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Struggling with my assignments

We want our students to achieve their potential. We recognise that students perform to the best of their capabilities when they regularly attend and engage within classes and participate in all the planned activities associated with their modules, including meeting deadline dates for assessments. This supports you to succeed on programme, to achieve and to progress on programme with your cohort.

When you take an assessment (e.g. attend an examination, submit coursework, deliver a presentation, or take a practical assessment) the University assumes that you are well enough to do so. Your attempt and the mark gained will count.

We understand that unexpected, serious issues may occasionally affect your ability to prepare for or to complete assessments and there are a range of procedures and support mechanisms in place to support you.  These include:

  • Talking to your Module Leader or Personal Tutor

    Talk to your tutors about any questions, issues or concerns you may have, so that they can provide signposting and support you.

    • Seek support from Student Services – Student Services provide extensive resources, advice and guidance to support you in preparing for assessment.  For more information click here.
    • Discuss the option of an extension to the submission date.

  • Requesting a formal extension to an assessment deadline

    You may apply for a formal extension to the assessment submission deadline, on a time lost basis (e.g. 3 days ill health, 3 days extension).  An extension of up to 10 working days (maximum) may be requested.  Evidence will be required and you may self-certificate (for up to 7 days) up to twice within any one academic year. Where a formal extension is approved, no mark penalty is applied.  Extensions cannot normally be applied for, for reassessments.  For more information click here.

  • Submitting work late but without within 3 days of the deadline date

    If you are unable to meet the deadline date but have not applied for an extension or have applied for one but it has been refused, you may submit work late, within 3 days (72 hours) of the original deadline date and time.

     Your mark would be capped at the pass mark (40% for undergraduate, 50% for postgraduate).  This option only applies to the original assessment deadline for first attempts, so if you have a resubmission to make over the summer period, or have already had an extension, you cannot use this provision.

  • Extenuating Circumstances

    If you are unable to engage in the assessment e.g. unable to attend an examination/presentation or to submit coursework, you can apply for Extenuating Circumstances. 

    If approved, you would be permitted another assessment opportunity without penalty (i.e. if a first attempt would be given another first attempt, if a reassessment would be given another reassessment attempt for a capped mark).

     If you submit for the assessment, then any extenuating claim will be disregarded as by submitting or attending you are confirming you are fit to do so. For more information click here.

  • Appeals

    Alongside implementation of the  fit to sit policy for coursework there has  been an addition to the  appeal policy .  

    Students who can provide documentary evidence that they were not fit to make the decision at the time of submitting the coursework, can consider submitting an academic appeal, once marks and board outcomes are confirmed if they have appropriate documentary evidence.

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