It’s important that you complete your assessments on time, and there is a wide range of support available to help you to do so.

However, in exceptional circumstances, you may be eligible for a short extension to your coursework, or to postpone/re-take an exam or time-constrained assessment.

Important!

Wherever possible, you should complete your assessments within the allotted timeframe. Any delay in completing an assessment or reassessment might impact when you receive your results for the relevant module/level.

  • This could affect your ability to start your next year of study on time, potentially holding up the release of your student finance.
  • If you are in your final year, it could delay the completion of your studies. This might mean your graduation will be at a later date.
  • For students on a Student Route Visa, a delay in your results can impact upon your visa obligations. If this occurs close to the end of your course, it could also affect your application to the Graduate Route.

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Exceptional circumstances: headline information

If you are affected by events which are unexpected, outside your control and short-term in nature (i.e. lasting one to two weeks), under the exceptional circumstances procedure you may be eligible for:

  • A seven day extension to your coursework (via self-certification request).
  • A 14 day extension to your coursework (via evidence-based request).
  • To defer your exam or time-constrained assessment if you have not yet submitted/attempted it (via self-certification or evidence-based request).
  • To re-take an exam/time-constrained assessment, if you feel your performance on your first attempt was negatively impacted (via impaired performance request).

Please note you are unable to request:

  • More than a 14 day extension to coursework.
  • More than the scheduled amount of time to complete your exam/time-constrained assessment.
  • A deferral of your assessment to the next academic year, unless:
    • You are eligible to trail and progress; or
    • You're studying a Trimester-based course and the assessment is for a Trimester three module.
  • An extension to coursework due to impaired performance.

The exceptional circumstances procedure applies to all students on taught courses (although the process is different if you are studying at a partner institution). However, to avoid disadvantaging students who complete their assessments on time, extensions or postponements are only approved in genuinely exceptional circumstances which meet the criteria.  

If you are on a research course, you should check your Blackboard or contact graduatecollege@canterbury.ac.uk for information on extension processes.

Year-round support for your studies

Completing your assessments on time helps you to manage your workload and means you’re able to progress to your next level of study (or complete your course) within the expected timeframes.

To help with your planning, we publish assessment and reassessment periods for each Academic Calendar well in advance, in addition to the schedule of assessment activities and submission dates in your course/module handbook. Throughout the year, there is a wide range of support available to you to help you meet your deadlines and succeed in your studies, including online resources (like the Learning Skills Hub), in-person support (from your personal academic tutor and student peer mentors) and both digital and print resources in the library.

Alternatives to the exceptional circumstances procedure

The exceptional circumstances procedure is one of several ways that the University supports students who are unable to submit work on time or attempt their exams because of events which are beyond their control. It is for students impacted by events which are unexpected, outside their control and short-term in nature (i.e. lasting one to two weeks).

Before you apply for a short extension to your coursework or to postpone/re-take an exam or time-constrained assessment via the exceptional circumstances procedure, check that one of the following isn’t better suited to meet your needs:

Extensions versus deferrals

An extension refers to an academic coursework deadline that has been extended to a later date in the same Semester/Trimester. The assessment is submitted and marked in time to be considered at the relevant Module Board; the extended date cannot be beyond the relevant Board date. 

A deferral refers to the postponement of an examination or time-constrained assessment to the next designated assessment period after the relevant Module Board (and in line with the course’s Academic Calendar).

Choosing the right type of exceptional circumstances request for you 

There are three types of exceptional circumstances request:

  • Self-certification
  • Evidence-based extension
  • Impaired performance

Self-certification does not require evidence, but both evidence-based extension and impaired performance requests do.

Each type of exceptional circumstances request has a different purpose and criteria, and it's important you choose the right one for your situation. If you're not sure which request to make, seek advice from either your personal academic tutor (PAT), course director or a student support adviser.

Please note: if you have either a temporary learning agreement or learning support plan, you are not normally eligible for exceptional circumstances unless your performance was impaired by something not already addressed by your plan.

More about self-certifications

  • You can use self-certification to request a seven day extension to your coursework or to postpone your exam/time-constrained assessment to the next assessment point for your course.
  • Only two self-certification requests will be approved per academic year. If you are studying Combined Honours (i.e. two subjects), this limit applies to your whole course of study, not per subject.
  • You can't use a self-certification request to further extend a deadline that has already been extended via a self-certification or evidence-based request, or as a result of a temporary learning agreement or learning support plan
  • You don’t need to supply any evidence with a self-certification request.
  • You can make a self-certification request up to 14 calendar days before your deadline, but for coursework it must be no later than 2pm on the deadline date (this is a change for the 2023/24 academic year). For exams and time-constrained assessments, the request must be submitted no later than the start time of the assessment.
  • Your request will be considered by your course team, so you should normally receive a decision within three working days.

