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Special consideration and arrangements
While you are studying, there may be exceptional circumstances or essential commitments that impact your academic performance. Our special consideration and special arrangements process is here to support you in these situations.
Overview
We understand that life's unexpected events and your personal responsibilities can sometimes make study challenging. We're committed to helping you through difficult times.
Special consideration and special arrangements can help you if your studies are impacted by:
- exceptional circumstances
- essential commitments
- events outside your control.
If eligible, you may qualify for:
- a replacement test, exam or assessment
- an extension of up to 20 working days
- an extension more than 20 working days if it won't disadvantage other students
- reweighting or averaging of your marks
- a late discontinuation of a unit of study under special circumstances.
The outcome you receive will depend on a number of factors, such as your reasons for applying, the impact to your studies and fairness to other students.
You'll need to provide supporting documents when you apply, to show that you're eligible.
How are they different?
Special consideration
- If you have an illness, injury or misadventure during a semester or at the time of an exam that impacts on your assessment or exam, you can apply to have this taken into account when we consider your academic performance.
- You may also be eligible if you're a carer or have primary parental responsibility for a child who experiences an illness, injury or misadventure.
Special arrangements
- If you have essential commitments or responsibilities and are unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams you can apply for special arrangements.
- Special arrangements support our commitment to flexible learning so that you can complete your studies.
If you think you might be eligible, make sure you're aware of the deadlines. These vary depending on your reasons for applying.
Your supporting documents need to:
- describe what happened in detail
- explain how it impacted your academic performance
- include the dates you were affected
- be truthful and accurate.
Make sure they're:
- in English or translated into English by an accredited translation agency, such as NAATI
- saved as one of these files types: pdf, tif, tiff, gif or png.
Special consideration
Eligibility
You can apply if:
- you attended a funeral of a family member or close friend
- it impacted your ability to undertake an assessment or exam.
Supporting documents
Your documents can include:
- a current professional practitioner certificate
- a medical certificate that covers the same information as a professional practitioner certificate. Make sure you ask your doctor to include the degree of impact on your studies as they may not include it otherwise
- an obituary, funeral notice or funeral program.
We understand it might take some time to gather your supporting documents. In this case, you should still apply by the deadline. We'll accept your application without supporting documents and contact you at a later stage to request them, before finalising your outcome.
This certificate needs to be completed in full, signed and stamped by a registered medical or health practitioner who is not related to you. You can download and print the form (pdf, 320KB). The certificate needs to:
- outline the duration (giving start and end dates) of impact
- evaluate the degree of impact that the illness, injury or carer’s duties has had on your ability to attend classes and learn or to complete assessments.
A dated obituary from a newspaper, a funeral notice or funeral program that includes:
- the full name of the deceased person
- the funeral date.
If you need to travel interstate or overseas for the funeral, you will need to provide supporting documents such as a travel itinerary or statutory declaration for the additional time you are away.
Eligibility
You can apply if:
- you experienced the death of a family member of close friend
- it impacted your ability to undertake an assessment or exam.
Supporting documents
Your documents can include:
- a current professional practitioner certificate
- a medical certificate that covers the same information as a professional practitioner certificate. Make sure you ask your doctor to include the degree of impact on your studies as they may not include it otherwise
- a statutory declaration if you can't get a professional practitioner certificate or medical certificate due to extenuating circumstances. You'll need to include:
- the reason you can't get a professional practitioner certificate or medical certificate
- all the required information we've listed in the statutory declaration section below.
We understand it might take some time to gather your supporting documents. In this case, you should still apply by the deadline. We'll accept your application without supporting documents and contact you at a later stage to request them, before finalising your outcome.
This certificate needs to be completed in full, signed and stamped by a registered medical or health practitioner who is not related to you. You can download and print the form (pdf, 320KB). The certificate needs to:
- outline the duration (giving start and end dates) of impact
- evaluate the degree of impact that the illness, injury or carer’s duties has had on your ability to attend classes and learn or to complete assessments.
