What is Special Consideration?
Special Consideration is the process by which the University seeks to ensure just and equitable treatment of students who suffer unexpected and significant impairment (e.g. serious illness) in relation to assessment. Special Consideration provisions are available for internal assessment (i.e. an assignment or in-class test), final and special examinations.
Special Consideration is governed by the University's Examination and Assessment Regulations. Under these regulations, there is no provision for Special Examinations of any kind to be provided outside the Special Consideration process.
Examination and Assessment Regulations
Special Consideration in internal assessment
Special Consideration in Internal Assessment is granted by the relevant Head of Department, and will normally only be granted where impairment is significant.
If you are concerned about impairment in internal assessment for a paper, act sooner rather than later.
Check the Course Outline for advice on Special Consideration processes for the paper concerned, and if you are still unsure what to do, talk to your course coordinator.
Reasons for Special Consideration
Special Consideration in final and special examinations is available to students who are:
- prevented from sitting an examination due to unexpected circumstances beyond their control, or
- significantly impaired in their examination performance, and/or
- significantly impaired in their preparation for an examination (within 14 days of the examination concerned).
Examples of the types of unexpected or significant circumstances which Special Consideration is designed to cover include:
- serious illness or injury
- severe psychological impairment
- bereavement of a significant other
- critical personal circumstances involving the health or wellbeing of a relative or close friends
- other exceptional circumstances beyond your control (e.g. natural disaster, damage to significant property, impacts arising from being the victim of a crime, etc.)
It is important to note that impairment will not always result in Special Consideration being granted – impairment must be significant, and have a significant effect on your examination, for Special Consideration to be granted.
Guidance from Student Health in relation to Covid-19
Special Consideration is not available for:
- Missed lectures during the semester
- Experiencing examination anxiety
- Having several examinations close together
- Low-level impairment
- Exceptional circumstances known about in advance of the examination period
Learn about 'Changes to final or special examination dates, times, or venues' - Known impairment, such as chronic illness (medical or psychological), injury or disability – unless medical evidence confirms that the circumstances were unexpectedly exacerbated, despite appropriate management, at the time of assessment.*
Learn about 'Support services during examinations' - Mistaking the time or date of an examination
See below: 'Examinations missed through preventable circumstances'
* Where applications are repeatedly made for the same or similar reason, then the application may be declined on the grounds that the reason is not unexpected.
Deadline for applying
Applications must be made within 5 calendar days of the last examination for which you are seeking Special Consideration.
Late applications cannot be accepted through your eVision student portal if the five calendar day deadline has passed.
No Special Consideration applications will be accepted after results have been made available for the paper concerned.
Special Consideration by examination type
The application process and outcomes of your application can differ depending on the type of exam you are seeking special consideration for.
Learn more about the application process, required documents and outcomes:
Examinations missed through preventable circumstances
The University has a provision whereby, if a finalist or postgraduate student misses a final examination through genuine error (such as mistaking the time or date of the examination), they may apply to sit a Special Examination. For all other students, there is no special provision to facilitate a chance to sit their examination at a later date.
Applications must be made by submitting a "Preventable Circumstance form" no more than 5 calendar days after the missed examination.
This provision is not part of Special Consideration, and papers to which this applies will not be marked with 'SC' on the student's transcript.
Still unsure about Special Consideration?
Your questions might be answered on the FAQs page: