Extenuating circumstances (ECs) are events that affect your performance in assessments which are unforeseen, unpreventable and out of your control. Our EC procedure is intended to support students with these exceptional, short-term circumstances. To make a claim for extenuating circumstances, students should submit the relevant form with supporting documentation within a set timescale.

Full EC policy

Guidance on Circumstances and Evidence

I submitted my exam but my performance was impacted by extenuating circumstances

Students should submit an extenuating circumstances claim by the deadline.

Raise an EC claim via the Student Enquiry Centre

I did not take my exam due to extenuating circumstances

Students should submit an extenuating circumstances claim by the deadline.

Raise an EC claim via the Student Enquiry Centre

A student can “self-certificate” absence from an exam for a maximum of 2 consecutive calendar days in an examination period. Be aware that this self-certification can ONLY be used for e-exams and NOT coursework or other assessment types.  Make sure you read the policy in full before declaring that you wish to self-certify your absence from an assessment.  Please note there can only be one outcome to such claims – a further attempt at the assessment in the next scheduled assessment period.

Policy on self-certification for examinations

PGR extension to annual review request

Should you feel your studies have been affected by extenuating circumstances and you would like a short extension for a deadline, the standard extenuating circumstances claim should be completed which can be found here

Supporting documentation for extenuating circumstances claims

The usual guidance on acceptable circumstances and evidence are available here.  

Timescales for submitting claims

Coursework/Dissertation/Project: Claims must be submitted before the published coursework deadline

Timetabled Examinations/Assessments: Claims must be submitted within 7 days of the examination.

Full details can be found in Section 9 of the EC Policy

Progression

To progress from one year of your course to the next, you need to meet both the University academic progression regulations plus any additional supplementary regulations on your course.  

Relevant University regulations can be found from here . Please select the relevant section depending on the type of degree and the relevant year of entry onto the course. The progression information can be found under the “Completion of stage” section.

Degree classification information including borderlines

You can find information on how our degrees are classified here . Please select the relevant section depending on the type of degree and the relevant year of entry onto the course. The progression information can be found under the “Other Undergraduate Awards” or “Taught Postgraduate Awards” section (depending on which is relevant).

Resits

A student who, at the first attempt, has not satisfactorily completed a stage (other than the final stage) has a right to one re-assessment in each failed module in order to satisfy progression requirements.  The form of reassessment will normally be the same as the first attempt and will normally be taken in the August/September resit period (14 August 2023 – 1 September 2023, (2 weeks within this period. Actual start TBC). The resit mark is used for progression purposes only; it is the original mark that will be used for degree classification purposes. For example, an undergraduate student may achieve 38 at the first attempt, but 63 on re-assessment. It is the original mark of 38 that will be used when calculating the weighted average to determine the final award classification.

Relevant University regulations for reassessment can be found here . Please select the relevant section depending on the type of degree and the relevant year of entry onto the course. The resit information can be found under the “Reassessment” section.

There is an additional charge for resits. It is a one-off charge no matter how many resits are being taken in the reassessment period. The fee is currently £80 for an undergraduate student and £130 for a postgraduate student.              

First sit

One of the possible outcomes from an extenuating circumstances claim is a “first sit”. That means you can take another attempt at the assessment. This is a new first attempt (and therefore different from a resit) and the new marks will be used for degree classification purposes, unless your new mark is lower in which case your original mark will stand.

First sits will usually be offered in the reassessment period at the end of the academic year.

A number of students decide to not take the first sit offered to them and we will ask you to confirm this to us so we can update our records accordingly.

Can I appeal a decision?

If you are considering making an academic appeal, you should read the separate appeals guidance carefully.  This advice supplements, but does not replace, the formal policy of the University.

Academic Appeals Procedure