Extensions and special consideration
Extensions and special consideration
We understand that unexpected circumstances beyond your control may prevent you from completing your assessment. If this happens, you may be eligible to apply for more time. Your options will depend on the type of assessment and circumstances.
Need an extension?
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 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.
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.
Applying late
If exceptional circumstances prevent you from applying by 11.55pm on the day your assessment is due, you’ll need to apply for an extension through special consideration. Make sure you provide supporting documentation and a reason for the late application.
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 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)
- victim of crime
- 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
- carer responsibilities (including for your children)
- religious or cultural obligations
- 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 apply for a Withdrawn Incomplete grade.
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 multiple extensions or prolonged extension across the teaching period, we’ll review your applications and may decline your application and instead recommend that you apply for remission of loan debt and if applicable, and within the timelines, a Withdrawn Incomplete (WI) grade.
Need help? Ask our virtual assistant. It can help you check your eligibility and figure out what documents and information you’ll need.
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 (and 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.
Applying late
You can only apply late if exceptional circumstances prevent you from submitting your application on time – you’ll just need to provide a reason in your application.
Not having your supporting documents ready is not a sufficient reason to apply late. You must still submit your application on time without your documents and provide a date in the application form of when these will be available.
Applications received after the release of the final results for the unit will not be taken into consideration under any circumstances.
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.
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
If you're applying for an extension for a group assessment, your chief examiner will determine the appropriate outcome for you and where applicable, for the rest of your group. The outcome will depend on the length of the extension and type of the assessment.
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 and then find that changed circumstances prevent you from completing your assessment by the revised due date, you may be eligible to submit a new application with new supporting documents.
In-class tests
If you’re unable to sit your class test, mid-semester test or practical assessment due to exceptional circumstances, a maximum of two new dates will be provided before your mark for the assessment is finalised.
Late applications
We won’t normally accept an application for an extension after the deadline (i.e. 11.55pm on the day that your assessment is due), but understand that exceptional circumstances could prevent you from applying on time. If you apply late, you’ll need to explain why. (For example, you might have been hospitalised with a serious illness.)
Once results are released for your unit, we can’t accept any special consideration applications.
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.
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