If you are experiencing circumstances that are making it difficult to complete your coursework assessment on time, you can apply for an extension to your submission deadline.

Whatever the reason, if you are struggling with your assessment please talk to your Academic Advisor, Student Experience Officer or Director of Studies as soon as you can before the original deadline. Your discussion could be used as supporting evidence if you request a coursework extension, and could help you identify alternative options to requesting an extension that may be more appropriate to your circumstances.

Additionally, if you have a disability, impairment, long-term health condition or specific learning difficulty, the Disability Service can provide you with advice and support with all types of assessment.

Granting your request for a coursework extension

Information is available on what the University considers acceptable reasons and evidence for requesting an extension.

How to apply for a coursework extension

You should use the relevant Department/Faculty/School procedure. Please speak to the Unit Convenor in the first instance if you are unsure what to do.

Some coursework has a scheduled time rather than a submission deadline because it is event-based (for example, an in-class test or a presentation). If you think you'll have difficulty making your attempt at the normal time, you should speak to the Unit Convenor or Director of Studies, before the time of your scheduled assessment, about your options which might include rescheduling the attempt.

It will be important for you to consider how changed deadlines might affect your ability to work to other deadlines and the timing of University decisions about your academic outcomes and progress. Your Academic Advisor or Director of Studies can discuss these points with you.

If you are not given an extension

There may be circumstances in which it is not appropriate to grant an extension. This may be due to:

• the format of the assessment

• the specific learning outcomes being tested

• the need to ensure fairness across the rest of your cohort

Although extensions are not guaranteed and there may be reasons why granting one is not appropriate, most extension requests are granted, especially if they are for a short period of time (for example, a few days). If your reasons are in line with what is normally accepted, and you are able to provide some evidence that confirms your circumstances, then it is likely that your request will be approved.

If you don’t get the extension you requested then you should still submit your assessment as close to the deadline as you can.

It’s important that you are aware that:

• if you have not been granted an extension, the normal deadline will apply.

• if you do not submit your coursework by your deadline - either the original deadline or the extended deadline - there will be penalties. The penalties for missing your coursework deadline are as follows:

  • coursework submitted up to five working days after the deadline will normally receive the relevant pass mark, unless a coursework extension has been approved
  • coursework submitted more than five working days after the deadline will normally receive a mark of zero, unless a coursework extension has been approved.

The University understands that assessment deadlines can be challenging, and that students may sometimes feel under pressure. If you are finding it difficult to complete your work on time, we encourage you to seek advice and support as early as possible - there are resources and people available to help you succeed.

The University expects all students to maintain high standards of academic honesty and integrity. Unauthorised or unethical use of GenAI tools and devices are not permitted and could evidence a serious breach of academic integrity including: fabrication, plagiarism, collusion or contract cheating.

If a student is suspected of academic misconduct, the University will take action in line with its Regulation for Students 19 - Conduct of investigations into academic misconduct. The outcomes of an investigation of suspected academic misconduct are likely to be more severe than any penalty applied for late submission.

Further information about academic integrity, including what support is available and what help is allowed, can be found on the Academic Integrity webpages.

If you need more time

Please talk to the Unit Convenor and your Director of Studies as soon as possible if you think you will need more time to complete your assessment. It may be that an extension is not the best option for your circumstances.

Individual Mitigating Circumstances (IMCs)

You can still submit an IMC claim whether or not you've been granted an extension or submitted your assessment.