Include information on the process for students to register extenuating circumstances. arcs.qmul.ac.uk/students will give general information on the subject, but procedures vary across QMUL, and it is important that full details are included. Recommended text below:
Extenuating circumstances are defined by Queen Mary as:
Circumstances that are outside a student’s control which may have a negative impact on a stduent’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.
Extenuating circumstances are usually personal or health problems. Health problems include your emotional wellbeing and mental health, as well as your physical health. Extenuating circumstances do not include computer problems, misreading your exam timetable, planned holidays or events, or local transport delays.
Queen Mary operates a fit to sit policy, which covers all assessments including coursework and exams. If you sit an exam or submit a piece of coursework you are deemed to be fit to do so. In such instances a request for extenuating circumstances will not normally be considered. If you do not feel you are well enough to attend an invigilated exam then you should not attend and should submit a claim for extenuating circumstances instead. You will need to attend a medical consultation within three days of the date of your exam that you missed. Similarly if you get sick during an exam and have to leave you will need to attend a medical consultation within three days.
To submit an extenuating circumstance request you must fill out the relevant from which can be obtained from [person, office, and/or website] at [specified time of year]. The form should be completed and returned to [office/person/email address] by [give specific deadline,]
Your form must be accompanied by relevant supporting evidence (for example medical certification, death certificate, police report and crime number, or other written evidence from a person in authority) Please note that although accompanying documentation can be submitted after the form claims without any evidence cannot be considered. It is in your best interest to provide evidence and supporting documentation that is as comprehensive as possible.
When you submit an extenuating circumstance form you will be given a receipt, you must keep the receipt safe for the duration of your studies. All claims must be received no later than three working days before the relevant examination board meeting [give date] otherwise they cannot be considered.
All extenuating circumstances claims are kept confidential until they are considered by a subcommittee of the School/Institute’s Subject Examination Board. All proceedings of the subcommittee are strictly confidential, and will not normally be discussed at the full examination board meeting.
It is your own responsibility to submit any claims for extenuating circumstances, not that of your tutor. Please ensure that if you have what you believe is a valid case, you complete the submission process in accordance with the School/Institute guidelines and deadlines.
It is not possible to make a retrospective claim for extenuating circumstances, specifically once you know your results. Therefore claims submitted after the deadline will not be considered by the examination board. Please refer to the full guidance notes on extenuating circumstances from the Advice and Counselling service or online at https://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/guides-and-forms/student-advice-guides
