Extenuating Circumstances process

What to do if you're ill or something affects your studies or exams

If you are unwell and it’s affecting your ability to study or attend an exam, see your doctor and get official evidence (e.g. medical certificate, doctor’s note etc.). This is a requirement of the procedures. Online-only medical notes (e.g. from Push Doctor) aren’t acceptable medical evidence.

If illness or other circumstances stop you from meeting a coursework deadline or attending an exam, you should submit a request through the Extenuating Circumstances process.

You can request:

• a delayed submission date to submit coursework, normally 5 working days.
• a deferral to take the assessment or exam in the next assessment period.

Requests will be considered by your Local Registry team.

Important:

• You must apply before the coursework deadline or exam date.
• You must include independent evidence from an appropriate third-party (e.g. from a doctor or other professional).
• Late applications or retrospective evidence won’t be accepted.
• If you submit work or attend an exam, it means you’re declaring yourself fit to do so – no later claims will be accepted.

If your request is rejected

You can appeal if:

• you have significant new evidence that wasn’t included before, or
• you believe there was a problem with how your request was handled.

Appeal deadlines:

• 5 working days to appeal a rejected delayed submission deadline.
• 7 working days to appeal a rejected deferral application.

Check Appendix 3 of the Academic Regulations for what counts as valid new evidence.

For full guidance please refer to the Extenuating Circumstances site.