An illness that prevents you from undertaking your normal daily activities – such as food poisoning or short-term stomach bug, influenza, Covid-19, infections and viruses, illnesses brought on as a side effect of medication for longer term conditions.

 

 

Visits to A&E, overnight or longer stays in hospital that were not planned - usually due to sudden illness/accident).

Pre-planned in-patient hospitalisation for surgery, treatment or investigative procedures.

• The death of a person close to you at a time close to your assessments.
• The death of a person for whom you are the executor of their will or for whom the settling of their affairs will fall to you.
• Attendance at a funeral on the day of an examination.
• Attendance at a funeral on the day of other assessment.

• A short-term flare up of a mental health problem, such as a depressive episode, panic attack, period of extreme symptoms.
• Where a new diagnosis of a mental health condition is made, and you are adjusting to the diagnosis/news.
• The short term effects of the onset of a new mental health condition, where you are adjusting to or waiting for treatment/medication.
• Short-term side effects of medication.
• Effects of unavailability of prescribed medication.

• A short-term flare up of a longer term medical condition/illness (e.g. an episode of acute Sciatica as a result of an ongoing back problem).
• Where a new diagnosis of a longer term medical condition (e.g. diabetes, cancer, lupus, arthritis) is made and you are adjusting to the diagnosis/news.
• The short-term effects of the onset of an illness or medical condition, where you are adjusting to or waiting for treatment/medication.
• Short term side effects of medication/treatment for your condition/illness (e.g. chemotherapy, pain medication).
• Effects of unavailability of prescribed medication.

• Divorce or separation from your partner.
• Divorce or separation of your parents/other close family member.
• Matters relating to custody of your child/children.
• Diagnosis of serious/terminal illness of or harm to a close friend, partner or relative.

The unexpected need to care for a family member as they are unwell or require other urgent support (this can include short term unexpected child care issues such as unexpected school closures).

• Major damage to your place of residence due to fire/flood etc. or other “Force Majeure”.
• Major disruption due to emergency repairs to your place of residence that were not planned in advance.
• Short term unforeseen severe disruption to the suitability of your place of residence for study, due to the actions of others residing in the property. Where this becomes more long term you will be expected to make arrangements for more suitable study locations, such as campus study spaces or alternative accommodation.

IT issues at the time of submission should be notified to your School/Department using the communication methods outlined for each assessment. You should only apply for Extenuating Circumstances if your School/Department advise you to do so.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are completing an online assessment in a suitable environment and have a stable internet connection and you have a back up if required. The University campus is open, and you can opt to work there if necessary. If you have any technical issues in accessing or submitting the assessment or problems in producing the assessment in the format requested, you should contact your School for advice as soon as possible; do not leave this until after the deadline. Remember the upload time built into the exam is to allow any IT issues to be resolved. Leaving your upload of an exam or coursework until the last 5 -10 minutes before the submission deadline is at your own risk, and an extenuating circumstances application relating to a temporary loss of internet will not be accepted, unless it occurs on campus.

It is your responsibility to ensure that when using your own device your operating system is able to submit in the appropriate file format, please ensure when using applebased systems that you are able to work and submit in Microsoft applications.

If you are unable to access your device for authentication, you will need to contact the IT Service Desk (Telephone: +44 (0)1784 414321) to intervene on your behalf. The Service Desk can help you access your account to add a new method of authentication. Alternatively, you should visit the IT Service Desk in the Library. You can find further details about the Multi-Factor Authentication here. Please note that we will not accept EC applications relating to problems using MFA unless you can evidence that you have contacted IT (see above) in a timely manner to seek advice.

 

When travelling to an assessment and your ability to get there on time is prevented due to transport problems such as:

• Mass cancellations of trains and/or buses on your route and where no alternative route is available
• Car breakdown on the way to an assessment
• Flight delays preventing travel to an assessment.

This could cover many kinds of accident but may include:

• being involved in a road traffic accident
• tripping or falling
• being involved in an accident while using public transport
• accident sustained during paid employment
• accident sustained whilst participating in sports/hobbies.

The usual financial difficulties, including additional stretching of budgets as experienced by all during the current cost-of-living crisis, do not constitute mitigating circumstances, unless there has been a significant, sudden and unexpected change in financial circumstances, such as redundancy, change in funding/sponsorship, bankruptcy or political unrest in home country impacting funding/sponsorship. If your personal financial situation has been negatively impacted by external factors beyond your control, which may be preventing you from studying, we would recommend that you contact the Financial team in the first instance, to assess your finances and what support may be available to you. They will also be able to advise you of the best course of action to take. Once the financial team have assessed your finances, you may then make an Extenuating Circumstances application.

Where you are the victim /reporting party of a crime or illegal activity that causes injury, distress or longer term impactful trauma.

Where you are called to attend Jury Service and are unable to defer or be excused from your service.

