Metadata
Title
Declaring a criminal conviction
Category
international
UUID
855faa7465d243029fb2d8b7bacaa8f5
Source URL
https://student.sussex.ac.uk/new-students/before-you-arrive/registration/crimina...
Parent URL
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/study-abroad-at-sussex/how-to-apply
Crawl Time
2026-03-25T01:43:45+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Declaring a criminal conviction

Source: https://student.sussex.ac.uk/new-students/before-you-arrive/registration/criminal-convictions Parent: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/study-abroad-at-sussex/how-to-apply

During registration we ask all new students to complete a criminal convictions declaration. This allows us to fulfil our safeguarding obligations to everyone in our community.

Our criminal convictions policy

We believe that an unspent criminal conviction should not automatically prevent you from studying at the University of Sussex. Consequently, we don’t ask about criminal convictions as part of the application process (except in the small number of professional courses in our School of Education and Social Work) and will assess your application on academic suitability (without reference to any previous convictions).

However, we have a duty of care to the whole University community, so we will ask you, when you arrive at the University, if you have any relevant, unspent convictions as part of the registration process.

Certain criminal convictions may result in your registration being stopped or suspended, or conditions being imposed upon you to allow your registration to proceed.

Evaluation of your criminal convictions disclosure will be undertaken by the University’s Criminal Convictions Panel.

If you know during the admissions process that you will need to declare a relevant, unspent criminal conviction when you arrive to register, you should contact the University immediately after receiving your offer (and certainly before accepting it) to make a self-declaration. This will enable your case to be considered well in advance of registration so that you know what (if any) implications your conviction will have on your ability to register with Sussex.

If you are eligible to apply for a place in University-managed accommodation, we will also ask you about relevant, unspent criminal convictions during the housing application process. Certain criminal convictions may prevent or limit your access to University-managed housing.

### Draft terms of reference (2026)

#### 1. Purpose

The Criminal Convictions Panel is responsible for assessing cases where applicants or students have disclosed a criminal conviction, or where a conviction has come to light. The Panel will determine the appropriate course of action in accordance with the University’s Criminal Convictions policy and regulatory obligations.

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#### 2. Remit

a) To determine the admission status of an applicant who:

The Panel will decide whether the applicant should:

b) To assess applications for courses requiring an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where the student/applicant has:

The Panel will decide whether the applicant should:

c) To validate a decision to refuse admission where a prior conviction would prevent an applicant from securing a professional placement.

d) To review cases where a current student acquires and discloses a criminal conviction (either during the annual re-registration process or at any other point during their studies) or where a previously undisclosed conviction comes to light. The Panel will decide:

For students on a social work course, if a conviction is acquired or comes to light, the Termination of Training procedures take precedence. If termination is not enacted, any decision regarding the conviction must be validated by the Criminal Convictions Panel.

e) Where any applicant/student is subject to an Order of a Criminal Court, including Probation, or is a serving prisoner, or on Prison Licence, including day release from an open prison:

f) to liaise with the Student Discipline Team as appropriate.

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#### 3. Panel composition

The CCP will be composed of:

The following members will be appointed by the Chair for a three-year term renewable term. Each can delegate to a nominee with the consent of the Chair:

The following members will be appointed by the Chair for the duration of their time in role:

Advisory (Non-Voting) Attendees:

#### 4. Guidance and Procedures

The Panel will follow the procedures outlined in the Guidance for the Criminal Convictions Appeal Panel when reviewing and determining cases.

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#### 5. Appeals

Panel decisions can be appealed. Appeals must be submitted to the Chief Operating Officer via criminal-convictions@sussex.ac.uk within 10 days of the outcome. Further details are set out in the Guidance for the Criminal Convictions Appeal Panel. - [Guidance and procedures for the Criminal Convictions Panel and Criminal Convictions Appeal Panel (2026)](#)

### 1. Introduction

This guidance should be read alongside the University’s Criminal Convictions policy.

If an applicant or a registered student discloses a relevant, unspent criminal conviction, or if the University becomes aware of such a conviction, the Criminal Convictions Panel (CCP) will convene to assess the case. The CCP will determine whether the individual should be permitted to register or continue on their course, whether any conditions should be imposed, or if no action is necessary.