A statutory declaration is a signed, written statement that allows a person to declare something to be true in the presence of an authorised witness. You'll need to use a NSW statutory declaration form and have it signed by a Justice of the Peace.
Your statutory declaration should include:
- your full name and student number
- a statement about the impact of the illness, injury, misadventure or essential commitment on your ability to attend classes, learn or complete assessment requirements
- a statement describing the duration of this impact (including a start and end dates)
- if your circumstances are of a sensitive nature, please indicate when you expect you will be able to complete your assessment or return to your studies. If you need more time at the end of this period, you can submit another application.
- details of any group work that might be affected.
If you have ongoing carer responsibilities we recommend you register with Inclusion and Disability Services.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that:
- an illness or injury was experienced by:
- you
- a child that you have primary parental responsibility for
- a person for whom you are a carer.
- it impacted your ability to undertake an assessment or exam.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that:
- an illness or injury was experienced by:
- you
- a child that you have primary parental responsibility for
- a person for whom you are a carer.
- it impacted your ability to undertake an assessment or exam.
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach one of these documents to your application:
- a current professional practitioner certificate
- a medical certificate that covers the same information as a professional practitioner certificate. Make sure you ask your doctor to include the degree of impact on your studies as they may not include it otherwise
- a statutory declaration if you can't get a professional practitioner certificate or medical certificate due to extenuating circumstances. You'll need to include:
- the reason you can't get a professional practitioner certificate or medical certificate
- all the required information we've listed in the statutory declaration section below.
This certificate needs to be completed in full, signed and stamped by a registered medical or health practitioner who is not related to you. You can download and print the form (pdf, 320KB). The certificate needs to:
- outline the duration (giving start and end dates) of impact
- evaluate the degree of impact that the illness, injury or carer’s duties has had on your ability to attend classes and learn or to complete assessments.
A statutory declaration is a signed, written statement that allows a person to declare something to be true in the presence of an authorised witness. You'll need to use a NSW statutory declaration form and have it signed by a Justice of the Peace.
Your statutory declaration should include:
- your full name and student number
- a statement about the impact of the illness, injury, misadventure or essential commitment on your ability to attend classes, learn or complete assessment requirements
- a statement describing the duration of this impact (including a start and end dates)
- if your circumstances are of a sensitive nature, please indicate when you expect you will be able to complete your assessment or return to your studies. If you need more time at the end of this period, you can submit another application.
- details of any group work that might be affected.
If you have ongoing carer responsibilities we recommend you register with Inclusion and Disability Services.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that:
- an unforeseen accident, mishap or personal misfortune was experienced by:
- you
- a child you have primary parental responsibility for
- a person for whom you are a carer.
- it impacted your ability to undertake an assessment or exam.
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach these documents to your application:
- a statutory declaration
- any other documents that support your claim (for example an eviction notice, police report or evidence of a natural disaster).
A statutory declaration is a signed, written statement that allows a person to declare something to be true in the presence of an authorised witness. You'll need to use a NSW statutory declaration form and have it signed by a Justice of the Peace.
Your statutory declaration should include:
- your full name and student number
- a statement about the impact of the illness, injury, misadventure or essential commitment on your ability to attend classes, learn or complete assessment requirements
- a statement describing the duration of this impact (including a start and end dates)
- if your circumstances are of a sensitive nature, please indicate when you expect you will be able to complete your assessment or return to your studies. If you need more time at the end of this period, you can submit another application.
- details of any group work that might be affected.
The notice needs to include:
- official landlord (if applicable) or residential agency letterhead
- your full name
- date of terminated tenancy
- signature from appropriate representative
- representative phone number
- date the notice was created.
This is produced by the police and should include:
- your full name
- a claim number or charge sheet
- a signature from police
- a police phone number
- the date the report was created
- the date the incident occurred.
If your application relates to a police matter, but a police report is unavailable, include the COPS event number in your statutory declaration. This is evidence a matter has been reported.
