Navigate to the Student Enquiry Centre and select 'Submit an EC'

You will need to 'Sign in' on the top right of the screen.

Acceptable circumstances:

Where panels assess acceptable circumstances, it is based on the following criteria:

• Was the situation outside of your control?
• Could the situation have been avoided?
• Is it clear from your claim what the actual impact of the event was on your ability to study?

It is important that you offer as much detail as possible in answering these questions when you complete your EC claim.

FAQ: What are acceptable circumstances for EC claims?

Unacceptable circumstances:

The list in the FAQ is not exhaustive, but here are some types of situations where Extenuating Circumstances claims have previously been rejected.

Holidays

It is important that you make sure you are available for your teaching and assessments, this includes any that may be scheduled on Saturday's during the main exam periods or in the reassessment period, (August–September).  To avoid any issues, please plan holidays at times that will not affect your ability to study, prepare for, or complete your assessments. 

See the key exam dates and timetable on the University of Nottingham webpages.

General exam or assessment related stress

We understand that preparing for and taking assessments can be challenging, both physically and emotionally. Feeling stressed, anxious, or not quite yourself before or during exams is something many students experience, and these feelings, while completely valid, are a normal part of the assessment period. Because of this, general ‘exam stress’ (like anxiety, trouble sleeping, or feeling sick) is not usually considered an extenuating circumstance.

However if you’re experiencing more serious or ongoing difficulties that go beyond typical exam stress, do submit a claim.

Misreading the exam timetable

It is your responsibility to ensure you know and remember the location, time and duration of all formal assessments.

See both your own and the master exam timetables on the exam dates and timetable webpage.

Step by step guide to coursework extensions

Coursework

For eligible assessments (check the Moodle page for details), you can request a 5 working day extension for coursework without the need to provide evidence. This is known as a 'coursework self cert'.

Bear in mind:

• In-class tests, group work and presentations are not eligible for self cert claims.
• Use these sparingly, you will only able to claim self cert extensions twice in any academic year.
• In order to identify such a claim, you must check the relevant box when adding your module details on the EC claim form.
• Your school may decide to waive the element or offer you a further attempt dependant on varying factors.

See the 'What outcomes can I get - coursework' section below.

Exams

If you are unable to attend an exam, you may submit a 'self cert EC claim' which (if approved) will offer you a further attempt at a later date.

Bear in mind:

• In-class tests, group work and presentations are not eligible for self cert claims.
• Use these sparingly! You will only able to claim self cert for exams for a maximum of 2 consecutive calendar days during any exam period.
• In order to identify such a claim, you must check the relevant box when adding your module details on the EC claim form.

See the 'What outcomes can I get - exams' section below.

If you have any other questions, do use Live Chat (in the corner of this page) or submit an enquiry to your local assessments team via the 'Ask a Question' link on the Student Enquiry Centre.

Please do:

• Provide independent, reliable documentary evidence
• Submit evidence promptly  

Submit any evidence within 10 working days of the original assessment deadline, it can be submitted later than this, but you must notify assessments in advance via 'Ask a Question' in the Student Enquiry Centre

• Consult University Support Services

Speak to your personal tutor/here for you guides/supervisor or support and wellbeing team as soon as you start experiencing issues.

They may be able to provide you with a support statement that can be used as evidence for your claim.

• Check whether you need to provide evidence or not

You may be eligible for a self cert claim for coursework or exams. 

Presentations, group work or in-class tests are not eligible for self cert claims.

Please do not:

• Attach distressing images

This include graphic photos of injuries or wounds.

Images like this will be removed from your claim immediately and will not be considered as part of your claim.

• Attach photos of you being ill

Contact your personal tutor/here for you guide/supervisor at the earliest opportunity as soon as you start feeling ill.

If you do this early enough, they will be in a position to provide a supporting statement.

• Attach photos of thermometers or covid test results

These images will not be considered as part of your claim.

FAQ: What evidence should I submit with my EC?

If you have any other questions, do use Live Chat (in the corner of this page) or submit an enquiry to your local assessments team via the 'Ask a Question' link on the Student Enquiry Centre

When should I submit my claim?

Claims for coursework should be submitted before the original deadline, for exams you may submit your claim up to 5 working days after your exam.

Providing Evidence:

Evidence should usually be provided at the time of making the extenuating circumstances claim, but may be submitted up to 10 working days from the original deadline.

If you have any other questions, do use Live Chat (in the corner of this page) or submit an enquiry to your local assessments team via the 'Ask a Question' link on the Student Enquiry Centre.

Initial Review:

Your claim will be reviewed within 3 working days of receipt and will be referred to a panel for a decision if required.

Time to outcome:

Once a decision has been reached on your claim, the admin teams have 3 working days to send your outcome. This may take longer during busier periods such as the summer months.

For the majority of approved coursework claims, these are the most popular outcomes:

Extensions (including self cert)

Most extensions will be for 5 working days, however some can be longer dependant on a number of factors. The EC panel will determine the length following a full review of your claim.

The extension date should be identified in your outcome letter. If this is not specified, do contact your local assessments team via 'Ask a Question' on the Student Enquiry Centre

Further attempt

If you cannot complete an exam or coursework, whether you get a first sit, resit, or second resit depends on your situation.

A first sit or resit is an opportunity to retake the coursework later. First sits and resits usually happen in August, but your school might wish you to take it earlier and will contact you if that is the case. 

If you are given a first sit, any marks from your original attempt will be replaced with a zero. To earn marks for this work, you'll need to take the first sit as directed.

Further information is available here:

What is a first sit?

What is the difference between a first sit and resit?

If you have any other questions, do use Live Chat (in the corner of this page) or submit an enquiry to your local assessments team via the 'Ask a Question' link on the Student Enquiry Centre

Waive Element

In some cases, the piece of work may be disregarded, and the mark for the module will be recalculated. This is not something you can request, it will be up to the panel to decide if this is the right outcome, as it does not apply to every situation.

If you have any other questions, feel free to use Live Chat (in the corner of the page) or contact your local assessments team via the 'Ask a Question' link on the Student Enquiry Centre

The commonly awarded outcomes for exams are as follows;

Further attempt

This is the only outcome permitted for self cert claims for exams.

If you cannot complete an exam, whether you get a first sit, resit, or second resit depends on your situation.

A first sit or resit is an opportunity to retake the exam later. First sits and resits usually happen in August, but your school might wish you to take it earlier and will contact you if that's the case. 

If you are given a first sit, any marks from your original attempt will be replaced with a zero. To earn marks for this work, you will need to take the first sit as directed.

Further information is available here:

What is a first sit?

What's the difference between a first sit and resit?

Waive Element

In some cases, the piece of work may be disregarded, and the mark for the module will be recalculated. This is not something you can request, it will be up to the panel to decide if this is the right outcome, as it does not apply to every situation.

If you have any other questions, feel free to use Live Chat (in the corner of the page) or contact your local assessments team via the 'Ask a Question' link on the Student Enquiry Centre

Extenuating circumstances (EC) regulations 

Extenuating Circumstances archived procedures