Sometimes things happen that can seriously impair your performance in an assessment or prevent you undertaking the assessment at the scheduled time. If these events are unforeseeable and exceptional (i.e. serious and unusual) you may be able to defer an assessment or take it again.
Student Support Plans (for students with a disability) sometimes have the option to request an extension on a piece of work as part of their Plan's adjustments or to defer an examination attempt. The way to request such an extension or exam deferral is to use the exceptional circumstances claim form (at the end of this page) but to indicate that you are requesting an adjustment via your SSP when the form asks for this. Your request will then be forward to your departmental Disability Officer directly.
The guidance on the procedure for submitting a claim was updated and approved by Standing Committee on Assessment in January 2021. This differs from guidance applicable during autumn term 2020. The following guidance is effective from 7 January 2021 until further notice.
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on many aspects of life and the University acknowledges that students are still facing circumstances which may impact on their studies. The University is doing everything it can to allow students to continue to engage in their study, and to allow them to make academic progress where this is reasonable for them. However, we understand that this is impacting everyone differently, and that for some students it may not be possible to properly engage with their study or assessment at some points during the 2020/21 academic year. Although Covid-19 is now an ongoing circumstance, it is accepted that its impact on individual students’ assessments may still be unforeseen and unpredictable.
The list of valid exceptional circumstances that relate specifically to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic are as follows:
If you are experiencing a genuine impact as a result of Covid-19, as well as any other exceptional circumstance that would normally be covered by the Exceptional Circumstances Policy, the following principles apply:
Application: You can apply for exceptional circumstances in the usual way using the existing form.
Evidentiary requirements: The University has agreed to waive the requirement for evidence for the remainder of the 2020/21 academic year. Students must, however, clearly explain their circumstances, as well as the impact that they are having on their assessments. Deadlines for claims have not changed, and claims which don't meet the definition of Exceptional Circumstances Affecting Assessment will be rejected.
These provisions apply during the 2020/21 academic year but may be subject to review in the event that the Covid-19 situation worsens.
Although we will allow extensions, and assessments to be taken 'as if for the first time', in the Summer (which would be likely to take place in the August assessment period for the latter), if those assessments are similarly affected, or students fail to meet the progression criteria at the delayed attempt at the assessment, it is unlikely that they will be able to recoup the assessment in time for the start of the next academic year.
In such cases it is very likely that you will need to take a Leave of Absence for the following academic year.
Circumstances that may fall into this category are:
Academic studies are challenging and everyday life is full of ups and downs. We expect you to use the appropriate support services to help you develop strategies for managing normal difficulties. Your supervisor, college staff or other members of the academic community can help you access these.
The following never qualify as exceptional circumstances:
a. submitting the wrong file type or a corrupted file
b. starting the upload after the deadline has passed
c. a claim of technical issues on behalf of the University with no proof of an error message/ system failure on either the VLE or the University network.
The following may only be regarded as exceptional if there is evidence that they are unforeseeable, unavoidable and had an impact on the assessment:
You must submit a claim before the deadline for the assessment (or date of the exam) if possible, or in any event no later than 7 days after the date of the assessment.
You must also check your departmental guidance on deadlines for submission of a claim.
Exceptional circumstances affecting assessment policy
- Exceptional Circumstances Policy 2020-21 UoY (PDF
, 1,354kb) (Part of the University staff Guide to Assessment)
Use support available
The University offers a range of services to help you develop skills to cope and manage challenges:
To submit an exceptional circumstances claim, you should complete and submit the online form.