A copy of a public record such as a weather report or online media coverage.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that:
- you experienced a technology-related problem which could not have been prevented, avoided, or minimised by your reasonable diligence
- it impacted your ability to undertake an assessment or exam.
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach these documents to your application:
- a student declaration that clearly outlines the nature of the technical issue, when it occurred, and what you did to try to resolve it
- any other documents that support your claim such as:
- a screenshot or photo of the error with timestamp
- an email from the unit of study coordinator confirming the issue
- ProctorU chat log with timestamp
- an email to or from Canvas tests with timestamp
- a Shared Service Centre ticket.
In the student declaration you should describe:
- the misadventure, illness, injury, or special circumstances that you experienced and for how long
- how this impacted on your ability to attend classes or complete assessments.
Make sure you read the template carefully before you sign it. There are serious consequences if you make a dishonest declaration.
Special arrangements
Eligibility
You'll need to show that you are unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams because you have Australian defence force or emergency service commitments (including Army Reserve).
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach an official letter from your brigade or unit to your application.
An official letter, written on an official letterhead, that includes:
- your full name
- the details of your unexpected commitments
- the impact on your ability to study
- a physical signature and phone number of an appropriate representative
- the date the statement was created.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that you are unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams because of the birth of a child or adoption of a child.
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach a signed certificate to your application.
A signed certificate should be on an official letterhead from a medical practitioner/midwife/relevant adoption agency stating:
- expected date of birth/adoption
- either the period of time when your ability to study or complete assessments will be limited, or when you expect you'll be able to complete your assessments or return to your study.
If you have ongoing carer responsibilities we recommend you register with Inclusion and Disability Services.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that you are unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams due to responsibilities as a carer.
You may qualify as a carer if you provide personal care, support and assistance to another person who needs it because they:
- have a disability
- have a medical condition (including a terminal or chronic illness)
- have a mental illness
- are frail and aged.
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach one of these documents to your application:
- a professional practitioner certificate indicating your primary carer responsibilities
- an official letter from an NDIS provider or appropriate professional practitioner
- a statutory declaration. If you have any additional documents that support your claim, you should include these with your statutory declaration.
The document(s) you attach will need to the explain nature of your carer responsibilities and the impact on your ability to undertake the assessment or exam.
This certificate needs to be completed in full, signed and stamped by a registered medical or health practitioner who is not related to you. You can download and print the form (pdf, 320KB). The certificate needs to:
- outline the duration (giving start and end dates) of impact
- evaluate the degree of impact that the illness, injury or carer’s duties has had on your ability to attend classes and learn or to complete assessments.
An official letter, written on an official letterhead, that includes:
- your full name
- the details of your unexpected commitments
- the impact on your ability to study
- a physical signature and phone number of an appropriate representative
- the date the statement was created.
A statutory declaration is a signed, written statement that allows a person to declare something to be true in the presence of an authorised witness. You'll need to use a NSW statutory declaration form and have it signed by a Justice of the Peace.
Your statutory declaration should include:
- your full name and student number
- a statement about the impact of the illness, injury, misadventure or essential commitment on your ability to attend classes, learn or complete assessment requirements
- a statement describing the duration of this impact (including a start and end dates)
- if your circumstances are of a sensitive nature, please indicate when you expect you will be able to complete your assessment or return to your studies. If you need more time at the end of this period, you can submit another application.
- details of any group work that might be affected.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that you are unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams because of a compulsory legal absence (such as jury duty or court summons).
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach a copy of the legal notice to your application.
This can be a:
- Summons
- Subpoena
- Court order
- Notice of selection for jury duty.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that you are unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams because:
- you have employment of an essential nature to you
- your employment would be jeopardised
- you have little or no discretion with respect to the employment demand.
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach an official letter from your employer to your application.
