Special consideration and special arrangements

Special consideration

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: compulsory tutorials or class attendance; assignments; and exams. A successful application may result in an extended deadline or an alternative or replacement assessment.

Common circumstances that may be eligible for special consideration:

• On the day of your exam or during your exam you are severely unwell.
• You live with a disability and your condition worsens around the due date of an assessment or exam.
• For a group assessment: a member of your group is affected by illness, injury, caring responsibilities, or other serious event, and this impacts the group’s ability to complete the assessment.
• Someone you have primary caring responsibility for is ill or injured, requiring your support.

If you are registered with Disability Services and have an academic plan, you are still eligible to apply for special consideration.

How to apply

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 website.

Tips for special consideration documentation

See a doctor or other professional practitioner on the day you are unwell and have them complete a Professional Practitioner Certificate (PPC), which is the University’s preferred form for medical certificates.

The PPC must state the period of time you were impacted and cover the due date of the assessment or exam.

You are not required to disclose a diagnosis or the specifics of an illness.

The PPC will need to state that your studies were totally or severely impacted to meet the special consideration critiera.

The University Health Service may be able to assist.

In cases of misadventure, other evidence should be uploaded with the application e.g. a police report for a robbery or fire.

All documentation provided to the University must be in English or accompanied by a translation from a NAATI qualified translator.

If you are unable to obtain a Professional Practitioner Certificate, include a statutory declaration outlining your circumstances, accompanied by supporting documents. Your statutory declaration needs to indicate how your ability to study has been impacted by your circumstances and when you expect to be able to complete your assessments or return to your studies. It also needs to be signed by a Justice of the Peace (JP). The Uni has a number of Justices of the Peace on campus.

If circumstances prevent you from getting supporting documentation, you may include a student declaration instead.

Find out how to complete a statutory declaration or a student declaration.

Make sure all documents you submit are legitimate, especially medical certificates and PPCs. Do not use a medical certificate from an online doctor unless it is your regular treating practitioner. If you submit a false medical certificate or PPC you will be in breach of the Academic Honesty in Coursework Policy and Code of Conduct for Students. Misconduct penalties are severe and can include zero marks for the unit of study or exam, and exclusion from the University for up to 2 years.

Don’t wait for the outcome of your application before submitting any assessment. You should still submit as soon as you are able.

Late applications

If you are too unwell to visit a doctor, go as soon as you feel well enough. Medical certificates dated more than 3 days after 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.

Outcomes

In most instances students will be advised of the outcome within 4 working days. If you need further clarification, still have questions about the reason why your application has been declined or why you have not received a response within 4 working days, you should make an online enquiry.

You will receive an email notification advising 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, the University must give you 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 I am too unwell to sit my replacement exam, can I apply for further special consideration?

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).

Can I withdraw my application for special consideration?

Yes, you may withdraw your application at any time as long as it is before the release of results for the assessment.

COVID-19: eligibility and supporting documents

As a result of COVID-19, your studies may be impacted due to issues such as self-isolation, travel bans, carer responsibilities and IT issues. Consult the University website for further information.  

Special arrangements

If you have essential commitments that will impact your preparation or performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special arrangements to fulfil your responsibility.

Special arrangements may be granted for the following:

• essential religious or cultural commitments
• compulsory legal absences
• competitive sporting or cultural commitments
• birth or adoption of a child
• essential employment commitments
• other circumstances, determined on a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of the Dean or faculty.

A friend’s wedding will not usually be considered eligible for special arrangements; a funeral for a family member or close friend is eligible.

If you have an exam scheduled between 10pm and 6.59am in the time zone you’re living in, you may be eligible for a special arrangement.

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.

How to complete a statutory declaration or student declaration

If you can’t get the required supporting documentation for your application, you will need to provide a statutory declaration or student declaration with information about your illness, injury or misadventure.

A statutory declaration is a written and signed statement, declaring something to be true, in the presence of an authorised witness, usually a Justice of the Peace (JP). If you are unable to get a statutory declaration, you can submit a student declaration.

What needs to be included in your declaration:

• Specific information detailing how your studies were significantly or severely impacted.
• The dates your studies were impacted. Provide a start and end date.
• A brief explanation of your symptoms or issues if you feel comfortable disclosing this information to the University.
• If your application is late, provide an explanation for your lateness.

For example:

‘I was severely impacted by [sickness, injury, misadventure etc.] from [include the relevant dates].

This [illness, injury, misadventure] caused [briefly describe symptoms or issues you experienced].

This affected my ability to [sit my exam, complete my assessments, submit my assignment]’.

Make sure your information is clear and concise. Do not include images or long explanations. The declaration is a supporting document, not a cover letter.

Make sure the content of your declaration is true as there may be serious consequences for you if you are found to have made false declarations.

If you would like any help filling out your statutory declaration or student declaration, contact a SUPRA caseworker.

How do I appeal when my application is declined?

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’. You will need to follow the University’s 3-stage academic appeals process. The appeal information should be included with your special consideration outcome. 

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your informal resolution request, you submit an application for review to the Academic Panel within 20 working days of the decision. You can submit your application for review online.

Policies

Policies relevant to special consideration and special arrangements can be found on the University Policy Register and include the following:

• Coursework Policy 2014
• Assessment Procedures 2011
• University of Sydney (Student appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended).

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Last updated April 2022.