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.
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.
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:
You could officially interrupt your studies for a maximum of one calendar year or, exceptionally, to the start of one further academic year (if it's early enough in the academic year for you to do so). During that period, you will not be expected to study or complete any assessments and some of your entitlements may change, e.g. you won’t be eligible for bursaries or tuition loans. However, you will still be a registered student with access to key information and support. Find out more about interrupting (via the changes to study process).
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 afterthe 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.
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.
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.
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
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.