An official letter, written on an official letterhead, that includes:
- your full name
- the details of your unexpected commitments
- the impact on your ability to study
- a physical signature and phone number of an appropriate representative
- the date the statement was created.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that you are unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams because of essential religious commitments or essential beliefs (including cultural and ceremonial commitments).
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach an official letter from your imam, pastor, rabbi or equivalent spiritual or community leader to your application.
An official letter, written on an official letterhead, that includes:
- your full name
- the details of your unexpected commitments
- the impact on your ability to study
- a physical signature and phone number of an appropriate representative
- the date the statement was created.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that you are unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams because:
- you have primary parental responsibility for a child
- the child has experienced an illness, injury or misadventure.
Misadventure is an unforeseen accident, mishap or personal misfortune.
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach one of these documents to your application:
- a professional practitioner certificate
- a statutory declaration
This certificate needs to be completed in full, signed and stamped by a registered medical or health practitioner who is not related to you. You can download and print the form (pdf, 320KB). The certificate needs to:
- outline the duration (giving start and end dates) of impact
- evaluate the degree of impact that the illness, injury or carer’s duties has had on your ability to attend classes and learn or to complete assessments.
A statutory declaration is a signed, written statement that allows a person to declare something to be true in the presence of an authorised witness. You'll need to use a NSW statutory declaration form and have it signed by a Justice of the Peace.
Your statutory declaration should include:
- your full name and student number
- a statement about the impact of the illness, injury, misadventure or essential commitment on your ability to attend classes, learn or complete assessment requirements
- a statement describing the duration of this impact (including a start and end dates)
- if your circumstances are of a sensitive nature, please indicate when you expect you will be able to complete your assessment or return to your studies. If you need more time at the end of this period, you can submit another application.
- details of any group work that might be affected.
Eligibility
You'll need to show that you are unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams because you have sporting or cultural commitments, including political or union commitments, where you are representing the University, state or nation.
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach an official letter from the organising body to your application.
An official letter, written on an official letterhead, that includes:
- your full name
- the details of your unexpected commitments
- the impact on your ability to study
- a physical signature and phone number of an appropriate representative
- the date the statement was created.
Eligibility
If you're not eligible under any other criteria, you may be eligible for special arrangements if you are unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams for a reason that is beyond your reasonable control.
We have the discretion to approve applications on a case-by-case basis depending on your reasons.
Before you apply, read the list of circumstances that are not eligible for special arrangements.
Supporting documents
You'll need to attach sufficient and relevant supporting documents to your application. These will vary depending on your circumstances and you may need to include more than one document. Your documents should explain your reasons for applying and demonstrate why you were unable to meet assessment requirements or attend exams. Some examples of documents include:
- an official letter
- a student declaration.
An official letter, written on an official letterhead, that includes:
- your full name
- the details of your unexpected commitments
- the impact on your ability to study
- a physical signature and phone number of an appropriate representative
- the date the statement was created.
In the student declaration you should describe:
- the misadventure, illness, injury, or special circumstances that you experienced and for how long
- how this impacted on your ability to attend classes or complete assessments.
Make sure you read the template carefully before you sign it. There are serious consequences if you make a dishonest declaration.
Circumstances where you're not eligible
You're not eligible if the circumstances are reasonably foreseeable, avoidable, or within your control. For example:
- public transport and traffic delays
- predictable emotions such as nervousness and stress associated with assessments
- personal events such as birthdays, weddings or travel plans
- minor ailments or illness where you are still capable of completing assessments
- balancing your other study load
- misreading or misunderstanding your timetable, Academic Plan, or unit of study outline
- information and communications technology problems that you could have prevented, avoided or minimised by your reasonable diligence
- an exam clash. Find out what to do if you have an exam clash.
Other ways to get help
There's a range of other options available to get the help, support or flexiblity you need. One of these options may be more suitable for you, or you may consider them alongside a special consideration or arrangements application.
If you have ongoing responsibilites as a career, read our Student carers page.
Last updated: 22 September 2023