This document outlines:

The objective is to ensure fair, transparent, and consistent decision-making, balancing the safety and welfare of the University community with the educational aspirations of applicants and students. Where the applicant or student is a serving prisoner, a further objective is to support the reporting requirements of the prison, where possible, to facilitate the course attendance requirements.

In this document, the term ‘student’ includes prospective students and applicants.

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### 2. Remit of the CCP

The CCP will consider cases involving prospective or registered students who:

The University defines relevant unspent convictions in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended). This includes:

Convictions from outside England & Wales that correspond to these offences must also be disclosed if they are unspent. Detailed guidance on what constitutes an unspent conviction is available here Spent and Unspent Convictions | Criminal Record Advice | Nacro (National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders)

Convictions that are spent, as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended), are outside the CCP’s remit and do not need to be disclosed. It is the student’s responsibility to determine whether their conviction is unspent and, if so, disclose it to the University.

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### 3. Convening the CCP

#### 3.1. Membership

The CCP will be composed of:

The following members will be appointed by the Chair for a three-year renewable term. Each can delegate to a nominee with the consent of the Chair:

The following members will be appointed by the Chair for the duration of their time in role:

Advisory (non-voting) attendees:

#### 3.2. Quorum

A minimum of four members, including the Chair and one elected Students’ Union Officer, must be present for decision-making.

#### 3.3. Administration

Minutes of the meeting will be taken by the Secretary, who will also assist the Chair with any other administrative matters.

#### 3.4. Awareness and training for CCP members

CCP members must have read and be familiar with:

CCP members are encouraged to stay up to date with statutory requirements including UCAS guidance changes. Members can request training at any time by informing the Chair.

#### 3.5. Timeframe

The Chair will endeavour to schedule a Panel meeting within 21 days of receiving notice of the case. If a longer time period is necessary, the student will be notified as soon as possible.

The Chair may (but is not required to) exercise a discretion to defer the Panel until the conclusion of any further ongoing criminal proceedings against the student and will inform the student of the reasons for any deferment.

The Panel will usually take precedence over any University Disciplinary process and need not be delayed for internal Disciplinary Proceedings unless the Chair decides that exceptional circumstances exist that require this, in which case the student will be informed.

#### 3.6. Preliminary review

Upon receiving notice of a case, a case pack will be provided to panel members at least seven days before the meeting. This will include:

Panel members must review the case pack before the Panel meeting. If a member cannot attend, they may submit questions or observations to the Chair in advance.

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### 4. Decision-making process

#### 4.1. Meeting and case deliberation

The CCP will meet and consider:

#### 4.2. Risk assessment

The CCP must assess whether the student can safely be part of the University community. A risk assessment will be completed using the risk assessment form (Annex A) and will be completed during the CCP review of the case. The CCP must consider any risks:

The risk assessment should be drafted after consultation with the Executive Dean, Associate Dean for Education & Students and the Head of Faculty Operations for the Faculty where the student/applicant is proposing to study. Consideration will be needed by the Faculty of any academic and operational risk factors which may affect the decision, including what conditions are appropriate.\ \ If the student/applicant is on a court order or is on license from prison, including a temporary licence, the risk assessment should include any advice on risk and address any stated conditions or requirements of the relevant statutory authority supervising that licence (see also 3.6 above).

#### 4.3 Legal and psychological advice

For complex cases, the Chair may seek guidance from:

### 5. Outcomes

#### 5.1. Possible decisions

Based on the deliberations and risk assessment, the CCP shall determine which of the following is the most appropriate outcome:

#### 5.2. Conditions

Conditions may include, but are not limited to:

Non-compliance with conditions may result in disciplinary action, suspension and/or withdrawal from their course.

#### 5.3. Support

If a student is admitted or permitted to continue their studies, the CCP will ensure they receive appropriate support to help them succeed at the University. This includes providing relevant information about the University’s support and wellbeing services.

#### 5.4. Timeframe

The University will use its best endeavours to notify the student of the outcome of the Panel, including the grounds for the decision, in writing within seven days of the outcome being determined. However, in more complex or serious cases, the University may extend this timeframe where necessary.

