, or a member of staff of the University who has not otherwise been involved in the process, shall present the case to the disciplinary panel. 

3.20 When a case is referred to a panel the responding student receives a letter that sets out:

1. a clear specification of the allegation;
2. the time, date and place of the disciplinary panel hearing. Hearings are normally held online but can be held in person at the request of the responding student;
3. their right to be accompanied or represented at the disciplinary panel hearing by a member of the University – usually an advisor from the Students’ Union Advice Centre;
4. their right to call witnesses, to question these and other witnesses and to submit documentary evidence and/or a written statement;
5. a copy of any documentation that will be referred to or made use of during the disciplinary panel hearing;
6. in the case of a Level 2 disciplinary panel hearing, a notice that potential outcomes of the hearing could include suspension or expulsion from the University. For Level 1 disciplinary panel hearings, the letter shall be provided no later than two working days before the hearing (or 48 hours before, in the case of allegations of misconduct in halls of residence that are managed by the University). For Level 2 disciplinary panel hearings, the letter shall be provided no later than 10 working days before the hearing (or 5 working days before, in the case of allegations of misconduct in halls of residence that are managed by the University).
7. Where a disciplinary case has been initiated based on a complaint from another student, the complainant will be invited to attend the Panel hearing as a witness. 

Witnesses will have the opportunity to talk to the Panel and the Panel can ask questions of any witness. The responding student will be able to listen to this interaction. The responding student will have the opportunity to ask any witness questions agreed by the Panel Chair. Once a witness has answered any Panel questions, the witness will be placed in a holding room. Once the witness is in the holding room, the responding student will need to inform the Panel Chair of any questions the responding student would like to ask the witness. If the Panel Chair believes the questions are appropriate, the witness will be bought back to the disciplinary hearing and the Panel Chair will ask the witness the questions. If the Panel Chair believes the questions are inappropriate or the responding student has no questions, the witness will be asked to leave.

During the duration of the witness attendance at the panel, the responding student will be expected to keep their camera and microphone off or remain silent in the case of an in-person hearing.

3.21 If a student fails to attend a hearing, the Panel will consider the evidence and make a decision in the student’s absence.

3.22 If the student admits the allegation, they may then proceed to make a statement of mitigation. If the student does not make an admission, any statement of mitigation is likely to be given much less weight. In all cases where the student does not admit the allegation, they shall be given an opportunity to respond to the allegation.

3.23 At the conclusion of the disciplinary panel hearing, the responding student, their friend or representative, and the investigating officer shall withdraw and the disciplinary panel shall reach a decision. The disciplinary panel shall determine whether or not the student has committed the alleged offence. If the disciplinary panel determines that the student is guilty, it shall then decide on the appropriate penalty. The decision of the disciplinary panel shall be normally be notified to the student orally in the first instance, and subsequently in writing. The written notification shall include a summary of the reasons for the decision and shall be sent within 14 days of the hearing.

Sanctions available to Disciplinary Panels

3.24 Where an allegation against a student is upheld, a Disciplinary Panel may impose one or more of the sanctions that are set out below. Level 1 and Level 2 Disciplinary Panels: 

i) Either an oral or a written warning, advising of the likely consequences of a further breach of the Student Code of Conduct;

ii) A requirement to pay costs in respect of any damages and/or losses suffered by the University and/or any third parties as a result of the student’s actions. Payment must be made to a University Finance Service Centre within 14 calendar days of the date of the written notification to the student;

iii) A fine of up to £300 for a Level 1 Disciplinary Panel and of up to £500 for a Level 2 Disciplinary Panel, which must be paid to a University Finance Service Centre within 14 calendar days of the date of the written notification to the student. Fines may be suspended for a period of up to 6 months, during which time they will become payable only if the student does not meet conditions that have been specified by the disciplinary panel. If, at the end of the period, all of the conditions have been met, the fine will be cancelled;

iv) Withdrawal of specified services and/ or exclusion from particular areas of the University, for a period of up to one academic term;

v) A requirement to undertake up to 10 hours of non-academic work to make restitution for any situation that they created or contributed to creating.

vi) A requirement to participate in a programme identified by the disciplinary panel to educate students about misconduct and its consequences.

vii) A restriction on access to facilities or buildings, or contact with staff and/or other students, for a period not exceeding the remainder of the current academic session, provided that this does not prevent the student’s academic progress.

viii) Re-location of the student to similar accommodation, with immediate effect (where the allegation that has been upheld is of misconduct or serious misconduct in or relating to a hall of residence that is managed by the University).

