The mitigating circumstances procedures are changing for 2019, please ensure you familiarise yourself with the new procedures
If you have a genuine reason for not being able to perform well in an exam or assignment you might be able to claim Mitigating Circumstances. Reasons for claims might include illness, bereavement or other serious crisis affecting your performance.
Information and Deadlines
How to Write a Good Mitigating Circumstances Claim
Extra Guidance for Making a Claim
The OIA
Information and Deadlines
Please click here to check the Registry Services webpages for more information about Mitigating Circumstances.
Claims must be submitted via student's SOLE page within seven days of the assessment's submission deadline or date of your exam, but submission of a claim should not be delayed due to evidence not yet being available.
Evidence is required to support all claims, such as a doctor’s letter. A successful claim may allow you to retake an examination or resubmit an assessment without penalty.
Applications for mitigating circumstances are submitted electronically via your SOLE page via 'Assessments > Submit and view claims for mitigating circumstances'
Back to top
How to Write a Good Mitigating Circumstances Claim
It is important to understand that you will not be able to present your case for consideration of mitigating circumstances in person. The Committee will base their decision solely on the claim form and any accompanying evidence.
Tips for making your claim:
- Ensure that any additional evidence is specific and backs up what you have written in the claim, often doctor's letters aren't very useful because they are very vague
- Remember that if your claim is due to illness or a personal crisis no matter how bad it is, you will need to also explain the effect of the situation on your ability to study and complete your work
- Don't assume that the Committee have any medical knowledge, if you have an illness make sure you explain the details of it and it's effect on your work
If you need any helping writing your Mitigating Circumstances claim please get in touch with our Advisors
Back to top
Extra Guidance for Making a Claim
Use this information to guide medical practitioners on how to support your claim
Back to top
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA)
The OIA operates an independent student complaints scheme for Higher Education.
If for any reason you are unhappy with the outcome of your mitigating circumstances decision you can take the matter to the OIA. However, you can only do this if you have exhausted the internal procedure of the University.
To make a complaint to the OIA you must first have received a university Completion of Procedures letter. Once this has been received there is a 12 month deadline to take your complaint to the OIA.
The Student Advice Service can support any student in the process of making a complaint to the OIA.
For more information click here
Back to top