Find out how to apply for extensions or adjustments due to unforeseen difficulties.
‘Exceptional Circumstances’, (ECs for short) are unexpected events or challenges in your life that may impact your ability to study, submit work on time or perform well in exams.
You should try your best to meet your deadlines and submit work on time. However, if your performance is, or is likely to be, impacted by ECs you have the right to ask for an adjustment to your deadline or assessment schedule. This can include deadline extensions, End of Year requests and Break in Study requests.
It is essential to report these exceptional circumstances to the University as soon as you can. ECs are reported through your eVision account.
Support
How to submit an EC
A step-by-step guide to submitting ECs can be found on myUEA.
You can find information about the types of ECs available, how to submit your request, and what evidence is needed at the Exceptional Circumstances dashboard on myUEA.
Read through the guidance first, as well as our suggestions below. If you can’t find the answer to your question, you can request an appointment with one of our advisors.
Important things to be aware of
- ECs must be reported through your eVision account before your deadline passes, or before your exam. See below for information if you’ve missed the deadline to submit an EC.
- EC requests can only be considered if they fit within the UEA guidelines - you can find more guidance about ECs on myUEA
- For more coursework assessments, you may be able to request a 7-day self-certification deadline extension without providing supporting evidence. If you have received the 7-day extension and need longer to complete your work, you need to submit a second EC request, providing more detail and evidence to support your request
- If you are asking for more than one thing (for example, an extension and end of year request) you must submit separate requests for each.
- There is a 250 character limit in the EC request form where you give details of the circumstances and the impact on your studies. If there is not enough space to explain your ECs, type in ‘please see email’ and send a separate email to your LTS team with a full explanation.
Missed the deadline to submit an EC?
EC requests need to be made to the University before your submission deadline. However, there are other ways to make the University aware that your work has been impacted.
If you have submitted your assessment or attended your assessment event, it may be appropriate for you to submit a Post Deadline request to the University with evidence, within 10 working days after the original submission deadline. You can submit a post deadline request if:
- You have submitted your assessment on time/attended your assessment event, but your performance was impacted by Exceptional Circumstances (ECs) and you want to request another attempt
- You have submitted your assessment but will receive a late submission penalty as you submitted your work up to 48 hours after the agreed deadline, due to experiencing Exceptional Circumstances
- You have reasonable adjustments in place for sympathetic consideration of deadlines agreed by Student Services and you submitted your work up to 7 days after the agreed deadline
If you have been unable to submit your assessment or attend your assessment event, and did not submit your exceptional circumstances request before the deadline you may have grounds to submit an academic appeal. Please see our guidance about academic appeals.