Section outline

  • Extenuating Circumstances (EC) Process: Student Guidance 

    Extenuating circumstances (commonly referred to as ECs) are "circumstances that are outside a student's control which may have a negative impact on a student's ability to undertake or complete any assessment so as to cast doubt on the likely validity of the assessment as a measure of the student's achievement" . 

    Students are strongly advised to read the Advice and Counselling Extenuating Circumstances Guide.

    Extenuating circumstances may include medical and personal circumstances such as bereavement, but do not include events such as holidays, mis-reading timetables, workload (academic work, and formal employment), computer problems, or not being aware of rules, regulations or procedures.

    The core principle behind the extenuating circumstances policy is the 'fit to sit' policy. By taking an assessment, a student declares themselves fit to take it; any claim for extenuating circumstances relating to that assessment shall not normally be considered.

    Please see below the two types of EC Claims you can submit:

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     1. Extenuating Circumstances (EC) consideration process – Standard EC form: 

    • You must submit the EC form before your assignment deadline - this form is submitted via your MySIS portal.
    • Evidence of the precise extenuating circumstances will be expected to be provided in line with the QMUL guidance on ECs.
    • If your EC is approved you will be provided with a revised submission date which will be the next date from the list provided below. **See list in document below**
    • Please make your tutor aware of your EC submission as they may be consulted regarding this during the consideration process.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Self-Certification 

    • You can ‘self-certify’ for three EC applications per academic year.
    • Self-certified ECs do not require evidence to be submitted. 
    • Self-certified ECs will be automatically granted. 

    Please note that these will be automatically granted only if they meet the standard requirements, as outlined in the QMUL guidance. All EC claims- whether self certified or standard- should be for “circumstances that are outside a student’s control which may have a negative impact on a student’s ability to undertake or complete any assessment so as to cast doubt on the likely validity of the assessment as a measure of the student’s achievement’. Please refer to the section “What does ‘extenuating’ mean?” in the QMUL guidance for more information.

    • Self-certified ECs will be granted a seven-day extension only 
    •  It is not permitted to use consecutive self-certification applications. This means you cannot claim for two back-to-back seven-day periods using self certification. Also, you cannot normally use a self-certified application more than once for the same assessment. 
    •  If you require longer than seven days then you must submit evidence with a Standard EC form.
    •  We cannot guarantee that self-certified ECs submitted after the first week of September will be marked in time for graduation.
    •  You must still submit your self-certified EC prior to the deadline of the assignment that it relates to. 
    For all queries please review the extensive and comprehensive guidance at https://www.qmul.ac.uk/student-experience/student-wellbeing-hub/extenuatingcircumstances-a-guide-for-students/in the first instance. For all other queries please contact your relevant course administrator.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Please note: If a student is experiencing any difficulties, they must tell someone at the time in order to get the appropriate advice and assistance. Normally this would be the student's tutor or another member of staff in the school/institute, however there are other sources of advice and support available to students which can be accessed through the Advice and Counselling Service. Anything that a student tells a member of staff will be treated as confidential.

    Additionally, unless students report their extenuating circumstances formally at the time then it is very difficult for QMUL to help them in terms of their studying. QMUL does not accept retrospective claims for extenuating circumstances so students need to tell someone about their problems as soon as possible.