Freedom of information

The University of Plymouth has a commitment to openness and transparency and has always been concerned to make relevant information available wherever possible to individuals who may request it, subject to safeguarding the privacy of individuals and to legitimate considerations of national security, law enforcement and commercial interests where relevant.

The Freedom of Information Act, which came into force on 1 January 2005, gives everyone a statutory right of access to information held by bodies such as the University.

Model publication scheme

From 1 January 2009 the University adopted the revised model publication scheme issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office. You can access a copy of the model scheme and the accompanying Definition Document for universities at the bottom of this page.

Information about the University

You can access a significant amount of information about the University here on our website. In addition, the University has produced a Guide to Information in order to assist individuals in accessing the information we produce: The guide is divided into a number of sections which can be accessed by selecting the links below:

Who we are and what we do (Word document)
What we spend and how we spend it (Word document)
What our priorities are and how we are doing (Word document)
How we make decisions (Word document)
Our policies and procedures (Word document)
Lists and registers (Word document)
The services we offer (Word document)

If you would like a hard copy of any or all sections of the guide, or if you need the information in an alternative format, please contact the University via email or in writing at the address shown below (under 'Making a request for information').

Making a request for information

Individuals or organisations may make a written request for other information which they believe the university holds. To request information under the provisions of the Act, and to help us to help you in identifying the precise information you require please email foi@plymouth.ac.uk, or write, with a completed FOI Request Form (Word document) to:

Freedom of Information,
Secretariat,
University of Plymouth,
Drake Circus,
Plymouth,
PL4 8AA.

Please be sure to include your name and valid postal address, as required under the Act, and a clear description of the information you are seeking. When making a request you can state a preference of how you want the information communicated to you. This could be by providing a hard copy, or an electronic copy of the information, providing you an opportunity to inspect a record containing the information or providing a digest or summary of the information. We will try to meet your preference as far as is reasonably practical, or notify you if we cannot do so.

Responding to your request

We will inform you in writing whether we hold the information you have requested and if so, provide it to you not later than 20 working days after we receive the request.

The Freedom of Information Act does identify a number of categories of information which the university is not required to disclose under the Act. In this case, we will write to you stating the exemption which provides the basis for refusal within the Act and why it applies to the information you requested. We will communicate this to you within the 20 working day time period.

Charges for providing information under the Freedom of Information Act

There is no ‘flat rate’ fee to receive information and in many cases we will provide the information to you free of charge. However, you should note that if the information you are seeking is not readily available in the form in which you are seeking it, the University may charge you a fee based on the costs associated with providing the information, for example photocopying and postage (known as 'disbursements').

The Freedom of Information Act does permit the University to refuse your request if we estimate that it will cost us in excess of the appropriate cost limit (currently £450) to fulfil your request.

Freedom of information Fees Notice

If you need to pay a fee for disbursements or because the costs exceed the appropriate limit, we will write to you advising you of the fee required within 20 working days of receipt of your request. This is known as a 'Fees Notice'. When you are issued the Fees Notice, the 20 working day limit for responding stops, and then will start again when we receive payment. If we do not receive the fee from you within three months we are not obliged to comply with the request.

Requests for personal information made under the Data Protection Act

If you are seeking personal information about yourself, you should apply under the provisions of the Data Protection Act, with a statutory £10 fee. Personal information about others is, and will remain, generally confidential. More information about how the University handles requests made under the Data Protection Act can be found in our Personal Information and Data Protection section.

Complaints

If you are dissatisfied with the way the University has responded to a request for information, please write to:

University Secretary and Academic Registrar
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth
PL4 8AA

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is responsible for enforcing the operation of the Act, and you may raise issues with this office at any time. More information can be found on the ICO website listed below, or by writing to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Related areas on this website:	Related external websites (opens in new window):
FOI request form (Word document) UoP publication scheme (Word document) Energy policy (Word document) Environmental policy (Word document) Disposal of the Seale-Hayne campus	Office of the Information Commissioner Model scheme Definition document for universities