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### 6. Student submissions, representation and face-to-face meetings

#### 6.1. Student submissions

Students have the right to submit written representations to the CCP. These must be no longer than 1,000 words and submitted within seven working days of being notified of the referral to the CCP. Representations should include:

#### 6.2. Face-to-face meetings

At the Panel’s discretion, a face-to-face meeting may be offered (either in person or remotely) to allow the student to provide additional information and enable the CCP to make a fully informed assessment.

If a student is invited to a face-to-face meeting, attendance is voluntary. However, attending provides an opportunity to present further information and respond to any questions from the CCP. Students invited to a meeting will be given the opportunity to provide a short verbal statement.

#### 6.3 Representation

The CCP will want to hear from the applicant/student directly so representation, including legal representation, is not required or permitted. This includes written student submissions and face-to-face meetings. If a meeting is offered, the student or applicant may be accompanied by a person of their choice for support, advice and assistance, not representation.

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### 7. Appeals process

#### 7.1. Grounds for appeal

The University recognises that the requirements to declare a criminal conviction may have a different impact on applicants and current students. The following grounds of appeal are available.

Applicants may appeal a decision on the grounds that:

Current students may appeal a decision on the grounds that:

#### 7.2. Appeal submission and timeframe

Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Chief Operating Officer (via CConReg@sussex.ac.uk) within 10 days of receiving notification of the CCP’s decision. Appeals should include:

#### 7.3. Consideration by the Chief Operating Officer

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will review the appeal to determine whether:

If conditions are met, the appeal will be referred to the Criminal Convictions Appeal Panel (“the Appeal Panel”). If not, the CCP’s decision will stand, and the appeal will not proceed.

#### 7.4. Appeal panel composition

If an appeal is referred to an Appeal Panel, it will be chaired by the Chief Operating Officer, who will appoint two additional members from the following:

Panel members must not have been involved in the original CCP decision. They will be required to familiarise themselves with the relevant policies in accordance with section 3.4 above.

#### 7.5. Appeal meeting

The Chair will use their best endeavours to convene the Appeal Panel within 28 days of accepting the appeal. At least seven days before the meeting, the Panel will receive the relevant papers, including:

The Appeal Panel will conduct a paper-based review of the CCP’s decision. In most cases, the Panel will not need to meet with the student, unless there are exceptional circumstances (such as this being required as a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010). Depending on the grounds of appeal, the Appeal Panel may choose to conduct an additional risk assessment, but is not obliged to and may rely on the CCP’s risk assessment.

#### 7.6. Appeal outcomes

Following its review, the Appeal Panel may:

#### 7.7. Final decision and completion of procedures

The Appeal Panel’s decision is final and will usually be communicated in writing to the student, including the reasons for the decision, within seven days of the appeal meeting. This will be the completion of the University’s own procedures.

If an enrolled student is dissatisfied with the outcome, they may submit a complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA).

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### 8. General guidance

#### 8.1. Transparency and fairness

All processes must be conducted in a fair manner in accordance with the published Policy and Guidance, which is available to all Applicants and Students.

#### 8.2. Data protection and confidentiality

When processing personal data, the CCP will comply with the University’s Data Protection Policy. Any processing of criminal conviction data will typically follow the individual’s consent and will adhere to the University’s Appropriate Policy Document.

If reporting conditions are imposed with external agencies (e.g., to support a student who is on licence, including a temporary licence from a prison), a channel of communication will be set up at the CCP between nominated University staff and the external agency.

#### 8.4. Support services

Students will have the benefit of the University support services, including wellbeing, counselling and Students’ Union advice, at all stages of the process.

Applicants can request directions to support services available outside the University.

The University provides consultation services for both Students and Applicants seeking guidance on alternative educational pathways. These consultations should be scheduled promptly to allow for timely decision-making. Any student who is refused admission or withdrawn can be referred to these services.

#### 8.5. Continuous review

The CCP’s Terms of Reference and procedures will be periodically reviewed to ensure they remain relevant, effective and aligned with legal and regulatory requirements.

#### 8.6. Training

CCP and Appeal Panel members must familiarise themselves with relevant materials and guidance concerning criminal convictions, as outlined in section 3.

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### 9. Records, monitoring and compliance

#### 9.1. Follow-up procedures

Where appropriate, the CCP shall instruct the Director of the Student Experience Division to implement measures to monitor compliance with any conditions imposed for admission or continued registration. This may include the establishment of communication channels with external agencies, including, but not limited to, the Prison, Police and Probation Services.

