The University defines 'extenuating circumstances' as: “Exceptional circumstances that are unforeseen, unavoidable and outside the control of the student and which have prevented, or will prevent, them from performing in assessment at the level expected or required of them".
Assessments covered include coursework, in-class tests and exams. If you are unable to submit coursework by the deadline, or sit an in-class test or an exam, because of extenuating circumstances, you can submit a claim under USW's Extenuating Circumstance Regulations. The main purpose of these regulations is to provide equity for students in relation to the assessments they are required to undertake as part of their course.
There are three types of Extenuating Circumstances claims:
A successful claim would result in you being given an extension or a deferral, allowing you to take an assessment at the next suitable opportunity. This could be in the re-sit period or at a time agreed by the module tutor.
Partner College Students - the way you apply for Extenuating Circumstances is different, see below for details.
IT issues - for IT problems experienced during an assessment there is a different process, please see Assessment Information and Support.
Each year there are deadlines for submitting extenuating circumstances claims for the resit period, for nursing courses and for postgraduate courses.
Those deadlines will be published here when they become available.
The deadline for submission of post-board extenuating circumstances will be 10 working days after the publication of results:
This type of claim can cover circumstances that may impact on studies for 7 calendar days or more and which can be supported by independent evidence.
You should claim within 5 working days of the original assessment submission deadline/date.
You will not be required to supply evidence at the point of application. However, you may be asked to provide supporting evidence when your claim is being assessed or for sample auditing.
I have sat/submitted the assessment
The University operates a ‘Fit to Sit’ policy, which means that when a student submits or presents themselves for assessments, they are declaring they are ‘fit to sit’. Where a student is taken ill during an assessment, or their judgment is impaired when undertaking an assessment, they can request to ‘withdraw their fit to sit’ declaration.
If you are asked for evidence, this table gives examples of evidence you may use to support your claim.
If you are a disabled student (or have a long standing condition) with an Individual Support Plan you are permitted to submit coursework within the late submission period (5 working days), without the usual penalties.
If you have concerns about assessment deadlines, which are not addressed by the above adjustment, you should discuss your circumstances with a Disability Adviser. If appropriate, “flexibility around deadlines” will be added as a reasonable adjustment to your Individual Support Plan. You will then be able to apply for additional reasonable adjustments to particular assessment deadlines when required via the Extenuating circumstances process.
If you are a disabled student (or have a long standing condition) without an Individual Support Plan, you must supply evidence of your disability/condition the first time you apply for Extenuating Circumstances as a result of that disability/condition.
If your evidence enables the Extenuating Circumstances Panel to confirm that you have a disability/long standing condition, USW's Disability Support Team will be asked to create an Individual Support Plan for you which will have “flexibility around deadlines” included as a reasonable adjustment.
If your ability to submit assessments is impacted again at a later date as a result of your disability/condition you can submit an application for Extenuating Circumstances without needing to provide further evidence.
This table gives examples of acceptable evidence you may use to support your claim.
I have sat/submitted the assessment
The University operates a ‘Fit to Sit’ policy, which means that when a student submits or presents themselves for assessments, they are declaring they are ‘fit to sit’. Where a student is taken ill during an assessment, or their judgment is impaired when undertaking an assessment, they can request to ‘withdraw their fit to sit’ declaration.
If you have a good enough reason for being unable to meet the earlier extenuating circumstances deadlines (ie, 5 working days after the original submission deadline/exam date, and 2 weeks prior to the assessment board), you can still apply for extenuating circumstances after results have been issued by submitting a 'Post Board Extenuating Circumstances Claim Form'.
'Post-board' means after the assessment board has met and issued results. All post-board claims must be submitted within 10 working days of your results being published.
This table gives examples of acceptable evidence you may use to support an extenuating circumstances claim.