Self-Certified Short-Term Circumstances (Up to 5 Days) 

Suitable for short-term issues that affect your ability to complete an assessment. 

• No evidence is required
• Limited to two requests per academic year
• Must be submitted:

1. At least 5 working days before a coursework deadline, or
2. On the day of an assessment event e.g. presentation or performance. 

Provides: 

• A 5-day extension for coursework, or 
• Deferral of an assessment event. 

Extended Circumstances (More Than 5 Days) 

• Suitable for longer-term or more significant circumstances e.g. extended physical or mental illness or injury 
• Supporting evidence is required
• Must be submitted by the assessment deadline or assessment event date
• Support may include: 

1. Coursework extensions (typically up to 3 weeks) 
2. Assessment deferrals 
3. Other appropriate assessment adjustments

Requests made after the deadline or assessment event can only be considered through the Academic Appeals process.

Planned Absence 

You may request support for approved activities such as: 

• Court appearances 
• Police investigations 
• Participation in national sporting events 
• Course-related professional opportunities 

Supporting evidence is required. 

Technical Difficulties with Submission 

If you encounter technical issues when submitting your assessment: 

• • Evidence must be provided
  • Requests must be submitted within 24 hours of the submission deadline.

• A working day is Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding UK public holidays and University closure days
• Requests for Assessment Support must normally be submitted before the assessment deadline or event date
• If your circumstances do not meet the criteria for Mitigating Circumstances, Campus Life will contact you to discuss alternative support options.

If there existed circumstances that affected your assessment before the deadline or event which has already passed which for valid reason you could not have disclosed on time, you may be eligible for need to submit an Academic Appeal. This applies whether or not you: 

• Submitted your coursework; or 
• Attended the assessment event. 

You will need to provide evidence demonstrating why you were unable to submit a request before the deadline. 

Download the Academic Appeal Request Form (AAF1a). 

1. Select Ask Campus Life from the Student Portal

2. Complete the Request Form in the Ask Campus Life platform

3. Click Request Mit. Circs button

4. Complete your student details

4. From the What is the nature of your enquiry? dropdown menu, select Request Mitigating Circumstances

5. From the Which circumstance are you requesting Mitigating Circumstances for? dropdown menu, select the option that best matches your situation

6. Enter Assessment Details. For each affected assessment, provide:

• Unit code
• Component/Task details
• Assignment type
• Submission deadline or assessment event date 

If your request relates to:

• Multiple assessment components within a unit, complete additional component details
• Multiple units, select Yes when asked if you would like to add another unit/component/task and complete the additional information. 

7. Explain your circumstances. Provide:

• A brief description of the circumstances
• How the circumstances have affected, or will affect, your ability to complete or attend the assessment
• The period affected, including the number of days lost due to the circumstances. 

8. Upload your supporting evidence. Where evidence is required, upload all relevant documents with your request. Examples may include: 

• Medical documentation
• Official letters
• Court documentation
• Other independent evidence supporting your circumstances 

Requests that require evidence cannot be assessed until appropriate documentation has been provided. 

9. Indicate if this is an extension to a previous request: If you are requesting further support relating to an existing approved Assessment Support claim, indicate this on the form. You are permitted to request up to 2 deadline extensions for a single assessment. Any further requests will be considered at the discretion of the Programme Director who may refer you to the Support to Study procedure. 

10. Submit your request: Review the information provided and submit your request. You will receive confirmation that your request has been successfully submitted. 

What happens next? 

Campus Life will review your request and supporting evidence. 

You will normally be notified of the outcome within 5 working days of submitting a complete request. 

Need help? 

If you are unsure whether your circumstances are eligible for Mitigating Circumstances or Assessment Support, please contact Campus Life for advice before submitting your request. 

Seeking advice early can help ensure you receive the most appropriate support and avoid unnecessary delays.