How to request information from us

If you are unhappy with our response to your information request then you have the right in some circumstances to request an internal review.

If you wish to request an internal review, you should do so within 40 working days of the date of our response. We may refuse to accept your request if you submit it after this date.

You should explain why you are not satisfied with our response, for example: we may have refused to give you some, or all, of the requested information, or you may think we took too long to respond.

How to submit a request for internal review

Your request for an internal review must be made to us in writing, and you should send it by post or email. The address is:

FOIA Internal Reviews
Office for Students
Westward House
Lime Kiln Close
Stoke Gifford
BRISTOL
BS34 8SR

Email: [email protected].

What happens once I submit a request for internal review?

We will normally send an automated acknowledgement confirming receipt of your request for internal review. 

As part of the internal review, we will:

• review the original request
• determine which legislation applies
• consider all the details of the original request and decision, including the application of any exemptions
• consider the concerns you have raised about the original decision.

The outcome of the internal review will normally be determined by a senior member of staff who was not involved in the original decision.

What are the potential outcomes of my internal review?

Following the internal review process, we will send you a response letter telling you the outcome of the internal review. There are three potential outcomes:

• The original decision is overturned or reversed. We will confirm this in our response and provide any relevant information, where applicable.
• The original decision is amended. We will explain the changes and include any additional or revised information in our response. Again, we will inform you about what we plan to do and by when.
• The original decision is upheld. We will confirm this and provide details of how you can escalate your complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

When can I expect a response to my request for an internal review?

We aim to deal with internal reviews within 20 working days. For more complex internal reviews, we may need longer to consider the issues. For example, we may take more time if the review requires consultation with third parties, or where the relevant information is of high volume. We aim to deal with complex reviews within 40 working days.

In the event a clarification of an internal review request is required from you, the response period will not begin until it is received. If we are unable to respond within these timescales, we will write to you explaining why there is a delay and advising when we expect to be able to respond.

What happens if I’m not satisfied with the response?

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your internal review, you can submit a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO is unlikely to consider your request unless you have first been through our internal review process.

Complaints to the ICO should be in writing, setting out why you are not satisfied with our response and the outcome of the internal review.

The ICO can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK9 5AF

Tel: 0303 123 1113

Website: Make a complaint | ICO