Complaints and Concerns
These documents reflect the requirements of our Complaints and Concerns policy and have been written to inform all UAL Approved Centres who offer UAL qualifications and students studying UAL qualifications about the requirements of submitting a Complaint or Concern.
Appeals
The Appeals Policy sets out the requirements for UAL Approved Centres offering UAL Awarding Body qualifications, including the grounds for appeal, the process to be followed, and associated timelines.
Appeals window
The window for submitting appeals relating to external assessment retakes closed on 5 January 2026. Appeals are not currently being accepted.
UAL Approved Centres are advised to familiarise themselves with the Appeals Policy in advance of future appeal windows.
If you have any queries relating to appeals, please contact gradeappeals.awarding@arts.ac.uk.
Reasonable Adjustments
Internally Assessed UAL qualifications
For Reasonable Adjustments requests relating to qualifications that are internally assessed and externally moderated, UAL Approved Centres do not need to apply directly to UAL before deciding upon and applying Reasonable Adjustments. Centres must monitor and record Reasonable Adjustments applied for a candidate internally. For further information about identifying reasonable adjustments for moderation, please refer to the Digital Moderation Guidance. UAL will monitor centres application of Reasonable Adjustments through our quality monitoring processes.
Externally Assessed UAL qualifications
The deadlines for applying for Reasonable Adjustments for the UAL Level 3 Applied General Diploma in Art and Design or Year 1 of the UAL Level 3 Applied General Extended Diploma in Art and Design are:
- 21 November 2025 – for applicants for modified papers
- 2 February 2026 - for applications for all other arrangements
- 28 August 2026 – for applications for modified papers for retake assessment
- 18 September 2026 – for applications for all other arrangements for retake assessment.
There are no extensions to the PebblePad submission deadline 14 May 2026. Where a learner cannot complete due to unforeseen circumstances then please refer to the Special Consideration policy.
If you require any support then please contact us qaesupport.awarding@arts.ac.uk or if urgent, call us on 020 7514 8881 and select option 2, then option 2.
Special Consideration
The Special Consideration policy sets out the requirements for UAL Approved Centres delivering UAL Awarding Body qualifications. It explains what constitutes a Special Consideration, the application process and the associated timelines.
UAL Awarding Body Approved Special Consideration
Applications to UAL Awarding Body for approval of Special Consideration apply to Unit 1 and Unit 2 (UAL Level 3 Applied General Diploma and Extended Diploma) and the Extended Project Qualification.
Application deadlines vary depending on the qualification:
- EPQ and Unit 1 applications must be submitted within 5 working days of the submission deadline
- Unit 2 applications must be submitted by 18 June.
Applications submitted after these deadlines may not be accepted. Centres must submit applications using the UAL Awarding Body Approved Special Consideration Form, which will be available on the website at the end of April 2026.
Centre Approved Special Consideration
Centres may apply Special Consideration for internally assessed units (excluding EPQ and Unit 2 – UAL Level 3 Applied General Extended Diploma).
To be considered for Special Consideration, students must have completed at least 25% of the assessment. Given the nature of UAL assessments, centres are expected to mitigate the impact of any adverse circumstances during the assessment period where possible.
Centres must:
- ensure any Special Consideration applied is appropriate and evidence-based
- retain all supporting evidence and documentation
- complete a Centre Approved Special Consideration Form outlining the rationale for the decision, which will be available to download as a Word document at the end of April 2026
- make this evidence available for external moderation, including within the student’s portfolio.
If you require any support then please contact us at QAEsupport.awarding@arts.ac.uk or if urgent, call us on 020 7514 8881 and select option 2, then option 2.
Malpractice and Maladministration
The Malpractice and Maladministration policy has been written to inform UAL Approved Centres, learners, and any individual involved in any activity undertaken by UAL Awarding Body about the requirements surrounding Malpractice and Maladministration, and the importance of mitigating and preventing wrongdoing. The policy provides detail about what constitutes Malpractice and Maladministration, who can report suspected cases, the process to be followed, including how suspected cases can be reported, how investigations are undertaken and their associated timelines.
