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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
If exceptional circumstances such as illness, injury or misadventure significantly affect your short-term academic performance in an assessment task, you may be eligible for special consideration. Exceptional circumstances are defined as circumstances that are beyond your control and unavoidable.
If you meet the eligibility requirements and your application is approved, you will be granted special consideration. This means we’ll apply a form of adjustment to support you and make sure you receive fair and equal academic treatment. This could be in the form of a replacement or alternative assessment, or an extended deadline.
If you have essential commitments that will impact your preparation or performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for a special arrangement to fulfil your responsibilities. Special arrangements are intended to support the University’s commitment to flexible learning.
It is not guaranteed that your application will be approved. Even if you’re eligible, special arrangements are not always possible, particularly when clinical placements and practicums are involved. This means where possible you should always sit your original exam or continue to work on your assessment to avoid a possible fail grade.
Steps to take
There are three key steps to applying for special consideration or special arrangements:
- find out if you are eligible and know the deadlines
- gather supporting documents
- submit your online application.
Long-term or ongoing circumstances
If you are affected by long-term circumstances, such as a recurring medical condition, we encourage you to register with Inclusion and Disability Services. By registering you will gain access to the adjustments and services to support you to succeed in your studies.
Alternatively, if you experience an exacerbation of your condition and feel your circumstances would affect your performance for the majority of the semester, you may wish to consider Discontinuing a unit of study.
Consider a simple extension
If you are seeking an extension for a non-examination tasks, you may be able to arrange an extension of five calendar days, as outlined in the Coursework Policy (pdf, 584KB). Find out more about simple extensions and how to apply depending on your assessment type.
Confidentiality
Any personal or sensitive information submitted as part of your special consideration application will be managed carefully by the University as per our Privacy Policy (pdf, 219KB)
COVID-19: assessments scheduled in different time zones
When the University schedules its learning, teaching and assessment activities, it does so in local time in Sydney, Australia. Due to COVID-19, you may be living in a different time zone and be required to complete an assessment in Sydney local time. This may mean you will undertake assessments at unusual times, such as very early in the morning or late at night.
Where feasible, if you're in this situation we ask you to undertake learning and assessments in the assigned Sydney local time. If this is not possible, you may be eligible for a special arrangement. To be eligible, you need to be living in a different time zone to Sydney, Australia and have a final exam or assessment scheduled to start between 10.00pm and 6.59am in the time zone you’re living in. You also need to apply within 14 days of receiving the timetable or being notified of the assessment deadline.
To apply, you need to include a student declaration and clearly outline the time zone (including the state and country) that you are currently residing in and the start time of your exam. Apply for a special arrangement.
Additional help available
Our peer support advisors can also assist in helping you write your student declaration. The team work hours which are designed to suit offshore students who are located in east, south and southeast Asia and are available on Zoom Monday to Friday between 12.30pm – 6.30pm local Sydney time. It generally takes 2 business days for our peer support advisors to respond to an enquiry. Complete our enquiry form to talk with a peer support advisor.
If you’d prefer to reduce your study by withdrawing from one or all units with no penalties and fee remission, visit our reduced study load page for more information.
Last updated: 08 February 2023