Request an extension or postponement via self-certification, using the exceptional circumstances forms.

More about evidence-based extension requests

  • If you have supporting evidence and a reason which meets the criteria as stated in the exceptional circumstances procedure, you can apply for a 14 calendar day extension to a coursework deadline or to postpone an exam to the next assessment point for your course.
  • For coursework, the maximum extension through the exceptional circumstances process is 14 calendar days from your original deadline. Therefore, you won’t be eligible for an evidence-based extension if you've already been granted an extension due to a temporary learning agreement or learning support plan
  • If you’ve already had a seven day extension through self-certification, an evidence-based request will only gain you another seven days (14 days in total from your original deadline). If you still need more time, and you don't already have a temporary learning agreement, you should contact your PAT to discuss if you are eligible for one.
  • If you previously postponed an exam/time-constrained assessment through a temporary learning agreement or learning support plan, you're not eligible for an evidence-based extension for any further postponement.
  • You must submit your evidence with your application.
  • You can request an evidence-based extension or deferral up to 14 calendar days before your deadline, and no later than seven days afterwards.
  • Your request will be considered by your course team, so you should normally receive a decision within three working days.

Apply for an evidence-based extension or postponement, using the exceptional circumstances forms.

More about applying to re-take an assessment or exam due to impaired performance

  • You can apply to re-take an exam or other time-constrained assessment (e.g. live performance or practical session) if you feel your difficulties affected your performance on your first attempt, and have supporting evidence which meets the criteria.
  • You must submit your evidence with your application.
  • You can apply to re-take on the basis of your impaired performance on the day of the exam/time-constrained assessment, and for up to seven calendar days afterwards.
  • Your request will be considered by your Faculty Panel, so you should normally receive a decision within 21 working days.
  • If your impaired performance request is approved, your original attempt will be dis-counted and you'll need to reattempt your exam at the next assessment point for your course.
  • When you receive confirmation that your request has been successful, you'll also find out when you'll re-take the exam, which is normally in the next assessment period for your Academic Calendar.

Apply to re-take your assessment or exam due to impaired performance, using the exceptional circumstances forms.

Eligibility for evidence-based and impaired performance requests 

Evidence-based extensions or postponements and impaired performance requests are only approved in genuinely exceptional circumstances which meet the criteria as stated in the exceptional circumstances procedure. Reasons for which you would or would not be eligible for these types of requests are outlined below.

  • Computer/IT difficulties or equipment failure, including:
    • Loss of data
    • Uploading an incorrect file to Turnitin
    • Computer breakdown or the inability to access the internet, unless the issue relates to difficulties accessing/using specialist software/equipment required for reasonable adjustment for a student disability
  • Academic workload pressures including multiple deadlines within a brief period of time
  • Mis-reading the assessment deadline or examination timetable, doing the wrong coursework assessment, taking the wrong examination or not understanding the subject/question
  • Stress resulting from involvement in academic misconduct, professional suitability or low level concerns and fitness to practise cases
  • General financial difficulties, or difficulties in accessing resources or computing accounts due to outstanding University debt, unless the problem is not of your own making
  • Self-diagnosis of medical conditions
  • Circumstances where the only evidence is supplied by a relative or friend, or where there is a conflict of interest
  • Term-time holidays or weddings
  • Pregnancy of a friend/relative other than your partner/wife
  • Normal work/life/study pressures including childcare issues
  • Minor ailments, e.g. cough, cold, headache or hangover
  • Unexceptional transportation difficulties including delayed public transport or a car breakdown
  • Oversleeping
  • Illness or loss of pets
  • Issues between friends
  • Electing to support a friend at court

Completing and submitting the correct exceptional circumstances form

Once you know the right type of exceptional circumstances request for your situation, and you've checked that you're eligible, submit your request by using one of the online forms. Take care to complete the form that's right for your particular situation and follow all instructions.

If you have questions about an extension or postponement granted under the exceptional circumstances procedure, you should discuss this with your personal academic tutor (PAT), Course Director or course administrative team to clarify why the decision was taken.

Exceptional circumstances arrangements are different for students at partner institutions. Find out more

Need further advice or support?

If you need further advice on making an exceptional circumstances request, or if you need a different type of support because you have a longer-term problem, speak to your personal academic tutor (PAT), course administrator/support officer or student support adviser.

If you study a research degree course, you should check your Blackboard for information on extension processes or contact graduatecollege@canterbury.ac.uk.