UAL Approved Centres must read this policy carefully to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities to identify, minimise and manage cases of suspected or actual malpractice or maladministration.
Any suspected incidents must be reported to centreQA.awarding@arts.ac.uk
- Malpractice and Maladministration Policy (PDF 3.5MB)
- UAL Approved Centre Guidance: Identifying potential or actual malpractice and maladministration (PDF 759KB)
- Investigations procedure for UAL Approved Centres (PDF 3.2MB)
Exemption
These documents reflect the requirements of our Exemption Policy and Process and have been written to inform all centres that offer UAL qualifications about the requirements to ensure accurate information is presented before making an application.
Please read the policy and process carefully before completing and sending the application with the required documentation by the published deadline to: exemptions.awarding@arts.ac.uk
Recognition of Prior Learning
These documents reflect the requirements of our Recognition of Prior Learning policy and process and have been written to inform all centres that offer UAL qualifications about the requirements to ensure accurate information is presented before making an application.
Please read the policy and process carefully before completing and sending the record of the interview and assessment with any required documentation by the published deadline to: exemptions.awarding@arts.ac.uk
- Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and Process (PDF 1.3MB)
- Record of Assessment and Interview for Recognition of Prior Learning Form (XLSX 23KB)
Sanctions Policy
All approved centres have a written and enforceable centre agreement with UAL which outlines the requirements centres must meet to offer our qualifications. This policy sets out the sanctions that UAL may apply to centres, their staff or learners, where they are suspected of having, or are known to have failed to adhere to the UAL Approved Centre Agreement and related policies and procedures.
Conflicts of Interest
The Conflicts of Interest policy has been written to inform UAL Awarding Body staff, UAL Approved Centres, learners, and any individual involved in any activity undertaken by UAL Awarding Body about the requirements surrounding Conflicts of Interest, and the importance of identifying, declaring and managing potential or actual conflicts. The policy and centre guidance provide detail of what constitutes a conflict, when to declare, the process to be followed and the responsibilities of UAL Awarding Body and our approved centres.
UAL Approved Centres must read this policy carefully to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities to identify, declare, mitigate against and manage all potential or actual Conflicts of Interest.
- Conflict of interest Policy (PDF 719KB)
- UAL Approved Centre Guidance: Declaring Conflicts of Interest (PDF 927.3KB)
Approved Centre Conflicts of Interest declaration
Transparency Notice
UAL Awarding Body is committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we process it.
At all times we aim to respect any personal information you share with us, or that we receive from others, and keep it safe.
The Transparency Notice sometimes referred to as a ‘Privacy Notice’, sets out our data processing practices and your rights and options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used and collected. If you have a query about the way in which we process your data, contact information is provided at the end of the Notice.
Retention Policy for Approved Centres
Extended Project Qualification Marking Policy
The Review of Marking policy has been written to inform our learners and UAL Approved Centres who are undertaking or delivering UAL Awarding Body Extended Project qualifications only, of the requirements to submit a request to their centre for a Review of Marking application. This includes what constitutes a Review of Marking, the process to be followed and its associated timelines.
The Policy ensures that all UAL Approved Centres and learners are given the opportunity to have access to a fair and effective system for handling a Review of Marking.
Extended Project Qualification Moderation Policy
The Review of Moderation policy has been written to inform our UAL Approved Centres who are undertaking or delivering UAL Awarding Body Extended Project qualifications only, of the requirements to submit a request to their centre for a Review of Moderation application. This includes what constitutes a Review of Moderation, the process to be followed and its associated timelines.
The Policy ensures that all UAL Approved Centres are given the opportunity to have access to a fair and effective system for handling a Review of Moderation. The Policy also indicates how an appeal can be requested, should a centre not be happy with the outcome of a Review of Moderation.