When you apply for a short extension, you don’t need to give a reason on your first application for an assessment in a particular unit. All other applications for assessments in that unit will require a reason. Make sure to apply as soon as possible, but no later than 11.55pm on the day your assessment is due.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for a short extension of two calendar days if you can’t complete your assessment on time due to short-term difficult circumstances, such as a medical condition, carer responsibilities (including for your children) or a car accident.

You can apply for a short extension for most assessments (see exceptions below), for example, an assignment or quiz.

When you’re not eligible

If you’ve already been given a short extension for an assessment but you need more time, you’ll need to then apply for an extension through special consideration with supporting documents.

You can’t apply for a short extension for:

• a group assessment
• an in-class test/assessment (including presentations)
• a practical assessment (including laboratories)
• a mid-semester test
• a scheduled final assessment.

If you’ve already attempted an assessment task (or if you’ve exhausted all your attempts for a task that allowed multiple attempts), you won’t be able to get a short extension.

Applying late

We can’t accept late applications. You’ll need to apply, with supporting documents, for an extension through special consideration instead. Your supporting documents will need to show that you weren’t able to apply on time due to extreme circumstances beyond your control (e.g. hospitalisation).

Outcome

We’ll email you the outcome of your application within one University working day, with one of the following outcomes.

Some assessments will require complex arrangements to be put in place and additional time may be needed to assess your application and provide an outcome.

If you need an additional extension

If you’ve already been given a short extension and then find that changed circumstances prevent you from completing your assessment by the revised due date, you may be eligible for an extension through special consideration, with supporting documents.

When you apply for an extension through special consideration, you need to provide supporting documents to show why you can’t complete your assessment as scheduled due to immediate and exceptional circumstances beyond your control. Make sure to apply as soon as possible, but no later than 11.55pm on the day your assessment is due.

Once your situation improves, it’s best to keep working on your assessment and try to submit it as soon as you can. Otherwise, you may risk a late penalty if we don’t approve your application. Also, an extension may delay any feedback on your assessment.

Eligibility

You can apply for an extension (of generally more than two days) through special consideration for any type of assessment except a scheduled final assessment (exam) as long as you can provide documents to support your exceptional circumstances. These will include:

• medical condition (including COVID-19)
• mental health condition
• loss or bereavement
• family (relationship breakdown)
• gender-based violence
• victim of crime or concerns about safety
• financial/employment issues
• military, jury or emergency services obligations
• obligations as athlete, artist or performer registered with Elite Student Performer Scheme or as representative of University in other key events and programs
• religious or cultural obligations
• technical disruption
• disruption caused by international conflict
• other exceptional circumstances beyond your control.

Certain assessments aren’t available for special consideration (e.g. placements) – this is determined by the dean (or delegate) of the faculty. If you can’t complete the assessment and it’s not available for special consideration, check the Handbook to see the alternative arrangements.

When you’re not eligible

We can’t give you an extension for things like:

• losing your Moodle access because you didn’t complete a compulsory module
• technical issues you might have avoided by uploading the correct files, allowing enough time for uploading and having the right equipment
• mistaking your assessment due date
• representing a club or society as a volunteer
• scheduled final assessment (exam) (apply for a deferred assessment instead).

Your application may also be declined if your exceptional circumstances mean that you require prolonged extensions during or beyond the teaching period. We may instead recommend that you withdraw from your unit. You may be eligible to apply for special circumstances.

If you’ve already attempted or submitted an assessment task, we can’t grant you a second attempt or the ability to resubmit. If you’ve exhausted all your attempts for a task that allowed multiple attempts (e.g. a quiz), you won’t be eligible for special consideration. This includes situations where you've started an assessment and it's automatically submitted when closed.

You can't apply to reschedule a supplementary assessment or an additional assessment on a competency hurdle task.

Long-term or ongoing circumstances

If you’re affected by long-term or ongoing circumstances, such as a recurring medical condition or carer responsibilities (including for your children), we encourage you to register with Disability Support Services (DSS). If you’re registered with DSS and the circumstances for which you’re registered prevent you from completing your assessment on time, you may be eligible for an extension through special consideration (as long as DSS has approved you for flexible deadlines). DSS can also support you with other reasonable adjustments to support your learning.

If you require prolonged extension across the teaching period, we may decline your application and instead recommend that you withdraw from your unit. You may be eligible to apply for special circumstances.

Need help? Ask our virtual assistant. It can help you check your eligibility and figure out what documents and information you’ll need.

Applying late

We won’t normally accept an application for an extension after the deadline – 11.55pm on the day that your assessment is due – but we understand that extreme circumstances could prevent you from applying on time (e.g. you were hospitalised with a serious illness). If this is the case, you’ll need to provide evidence of these circumstances and how they prevented you from applying on time.