#### 9.2. Record keeping

All discussions and decisions will be documented, including:

Records will be processed and stored in accordance with the University’s Records Management Policy and the associated Master Records Retention Schedule, which outlines retention periods for different categories of records.

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### 10. Feedback mechanism

The CCP will endeavour to periodically collect feedback from applicants and students regarding their experience with the process. This feedback will be used to improve the criminal convictions policy, procedures and support services.

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### 11. Breach of conditions of admission or continued registration

If a student breaches any conditions of their admission or continued registration, this will be addressed in accordance with the Student Discipline Regulation 2.

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### 12. Course fees and refunds

If a student is withdrawn, any tuition fee or accommodation refunds will be processed in line with the University's fee refund policies.

What are relevant, unspent convictions?

“Relevant” convictions are:

Where a conviction for an equivalent offence has been received outside England & Wales, the conviction from that other jurisdiction is also considered to be ‘relevant’ and must be disclosed if it is not ‘spent’.

Convictions that are ‘spent’ – as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended) – or will be spent at the point of starting the course of study do not need to be declared. If you are uncertain as to whether your conviction is spent, please seek independent advice.

How do I self-declare?

In your offer letter, you will be alerted to the fact that the University asks about relevant, unspent criminal convictions at registration and that, under our Terms and Conditions, you need to declare these.

If you have a relevant, unspent conviction then, after you receive your offer, you should complete the self-declaration form. You can provide us with details of your situation, and this will then be considered by our Criminal Convictions Panel.

The Panel will write to you after it has considered your case in order to tell you of any implications that your conviction will have on your registration at Sussex.

You can then make an informed decision about whether to accept or decline our academic offer of a place.

Processing of your personal data will be carried out in accordance with our data protection policy [PDF 213KB] and privacy notice.

complete self-declaration form

What if my course has a Disclosing and Barring Service (DBS) check already?

Some of our courses in the School of Education and Social Work require all students to complete an enhanced Disclosing and Barring Service (DBS) check as a condition of entry.

For these courses (in Education or Social Work), our application process for those who are academically qualified includes a requirement for a full declaration of all criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings that are held on the Police National Computer and would appear in an enhanced Disclosing and Barring Service (DBS) check.

If you look suitable based on your application, you’ll need to complete a criminal convictions declaration form, which must be completed and returned. As these courses work with children and vulnerable adults, the selection and interview process includes consideration of any convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings.

Any recommendations for an offer will be considered by the Criminal Convictions Panel for approval. Any offer made will then be conditional on a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.

At registration, you would still be asked the same question about relevant, unspent criminal convictions as all other students (despite the separate DBS requirement).

Can I still apply for housing?

All applicants who are eligible to apply for University-managed accommodation under our housing guarantee will be sent details of our online housing application at the appropriate point in the admissions cycle.

You can still apply for housing, but the housing application includes the same declaration about relevant, unspent criminal convictions. The Panel will need to consider your housing application, and certain convictions may result in the University not being able to offer you accommodation (or there may be conditions placed on your access to University-managed housing).

Read the University housing convictions policy [PDF 157KB].

What if I need to apply for a visa to study in the UK?

Regardless of the decision made by the University, if you are applying for a visa to study in the UK, you will be asked by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) if you have any criminal convictions (including traffic convictions) obtained in any country.

Any information provided will be considered by UKVI as part of your visa application and certain convictions can lead to a visa refusal.

This is entirely separate to the University’s own consideration of relevant, unspent criminal convictions.

Find visa advice on the Student Hub.

What if I get a conviction before I start?

If you acquire a relevant, unspent criminal conviction at any stage after your offer, you should email criminal-convictions@sussex.ac.uk immediately in order to make a self-declaration which will be considered by the Criminal Convictions Panel.

If you have any questions, contact:

complete self-declaration form

What if I get a conviction during my studies?

If you acquire a relevant, unspent criminal conviction at any stage of your studies, you should email criminal-convictions@sussex.ac.uk immediately in order to make a self-declaration which will be considered by the Criminal Convictions Panel.

See more from Registration for new students