Information correct as of April 2021. You are advised to contact the Students’ Union Advice Service for advice specific to your circumstances before taking any action. If you find any broken links please let us know as links may change without us being notified.
Mitigation should be requested if you wish to defer assessment to the next assessment period, for advice on seeking a short-term extension see Seeking an Extension.
Why Seek Mitigation?
In most cases you will work towards your assessment deadlines without any problems. However, there are times when circumstances arise beyond your control that affect you and your ability to study.
In normal circumstances the University expects you to submit/sit in all components of assessment and in doing so assumes that you are declaring yourself fit to do so. The University accepts, however, that circumstances may arise that require you to seek a short extension to your deadline.
In exceptional cases, where you have already sat/submitted for assessment but then realise you were not fit, you can request Mitigation within 5 days of the date of the assessment.
The University’s ‘Extenuating Circumstances and Mitigation’ procedure allows a student to seek deferral of the affected assessments until the next available assessment opportunity. If granted the deferred assessment, unlike a re-sit assessment, it will be treated as a ‘first sit’ and not attract a penalty cap on the mark.
Grounds for Mitigation
You will need to demonstrate that circumstances beyond your control have affected your Academic study. In your supporting statement you will need to detail:
- The assessments and/or modules affected
- The time period over which you have been/will be affected
- The circumstances and how the situation has affected you
In addition, you will be expected to explain the direct link between the circumstances you describe and the impact on your ability to study.
As part of your application, it is essential that you provide documented evidence that supports the claim you make. It is unlikely that an application will be granted without this.
Evidence might include medical reports; supporting statement from a qualified professional involved in your case or tutor; death certificates/order of service; notice of travel cancellations or any other relevant documentation. The dates covered by the documents must match the dates of the affected assessments.
You have 5 days from the date you submit your form to provide the original documents.
Completing The Form
Apply for Mitigation here.
Your form will sent through to your Course Administration team and will be considered by a formal Mitigation Panel within your School
It's important to note that:
- There is no guarantee that your application will be granted
- You may not know the outcome of the Mitigation Panel in advance of missing your deadline
- You cannot appeal the decision of the Mitigation Panel
- Subsequent requests for Mitigation must evidence new or continuing extenuating circumstances with new or updated evidence.
Checking Your Statement
The Students’ Union Advice Service can check your statement to provide feedback.
We will aim to get back to you with feedback normally within 24hrs on a working day. Make sure you send any drafts to us for feedback well in advance of your deadline.
Key deadlines:
- You have to submit your request for Mitigation as soon as possible but no later than 5 days from the date of the assessment.
- Ideally you should submit your supporting evidence with your application but you have 5 days after submitting your form to get it in.
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