The University has announced changes to the Exceptional Circumstances process that are now in place.
It's important that you have a good understanding of the ECs process and how it can help you with your studies - you can find out more on our webpage and on the University's webpage.
If you're a returning student make sure you read about the changes before you submit ECs!
Extensions
This is a major change to the ECs process - you can now request an extension and it will be automatically granted without you needing to give a reason or evidence.
The downside is that you can only get an extension of five working days (working days do not include weekends, bank holidays or days the University is closed). You can't ask for another extension or for a longer extension. You could try submitting a request for a further assessment opportunity and say in the statement that an extension would be more suitable, or your School might decide a longer extension is appropriate (such as for dissertations and Final Year Projects), however there is no official way of making another extension request.
If you are a student in the Faculty of Health, your School will be willing to grant you a slightly longer extension because of the nature of your course. You would need to submit a claim asking for another assessment attempt and write in the statement section that you would like an extension.
Please be aware that, because extensions are approved automatically, your claim will likely not be read. If you would like any support or just to chat about your issues please reach out to your Student Experience and Support Officer, ASK, personal tutor, or the counselling team.
**When requesting an extension you must make sure you give the correct submission date - if you put the wrong date you will be given the wrong extension deadline and risk submitting the work late. The School will always go by what should have been the correct extension deadline; not what you were given after putting in the wrong date.**
Can I still request other outcomes?
Yes, you can still ask for a further assessment opportunity or a deferred placement. You would need to fill in the form as normal, including writing a statement and uploading evidence.
Who decides EC claims if I ask for a different outcome?
This is another change and has been in place since August. EC claims are no longer decided by your Schools and will instead be considered by the Student Experience and Support Officer (SESO) that is assigned to your School. Once an EC is accepted, the SESO will inform your School, who will decide the best way of arranging your assessment. They might decide you don't need to wait for the next assessment period, or they might even decide it would be more appropriate to just give you more time.
What happens if I have a long-term condition or problem?
Students who have adjustments in place through DDS that allow for flexible deadlines should now be able to arrange new submission dates without submitting ECs. You can speak to your SESO or Disability Liaison Officer, who will make arrangements with the module leader.
If you need multiple ECs, the SESO may get in touch to discuss other options, including Support to Study to help you spread out your deadlines. For long-term problems you may also want to consider a Leave of Absence. You can read more about LOAs on the University website.