If you're summoned for jury service, please contact your Personal Tutor immediately to discuss your application for excusal. Applications for excusal of Jury Service from students during term-time, and particularly during examination periods, will be deferred by HMCS in the first instance. However, only in extreme circumstances will a person be excused entirely from jury service.

Information about requesting excusal/deferral form Jury Service is available here.

Where you are summoned to appear in court either as a witness or defendant on the day of an assessment.

The usual professional commitments or employment demands do not constitute extenuating circumstances, unless there is evidence from an employer that commitments and demands have been exceptionally substantial and temporary.  This only applies to part time students. Full-time students are only permitted to work part time i.e. for a maximum of 20 hours per week, to support their studies and should arrange such work or voluntary work so that it does not conflict with their responsibilities as a student.

Long term/ongoing medical or mental health conditions (including those that are supported by reasonable adjustments agreed by the Disability & Neurodiversity team) are usually not accepted except where a new diagnosis has been made, treatment changed or a flare up of the symptoms of the long term condition has occured and affected your ability to complete assessment.

You can also seek support and guidance from the wider Wellbeing Department for mental health or wellbeing challenges

 Such events can be anticipated and alternative arrangements should be made.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit work by the published submission deadline and/or arrive at scheduled examination venues before the scheduled start time of your assessment/s.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of the location of your examination as well as the start time and duration (see section 3, parts A and C, of the Assessments Guidance to Students).

These will not constitute acceptable extenuating circumstances as students are aware of such scheduling in advance and are expected to manage their time accordingly.

You are expected to understand the workload expected to be successful on your chosen course. It is part of you study experience that you learn to manage your workload.

Full-time students are only permitted to work part time i.e. for a maximum of 20 hours per week, to support their studies and should arrange such work or voluntary work so that it does not conflict with their responsibilities as a student.

IT problems encountered during your usual study time should be addressed by accessing IT facilities in study areas on Campus or by arranging alternative IT facilities yourself. 

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are completing an online assessment in a suitable environment and have a stable internet connection and you have a back up if required. The University campus is open, and you can opt to work there if necessary. If you have any technical issues in accessing or submitting the assessment or problems in producing the assessment in the format requested, you should contact your School for advice as soon as possible; do not leave this until after the deadline. Remember the upload time built into the exam is to allow any IT issues to be resolved. Leaving your upload of an exam or coursework until the last 5 -10 minutes before the submission deadline is at your own risk, and an extenuating circumstances application relating to a temporary loss of internet will not be accepted, unless it occurs on campus.

It is your responsibility to ensure that when using your own device your operating system is able to submit in the appropriate file format, please ensure when using apple based systems that you are able to work and submit in Microsoft applications.

If you are unable to access your device for authentication, you will need to contact the IT Service Desk (Telephone: +44 (0)1784 414321) to intervene on your behalf. The Service Desk can help you access your account to add a new method of authentication. Alternatively, you should visit the IT Service Desk in the Library. You can find further details about the Multi-Factor Authentication here. Please note that we will not accept EC applications relating to problems using MFA unless you can evidence that you have contacted IT (see above) in a timely manner to seek advice.

This should have been raised with the School/Department and resolved at the time.

You are expected to plan your travel to campus in such a way that there is some contingency for unanticipated delays due to road works, an accident etc.

It is your responsibility to take steps to apply for your visa well ahead of your return and to anticipate that there may be some minor delays. If, however, your application was submitted in a timely fashion and the delay occurred at UKVI or other relevant agencies, you will need to provide evidence of the date of your request for a visa and any other relevant documentation from UKVI relating to the processing of your visa.

All students are expected to remain in the UK during term times and other published learning times of their programme. Please see the guidance regarding traveling during your studies here. Failing to comply with UKVI rules and university guidance is not an acceptable reason for Extenuating Circumstances. Please contact International Advice for further information and advice.

You are not permitted to take holidays in published term times. If these coincide with submission deadlines, it is your responsibility to submit work ahead of such events. In the case of missed examinations the School Progression and Awards Board may permit you to resit, but this would count as a second attempt and the course outcome would be capped.

If these coincide with submission deadlines, it is your responsibility to submit work ahead of such events. In the case of missed examinations the School Progression and Awards Board may permit you to resit, but this would count as a second attempt and the course outcome would be capped.

If your driving test interferes with your studies (prevents you from attending class, taking an examination or submitting work on time) this is both foreseeable and preventable and you are expected to reschedule.

This will not be accepted as a valid extenuating circumstance. Holds are only applied when you have failed to complete an action required for your studies to continue.  

 

The College does not normally deem religious fasting to be an extenuating circumstance because the mainstream rules around fasting, for example at Ramadan (Ramadan On Campus) or Lent, should ensure adherents are not disadvantaged by this obligation. However if a student feels particular adverse circumstances apply to them, they are asked to raise the issue well in advance to see if any adjustment is appropriate.

Where circumstances are deemed to be within your control and therefore could be foreseen or prevented, they will not normally be accepted as valid reasons for not engaging with your studies or completing assessments as required.