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, compulsory class attendance, assignments, and exams.
Common circumstances in which you may be eligible for special consideration:
- On the day of your exam, you are severely unwell and unable to sit the exam.
- You sit for your exam but become severely unwell during the exam.
- 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 another 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.
Special consideration and disability
If you’re registered with Inclusion and Disability Services and have an academic plan, you are still eligible to apply for special consideration.
Illness and exams
If you’re unwell on the day of an exam, we recommend that you do not sit the exam, and apply for special consideration. Once you have started an exam you will only be eligible for special consideration if you become unwell during the exam.
How 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 must apply no later than 11:59pm Sydney time on the third day. You will need to apply online through the University website. Late applications are only possible if you have a reasonable explanation for the delay and with evidence to support the explanation. Find out more about late applications.
You will need to provide supporting documents for your special consideration application to be approved.
Tips for special consideration documents
- See a doctor or other professional practitioner on the day you are unwell and ask them to complete a Professional Practitioner Certificate (PPC) [PDF 207KB], which is the University’s preferred form for medical certificates. The form can be filled out by an AHPRA-registered medical practitioner in Australia.
- 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 criteria.
- The University Health Service may be able to provide you with a PPC.
- In cases of misadventure, other evidence should be uploaded with the application e.g. a police report for a robbery or fire.
- All support documents must be in English or accompanied by a translation from a NAATI-certified translator.
- If you can’t get a Professional Practitioner Certificate, you should include either a statutory declaration or a student declaration [DOCX 53KB], outlining your circumstances, accompanied by other supporting documents. Find out how to complete statutory and student declarations.
All documents you submit must be legitimate, especially medical certificates and PPCs. Do not use a medical certificate from an online doctor unless it’s your regular treating practitioner. If you submit a false medical certificate or PPC you will be in breach of the University of Sydney (Student Discipline) Rule and the Student Charter. 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’re too unwell to visit a doctor on the day of your exam or due date, 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 13 SICK (13 74 25). This service is bulk billed for Medicare card holders and free for OSHC through Allianz, NIB, Medibank Private and BUPA.
Late applications won’t 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
Special consideration applications are assessed in accordance with University policy, including the Assessment Procedures 2024. Usually, students receive their special consideration outcomes within 4 working days, however delays are common during peak periods. You will receive an email notification advising if your application has been approved, whether you will be given an extension, alternative assessment or Not Examinable (NE) grade. If you haven’t received a response within 4 working days, you should make an online enquiry.
A successful application may result in one of the following outcomes:
- For exams, you may be offered a replacement exam. Formal exam periods, like end of semester and intensives, the University runs replacement exam periods.
- For submitted work, you may be offered an extension of time.
- For tasks that repeat on a regular basis (e.g. tutorial participation or online quizzes), you may be offered a mark adjustment.
- If no further considerations are possible, you may receive a Not Examinable (NE) grade. If this occurs, you may be able to apply for a late discontinuation due to special circumstances – please contact SUPRA for advice from a caseworker.
It’s generally not possible to have your mark in an exam or assignment changed through a special consideration application. If you believe your work hasn’t been marked correctly, you should submit an academic appeal.
Declined applications
If your application is declined, the University must give you reasons for the decision.
If you need further clarification or have questions about why your application has been declined you should make an online enquiry.
If you forgot to include important information or documentation with your application, you can re-apply with additional information within 3 working days.
Find out how to appeal a declined application.
Frequently asked questions
If I’m too unwell to sit my replacement exam, can I apply for further special consideration?
Yes, if you’re 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 will be awarded a Not Examinable (NE) grade.
Can I withdraw my application for special consideration?
Yes, you may withdraw your application any time before the release of results for the assessment.
Special arrangements
If you have essential commitments that will impact your preparation for 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
- primary carer responsibilities
- 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.
Read the University’s list of eligible reasons.
How to apply
Apply via the University website as soon as you become 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. You will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application.
How to complete a statutory declaration or a student declaration
If you can’t get the required supporting documents for your application, you will need to provide a statutory declaration or a 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). There are a number of Justices of the Peace on campus, including SUPRA’s JP service.
A student declaration [DOCX 53KB] is a written statement outlining your circumstances.
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 – including a start and end date
- a brief explanation of your symptoms or issues, if you feel comfortable disclosing this information to the University
- an explanation for your lateness, if your application is late.
For example:
‘I was severely impacted by [sickness, injury, misadventure etc.] from [start date] to [end date].
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 help filling out your statutory declaration or student declaration, contact a SUPRA caseworker for assistance.
How to appeal a declined application
If your special consideration or special arrangements application is denied, you can appeal the decision by following the University’s 3-stage academic appeals process. The University should include instructions on how to appeal with your special consideration outcome.
The first step is to submit an ‘informal resolution request’ online. This must be submitted within 15 working days of your special consideration decision.
If you would like assistance with your appeal, contact a SUPRA caseworker for help.
If you’re dissatisfied with the outcome of your informal resolution request, you can submit an ‘application for review’ to the Academic Panel within 20 working days of the informal resolution decision. You can submit your application for review online. Contact a SUPRA caseworker for help with your appeal.
Find out more about the appeals process and how it works.
Policies
Policies relevant to special consideration and special arrangements can be found on the University Policy Register and include the following:
Written by SUPRA Postgraduate Advocacy Service October 2025
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