Illness, Personal Problems and Assessments

Coursework:  Extensions and Extenuating Circumstances Request

If you are experiencing difficult personal circumstances which are having an impact on your ability to meet a coursework deadline, there are a number of options available.

An Extension of up to 7 Days (no evidence needed)

If you think your situation is manageable with an extension of no more than 7 calendar days, you should submit an Extension Request using our Extension & Extenuating Circumstances form.  We strongly recommend that extension requests are submitted a maximum of 48 hours before the deadline.  Requests may be accepted up to the submission deadline, however, the response time for decisions is likely to be delayed and non-approved extensions will result in late penalties being applied.  Requests received after the submission deadline are unlikely to be accepted.  You do not need to provide evidence for an extension of up to 7 days.  Requests received over 48 hours before the submission deadline will normally receive a decision within 2 working days.

Usually, only one 7 day extension, which can be self-certified, can be requested per semester.  Further requests made in the same semester may require additional evidence and meetings with the student support staff within the department if necessary.

An Extension of up to 14 Days, or a Second Extension of up to 7 Days (evidence needed)

If you require:

• an extension of more than 7 but no more than 14 calendar days, or

• an additional 7 calendar day extension within a semester after a previous 7-day extension request

You should submit an Extension Request using our Extension & Extenuating Circumstances form with attached supporting evidence.  Students with a Learning Support Plan (LSP) in place will not be required to submit evidence if the circumstances relate to up-to-date information within their LSP but an extension request form should still be completed.   We strongly recommend that extension requests are submitted a maximum of 48 hours before the deadline.  Requests may be accepted up to the submission deadline, however, the response time for decisions is likely to be delayed and non-approved extensions will result in late penalties being applied . Requests received after the submission deadline are unlikely to be accepted.   Requests received over 48 hours before the submission deadline will normally receive a decision within 2 working days. 

A Deferral of a Coursework Deadline to the August Exam Period (Extenuating Circumstances)

If the circumstances you are experiencing mean you do not think that a 14-day extension will be sufficient, you can request to defer the coursework to the August exam period as an extenuating circumstances request. Deferring a coursework submission in this way is different to an extension request and it will need to be approved by an extenuating circumstances panel which usually meets at the end of each semester. You should first discuss things with your personal tutor, or another member of academic staff, if you have not done so already.

You can submit an extenuating circumstances request using the Extension & Extenuating Circumstances form. In the form you will need to describe what has happened (the extenuating circumstances) and provide supporting evidence. You will normally receive a final decision AFTER the Extenuating Circumstances panel has met, however, if you have met the requirements for evidence as specified in university guidance here, you can expect that the request will be approved.

All extenuating circumstances request forms (including evidence) must have been submitted  by the following deadlines.

• Semester One - Friday 2nd February    (for all assessments relating to semester one)

• Semester Two - Friday 7th June  (for all assessments relating to semester two)

• August - Friday 23rd August (for all assessments relating to August)

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Each department will have its own extension request form so please do not add coursework requests for outside optional modules, to the Psychology request form linked above.

• Failure to request an extension / extenuating circumstances request and submitting work after the deadline will result in late penalties being applied.

• If you have an extension request approved but need less additional time than has been given you are encouraged to submit sooner than the extended deadline as this will help you to stay on track with the spread of workload over the course.

• If you are experiencing difficulties that prevent you from meeting multiple coursework deadlines, and/or if you think the difficulties may continue for some time into the future, a Leave of Absence may be more appropriate than multiple requests for extensions or deferrals. Please seek support and advice from your personal tutor if you are in this situation.         

GENERAL ADVICE                                        

• We plan the course so that workload is as evenly spaced as possible. If you are requesting an extension please take a moment to consider any knock-on effects of a later deadline on your ability to engage with the next part of the course, and any other upcoming assessments.

• If your extension request could have been avoided by changes to how you manage your time, consider getting some support to improve on this important graduate level skill. Your personal tutor can help, and this is one of many skill areas that the 301 Academic Skills Centre provides support for. Talk to your course mates as well to share strategies and to support each other in staying on track.                                    

*Where medical evidence is required you will need to contact your GP practice for this.  Before completing the departmental Google Form, students registered with University Health Service (UHS) should download and complete the UHS Extenuating Circumstances Evidence Request Form (Word, 60KB) and email it to UHS at this address: Syicb-sheffield.universityhealthservice@nhs.net.  Once this is done, you will receive a response email from UHS (this may take around a week to arrive). You can then upload the form and a PDF file of the UHS email response (as proof of verification) to your departmental Google Form. 

As Degree Classifications will normally be decided under anonymous conditions (using registration number only) you must report medical or personal problems appropriately or they might not be considered.

Students with a Learning Support Plan

If you have a Learning Support Plan and the circumstances stated in this plan are able to explain your extenuating circumstances, you do not have to provide additional evidence. You do, however, still need to complete an extenuating circumstances form in order to request an extension or special dispensation.