4. Differential effects of penalties

When imposing penalties, it is important that each student's individual circumstances, stage of enrolment, and any relevant mitigating factors are taken into account. Conduct Committees, the Vice-Chancellor and Deans may encourage students to make representation or submit evidence on the detrimental impacts of specific penalties in individual cases.

Some examples of situations in which penalties may impact more harshly include:

• Penalties of suspension or exclusion for international students
  A penalty of suspension or exclusion may impact more severely on an international student because of visa requirements which stipulate that a student must leave the country if not enrolled. There are also additional financial costs involved for international students who must re-apply for a visa following a period of suspension or exclusion and pay additional course fees. In appropriate circumstances, an alternative may be to consider penalties under Rules 16.3.1(6) and (7) where an international student can complete course requirements prior to the penalty coming into effect. As an example, a student facing a period of suspension (to take effect at a specified time in the future) would be able to complete the course requirements, but at the end of their course, the period of suspension would take effect and the student would be prevented from graduating, unable to access any academic results and official academic transcript or testamur.
• Stage of enrolment
  Most penalties will have a greater impact on students in their final teaching period when they are applying for jobs or for admission to graduate courses.
• Financial penalties
  Severe monetary penalties will have a greater impact on some international students and on students from economically disadvantaged groups.

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