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Home>Study at York>Postgraduate research>Applying>Mitigating circumstances

The following information applies to applicants and prospective students only. If you are a student at York with concerns about your current studies, please contact your academic department, and consult our guidance on exceptional circumstances.

If you've experienced personal or social issues that have affected your studies, or your ability to meet our academic entry requirements, you can let us know.

Mitigating circumstances are exceptional, unforeseen and unpreventable events that may have a significantly disruptive effect on your ability to study. These events are normally outside of your control, and may affect your ability to attend college or university, prepare academic work or prepare for and attend examinations.

If you've experienced circumstances like this, let us know by completing our Mitigating Circumstances form below. You can submit this form at any time after you have made your postgraduate application.

Examples of mitigating circumstances that disrupt studies

Below are just some examples of circumstances that we may consider, but please note that this list is by no means comprehensive. All we ask is that you use the form to tell us about circumstances that have affected you and which have been outside your immediate control.

  • A period of ill-health affecting performance in examinations or other pieces of assessed work
  • Bereavement of an immediate family member
  • Other personal, social or domestic circumstances, such as a relationship breakdown at home
  • A disability or long-standing medical condition.

What happens once we receive your form

All forms that include a full description of the nature of the mitigating circumstances will be considered, as part of the admissions process. This may be taken into account when making you an offer or assessing your final award where the University considers it appropriate to do so.

Postgraduate Mitigating Circumstances Form

Personal details

Contact us

If you have any questions about the application process our Postgraduate Admissions team will be happy to help.

Postgraduate Admissions

pg-admissions@york.ac.uk