If your studies are severely impacted by illness, injury, or other serious events (misadventure), you may be eligible for special consideration. You can apply for special consideration for any impacted assessment including a compulsory tutorial or class attendance, assignments, or exams.
Common circumstances that may be eligible for special consideration:
If you are registered with Disability Services and have an Academic Plan, you are still eligible to apply for special consideration.
Applications for special consideration are due within 3 working days of the original assignment due date or exam date. You will need to apply online through the University’s website.
Don’t wait for the outcome of your application before submitting any assessment. You should still submit as soon as you are able.
If you are too unwell to visit a doctor, go as soon as you feel well enough. Medical certificates dated after 3 days of the assessment deadline may not be accepted.
After hours doctors can visit you at home and can supply medical certificates, such as 13SICK (137425). This service is bulk-billed for Medicare card holders and free for OSHC through Allianz, NIB, Medibank Private and BUPA
Late applications will not be approved without a reasonable explanation for the delay and with evidence to support the explanation, e.g. a medical certificate or PPC stating you were hospitalised or unable to consult a doctor due to illness or injury.
Waiting to see if you passed an assessment before applying for special consideration is not a reasonable explanation. If you have no other explanation the application will be declined.
In most instances students will be advised of the outcome within 4 working days.
You will receive an email notification advising you if your application has been approved. You will then be notified by email whether you will be given an extension of time, an alternative assessment, or a replacement exam.
If your application is declined, you must be given reasons for the decision.
If you forgot to include important information or documentation with your application, you can re-apply with additional information within 3 working days.
If you are too unwell to sit the replacement assessment you should apply for special consideration again with new supporting documentation. If your application is accepted you may be given a further replacement assessment. If this is not possible, you may be awarded a grade of discontinued not to count as failure (DC).
Yes, you may withdraw your application at any time as long as it is before the release of results for the assessment.
Some circumstances that may prevent you from completing assessments fall outside special consideration policy. However, you may qualify to apply for special arrangements for the following:
A friend’s wedding will not usually be considered eligible for special arrangements; a funeral for a family member or close friend is eligible.
Apply via the University website as soon as you are aware of the circumstances. Requests for special arrangements for assessments held in formal University exam periods must be made within 14 days of the publication of the examination timetable.
If you believe an incorrect decision has been made, you can ask for your application to be reviewed within 15 working days. This is called an ‘informal resolution request’. You can submit this request online through the special consideration website or through the link in the decision email.
If you are dissatisfied with the decision on your informal resolution request, you may formally appeal to the Academic Panel within 20 working days of the decision. You can submit your formal appeal online.
(02) 9351 3715
help@supra.usyd.edu.au
Relevant policies to special consideration can be found at on the Policy Register and include the following:
Download this article as a Word document
Download this article as a PDF
Last updated February 2020
Stay in touch with us