Portsmouth Business School

Extenuating circumstances

Notifying us of illness and other adverse circumstances

If you believe that illness, family or domestic difficulties or other negative events have adversely affected your academic performance, you should firstly discuss the situation with your Personal Tutor. They will advise you on whether you should submit a claim under the University?s Extenuating Circumstances procedure. Extenuating Circumstances are circumstances relating to your health and /or personal life which are of a sufficiently serious nature to result in either your being unable to attend, complete, or submit an assessment on time or your performance in an assessment being significantly affected.

To make a claim, you will need to complete an Extenuating Circumstances Form (ECF), which you can obtain from the Undergraduate Centre. The form should be accompanied by the clearest possible evidence, for example a medical certificate.

Department panels meet after each set of examinations to consider applications for that semester. If your circumstances are accepted as serious and valid, you will normally be offered a deferral in the assessment affected.

The Extenuating Circumstances policy is set out in detail in the Examination and Assessment Regulations published on the Academic Registry website. You should read these carefully before consulting your tutor.