Who can apply for promotion through the Review?

Any employee who is on an Academic (non-Professorial) grade, or Research grades 6 and 7 can apply for promotion.

When is the Review launched each year?

Heads of School and Institute Directors are normally informed by early January each year that the Review is live, and where to find the documents and deadlines. They are asked to share this information with academic staff within their school / institute.

N.B. For 2012, the Review was delayed to allow some of the documents and processes to be amended and updated.

When are the final decisions made about applications?

The Academic Staff Review Group normally meets around the end of June and final decisions are taken at this meeting.

N.B. For 2012, the Academic Staff Review Group will meet at the end of August.

Is there a 'quota' for the number of promotions that can be made in the Annual Review?

No. Promotions are made solely on the basis of merit, nothing else. All those suitable for promotion will be promoted regardless of number applying, or the number of Professors, Readers or Senior Research Fellows in the School / Institute.

When will I hear what the outcome of my application is?

Letters will be dispatched from the HR department normally at the end of July / beginning of August

N.B. For 2012, letters will be sent out in late September.

Why does it take so long to make a decision on an application?

The University of London criteria for academic promotion is very specific about the process that needs to be completed in order for a promotion to be recognised by the University.

All promotion applications have to be considered by the appropriate College Faculty Panel (Vice Principal, Faculty Deans and Heads of School) or by the Academic Status and Promotions Committee (ASPC) for the School of Medicine and Dentistry. These groups will make recommendations regarding each application based on the criteria stated in the Academic Staff Career Progress Document and the Framework for the Assessment of Academic Contribution.

For applications to Chair or Reader, if the prima facie case is established at Faculty/APSC level, the University is obliged to seek the views of at least 3 experts external to Queen Mary, as to whether they consider the applicant to meet the University of London criteria.

Each stage of the application process can take a number of weeks to complete, hence the apparently lengthy timescales involved.

If I am unsuccessful, will I find out why?

Applicants will receive feedback from the appropriate Faculty VP 

Can I appeal against an unsuccessful promotion application?

Appeals can be made only on the grounds of a defect in procedure. Appeals should be made within four weeks of the date of dispatch of the letter of notification. Details are given under Section 5 of the Academic Staff Career Progress document.