ECs are defined as circumstances outside of your control, which negatively affect your academic performance or prevent you from completing your assessment. In most cases these circumstances should be unforeseen or unexpected, but the University understands there are some exceptions.
The circumstances should have occurred close to the date of your assessment(s) or during a period when you were preparing for the assessment(s).
The following are some examples of exceptional circumstances:
- Serious, short-term illness or injury.
- Ongoing illness or disability that has worsened, including mental health conditions.
- Symptoms of an infectious disease that could be harmful if passed to others.
- Death or signifiant illness of a close relative or friend.
- Unexpected caring responsibilities.
- Significant domestic and/or personal problems that led to acute stress.
- Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic incident.
- A crime that had a substantial impact on you.
- An accommodation crisis, such as eviction or an uninhabitable home.
- An emergency or crisis that prevents you from doing your assessment.
- A technical problem outside of your control, which prevented you from accessing an online assessment or teaching.
- Safeguarding concerns.
- Undertaking public duties, such as jury service or international sporting events.
Don’t worry if your circumstances don’t fit within the above examples, you can still submit a claim under the 'Other' category.
Are there any circumstances that would not be accepted?
The following circumstances would not usually be accepted:
- Mistaking the date/time of an examination or coursework deadline
- General pressure of academic work e.g. a number of assignments with similar deadlines, as you are expected to plan your work schedule.
- Employment commitments (though there are some exceptions – seek advice).
- Alarm failure on the morning of the examination
- Holidays, house moves or other events that were planned or could be reasonably expected.
- Minor transport disruption.
- Computer, printer or other IT device failure where you should have backed up your work or left adequate time to access facilities.
- Minor illnesses such as colds, unless symptoms are severe.
- Minor life events, unless they had a disproportionate impact on you.