If you're registered with DSS and were prevented from applying on time due to the nature or exacerbation of your DSS registered condition, you’ll just need to provide supporting documents that explain why you were prevented from applying on time.

Applications received after the final results for the unit are released will not be taken into consideration under any circumstances.

Practical activities (including laboratories) and associated assessments

If exceptional circumstances prevented you from attending your practical activity, it’s best to speak to your chief examiner to see if there’s another scheduled activity you can attend. If there isn’t, you may be eligible to apply for special consideration for the assessment task that’s associated with your practical/lab activity.

Examples

Missed lab: If you have a laboratory in week 1 that you’re unable to complete because of an illness, and the associated assessment is due in week 2, you’ll need to submit an application for the assessment task due in week 2. You'll need to apply by 11.55pm on the date of the lab/practical activity you missed (e.g. the date in week 1) – the application information and supporting documents need to show why you missed this activity.

Completed lab but unable to complete the assessment: If you’ve completed the practical/lab activity but exceptional circumstances prevent you from completing the associated assessment, you may be eligible to apply for special consideration for the assessment task. The deadline for the application is 11.55pm of the date of the assessment task.

Outcome

We’ll email you the outcome of your application within three University working days as long as you’ve submitted a complete application with all the required supporting documents.

If you submitted an application without supporting documents and didn't provide them by the date stated in your application, we’ll cancel your application.

Some assessments will require complex arrangements to be put in place and additional time may be needed to assess your application and provide an outcome.

Successful application

If your application is approved, you may receive one of the following outcomes.

Group assessments

You can apply for special consideration for a group assessment – the application process is the same. If your application is approved (for group assessments where other students are impacted):

• you could be given an alternative assessment task
• the method for marking the work of your group members (who did not apply for special consideration) might change, or
• all the members of your group might be granted an extension.

If you apply and get an extension, it doesn’t guarantee that the rest of your group will be granted one as well. Your chief examiner will decide which outcome best suits your circumstances and let you know.

If your application is not approved

If we don’t approve your application, you’ll still need to submit your assessment.

While you’re waiting for an outcome, and once your situation improves, it’s best to keep working on your assessment and try to submit it as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may risk a late penalty.

If you need an additional extension

If you’ve already been given an extension but you're unable to complete your assessment by the revised due date, you’ll need to submit a new application with new supporting documents. Your supporting documents must explain why you are unable to complete your assessment by the revised due date and how much longer you need.

If you’re waiting for an outcome to an application and realise you need more time than what you requested, you’ll need to submit a new application. When you submit a new application, your previous application will be withdrawn immediately – so make sure you include all the supporting documents needed in your new application.

We’ll email you the outcome within three University working days of when you submit your new application (complete and with all the required supporting documents).

In-class assessments and mid-semester tests

If you’re unable to attend your in-class assessment (for example, a class test or presentation), mid-semester test or practical assessment, you’ll need to provide supporting documents showing the exceptional circumstances that prevented you from completing it on the scheduled day. If you’re providing a medical certificate, it needs to be from an in-person consultation from a fully registered practitioner in the country you’re enrolled in. Video/phone consultation will only be accepted if it was impractical for you to attend in person. Make sure you check our supporting documents page for more details on these requirements.

If your application is approved, we’ll give you a new date to complete your assessment. In some cases, a second (and final) reschedule may be considered – but only if extreme circumstances beyond your control directly impact your ability to attend the new date.

To be eligible for a second (and final) reschedule of your in-class, mid-semester or practical assessment, you’ll need to meet one of the following criteria:

• You have an ongoing disability registered with Disability Support Services (DSS) that prevented you from attending your deferred assessment. You’ll need to provide supporting documents showing that the exceptional circumstances were beyond your control and directly related to your registered condition.
• The exceptional circumstances approved for your deferred assessment are still unresolved. You’ll need to provide updated supporting documents demonstrating the unresolved or ongoing circumstances that have impacted your original and deferred assessments.
• You’ve experienced (and can provide evidence of) extreme circumstances beyond your control, such as:
  • serious and debilitating medical condition
  • severe mental health condition
  • loss or bereavement: death of a person with whom you had a significant relationship
  • military, jury or emergency services obligations
  • gender-based violence
  • disruption caused by international conflict
  • other extreme circumstances.

If you give false information

When you apply for an extension, you must give us information that’s true, accurate and complete, without intending to mislead or gain advantage. If you make a false statement or provide a falsified supporting document, we won't approve your application and we'll refer the matter to Student Conduct and Complaints to investigate for academic misconduct.