Mitigating circumstances

Tuesday 15 March 2011

If you have any mitigating circumstances that mean you cannot meet an assignment submission deadline or attend an exam, you need to complete and submit the Mitigating Circumstances Form before the submission time/exam time.

If you have circumstances that you feel may have affected your studies during the academic year, you may ask for them to be taken into account by the Board of Examiners. You must complete the Mitigating Circumstances Form before the published deadline.

You must attach appropriate supporting evidence to the form e.g. GP note and hand it to your Programme/Framework Administrator.

Mitigating circumstances are those which:

• were not within the foresight and control of the student (e.g. illness or bereavement of a close relative or friend)
• are not already registered with the University’s Additional Learning Needs Service

and which the University believes might adversely affect the academic performance of a student.

Please note that any circumstances not submitted by the published deadlines/times without good reason will not be considered in the event of an appeal.

Students who wish to appeal after the publication of results may do so providing they can demonstrate valid grounds falling within the following:

• there has been a material irregularity or significant administrative error in the assessment process (e.g. your mark has been transposed)
• the assessment was not conducted in accordance with the regulations for the programme
• your performance in assessment was affected by illness or other factors that, for good and evidenced reason, you could not disclose before the Board of Examiners met

Disagreement with the academic judgement of your examiners is not grounds for appeal.

Appeals must be sent in writing to the Academic Administration Manager for your school/college within 10 days of the publication of results, and accompanied by all supporting evidence.

Links

Mitigating Circumstances Form and Code of Practice

Academic Appeals Policy and Procedure

Please read these documents carefully before submitting anything for consideration.