Level 2 Disciplinary Panels only

i) Recommendation that the agreement for University Halls of Residence is terminated by serving such notice on the student as is legally required (where the allegation that has been upheld is of misconduct or serious misconduct in or relating to a hall of residence that is managed by the University).

ii) Suspension from the University for a specified period of time, up to and including three academic terms or an equivalent period.

iii) Exclusion from particular areas of the University, or University activities, for the duration of a student’s enrolment at the University.

iv) Expulsion from the University.

3.25 If a student fails to comply with a sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Panel, the Panel will impose further sanctions on the student. The student will be informed of the consequences of non-compliance verbally during the Panel, and in their written outcome. Where further sanctions are applied, the student will be informed in writing.

Request for Review

3.26 Students shall have the right to request a review of the finding imposed by a Disciplinary Panel, on one or more of the following grounds:

i) that new information has come to light, which calls into question the validity of the conclusion reached by the Disciplinary Panel;

ii) that there was a material irregularity in the conduct of the process;

iii) that the sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Panel was disproportionate to the offence committed.

3.27 Requests for reviews must be submitted to the Student Case Management Team or Student Living in writing within six working days of the date of the written notification of the panel decision. Reviews in cases that arise from Level 1 Disciplinary Panel hearings relating to halls of residence shall be dealt with by the Head of Residential and Conference Services, or their nominee. 

Reviews in all other cases, except those where the finding of the Disciplinary Panel is that the student should be suspended or excluded from the University, shall be dealt with by a Director or Head within Academic Services who has had no previous involvement in the case. 

Reviews in cases where the finding of the Disciplinary Panel is that the student should be suspended or excluded from the University shall be dealt with by a Deputy Vice-Chancellor or Pro-Vice Chancellor who has had no previous involvement in the case. 

Reviews shall normally be completed within 15 working days of the request for review being received. The Review Stage is not a rehearing of the original case. The reviewer will consider the documents considered by the Disciplinary Panel, the Panel outcome and any additional evidence or written representations supplied by the student(s) requesting review.

3.28 The senior member of staff who reviews the case may reach one of the following conclusions:

i) to uphold the finding of the disciplinary panel and the sanction(s) imposed;

ii) to uphold the finding of the disciplinary panel, but to lessen the sanction(s) imposed;

iii) to refer the case for re-consideration to a new disciplinary panel;

iv) to quash the finding of the disciplinary panel and the sanction(s) imposed.

3.29 The review outcome shall normally by communicated to the student in writing within 28 days of the review request being received. 

Students who are convicted of a criminal offence that results in the imposition of a custodial sentence

3.30 Where the University becomes aware that a student has been convicted of a criminal offence that has resulted in the imposition of a custodial sentence, the Assistant Academic Registrar shall immediately cancel the student’s registration with the University and the student’s current enrolment(s). If, at the end of the custodial period of his/her sentence, the student wishes to return to the University, s/he must submit a new application in the normal way. If at the time the new application is made, the conviction is not deemed to be spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, the matter will be considered by a Risk Assessment Panel, in accordance with the University’s Recruitment and Admissions Policy. 

Completion of Procedures

3.31 Once all stages, including the review stage, of this procedure have been exhausted, a Completion of Procedures letter will be issued. A student who considers that the University has not followed and/or applied the Student Code of Conduct and this procedure correctly may then refer the matter to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) for Higher Education, which provides an independent scheme for the review of student complaints. 

The record of disciplinary cases will be held for 6 years after the last action on the case and will be referred to in the event that a further disciplinary allegation is made against the student. It should not normally be referred to in references. There may however be some limited circumstances where disclosure may be justified if the matter is directly relevant to the duty of care which is owed to the recipient of the reference, for instance, where the job applied for requires a high degree of personal integrity or involves particular responsibility, in line with the student employment reference policy

Contact Student Case Management

If you would like further information or have any questions about any stage of the Academic Appeals procedure, you can contact the Student Case Management Team:

• Telephone: 0161 247 1095 (available Monday to Friday 8:45am to 4:30pm)
• Email: [email protected] 

Contact the Students’ Union

For support and guidance in relation to the Academic Appeals procedure, you can find impartial help from the Students’ Union Advice Centre:

• Telephone: 0161 247 6533 (available Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:00pm)
• Email: [email protected]

You can also visit the Student Hub.

This Procedure forms part of the University’s Regulatory Framework. Other institutional Policies and Procedures that the University uses can be read here:

Manchester Metropolitan University | Policies and Procedures

Version: 3.0

Document Title: Student Code of Conduct

Author Name: Student Case Management

Approved: 11 June 2025

Approved by: Board of Governors

Revision Date: March 2025

Review Date: March 2027

EIA Date: 21 February 2025