Since the launch of MyAppraisal in January 2025, more than 77% of eligible colleagues across the University have either started or completed their appraisal online.
UCL’s appraisal window is between January-April however, as this is our first year using the tool, then for this year it has been extended to the end of May.
MyAppraisal is part of a wider digital platform called Thrive that has been introduced to transform how we support career development at UCL and is an initiative that is part of our Strategic Plan 2022-27. This will create a secure and convenient place for all staff’s learning and development activities, including appraisals, development plans and learning records.
The digital platform moves us away from paper-based methods to a streamlined and user-friendly approach that empowers our staff to take an active role in their appraisals and career plans.
Following extensive engagement in its development and based on feedback from over 2,000 staff, MyAppraisal features updated forms that encourage regular appraisals, support meaningful conversations, and reduce the associated administrative burden. It also provides custom appraisal pathways tailored to your role. All eligible staff must use the MyAppraisal form.
We have been regularly updating FAQs which are all’available on the MyAppraisal Sharepoint site and cover topics ranging from training and guidance, how to use the system and how data is stored. Recent FAQs which have been added are also shared below.
Recently added FAQs
MyAppraisal is available for the following staff groups:- Professorial (for Non-Clinical Professors, Professors (Teaching), and Professorial Research Fellows)
- Senior leaders
- Professional Services
- Technical Professionals
- Academic, Research, and Teaching
Honorary staff and PGTAs will not be assigned an appraisal.
The Appraisal Policy is still in place and is currently being refreshed. However, its purpose and spirit has not changed. MyAppraisal is considered to be an evolution of what used to be a very manual and cumbersome process, and it has been designed in line with UCL’s Appraisal Policy.
The purpose of an appraisal should be focused on recognising contributions and achievements, agreeing future objectives and providing support where needed. It should not be used to address matters that fall within the Disciplinary Procedure or the Capability Policy.
All staff eligible for an appraisal and who have received an invite to complete their digital appraisal should do so in the Thrive system. A paper form will only be provided if there are accessibility needs that require a paper-based appraisal to be completed.
As with previous forms, MyAppraisal has been designed in keeping with UCL’s Appraisal Policy. It is an enhanced process that includes some additional optional sections designed to allow users to get the best out of their appraisal conversations. The updated online forms encourage regular appraisals, support meaningful conversations, and reduce the associated administrative burden of the previous paper forms.
All data stored within Thrive is secure and protected by the UCL Information Security Policy, in accordance with GDPR agreements.
You can reassure any members of staff who have concerns by pointing out that appraisals are an essential part of how we develop all’our colleagues at UCL, empowering them to thrive and grow in their careers. All staff eligible for an appraisal and who have received an invite to complete their digital appraisal must complete this online using MyAppraisal.
You can also point members of staff towards the FAQs here and in our SharePoint that answer common questions. We continue to add to and develop this following feedback from staff. If there is a query that staff have that is not covered, please let us know at appraisals@ucl.ac.uk.
No. To allow for flexibility and meet the diverse needs of all staff across the university, some of the sections on the new online form are optional. This does not mean they are not important, but it allows for the user to really get the best out of the system by focusing their efforts of what matters most to them and their individual role.
The Appraisal Review and Development Scheme for grades 1-9 is not linked to procedures that determine pay, grading or promotion (for which UCL has separate arrangements), although staff are encouraged to discuss their aspirations for promotion and career development with their Appraiser. Having a recent complete appraisal is a requirement for consideration for discretionary reward or any progression to a yellow pay point on Grades 8 or 9.
For Professorial staff and Grade 10 Professional Services staff, appraisals are used to inform salary reviews.
MyAppraisal is not used to manage capability or under performance.
Yes. Staff appraisals are a chance for a meaningful discussion to take place around a staff member’s development, and reasonable adjustments absolutely should be raised, if needed, as part of that conversation.
The design of the new system was the result of extensive engagement with staff from across the university. Between June and December 2024, the MyAppraisal team held over 142 briefing and engagement sessions with department and staff networks, involving over 2,000+ colleagues to get their feedback on the new system.
A robust governance framework also underpinned the project with a governance group composed of Professional Services and Academic colleagues, including two Deans, as well as Advisory Groups acting as sounding boards at various key points throughout the implementation.
We welcome feedback and you can submit comments and questions via this form. Following this first round of appraisals, we will seek to refine the system and ensure that we continuously improve it going forward.
Smart objectives are: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
Objectives capture our purpose and the impact we are intending to make in a given appraisal year with our longer-term development plan in mind. Their design is purposefully iterative and measurable and the new system allows for those objectives to be kept up-to-date at any point throughout the year.
The proposed objective categories align to UCL’s professional career frameworks such as the Academic Career Framework (ACF) to support career development and progression.
More information and guidance on setting SMART goals can be found here.
page for information on system support materials. This includes video tutorials and step-by-step user guides.
Support with appraisal skills is available which includes a new e-learning module.
No, our researchers use the same system as everyone else. Their relevant pathway will be the Academic, Research and Teaching pathway. However, a variance of the Academic, Research and Teaching pathway is currently being piloted with a group of volunteers. This is in line with UCL’s ambition to provide a best in class experience for Early Career Researchers (ECRs).
It also considers the feedback received by the research community that the current format of appraisals could be improved to be more relevant to ECRs. The form has been adjusted to reflect ECR’s specific needs.
Any data relating to appraisals and staff development will be stored within Thrive and protected by the UCL Information Security Policy, in accordance with GDPR agreements.
All staff eligible for an appraisal should have received an email notification inviting them to complete their appraisal. You can also access the platform by clicking on the link below: https://liveuclac.sharepoint.com/sites/UCLAppraisals/
This evolution marks the beginning of a more holistic approach to support our colleagues’ development, ensuring their growth and success are closely aligned with UCL’s mission and values.
Over the next 18 months (2025-27), we will develop Thrive to draw together in one convenient, secure place for all staff’s learning and development activities, such as appraisals, check-ins, development plans and learning records.
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