Applying for Special Consideration

If you have been adversely affected by serious illness or other exceptional causes beyond your control, you may apply for special consideration. The outcome of your application will depend on your case and the type of assessment. Details of possible outcomes are provided below.

If you wish to apply for special consideration, you must do so following the application procedures outlined below, and apply within the stipulated timeframe.

Important note

Under the revised university special consideration policy mark adjustments cannot be made under any circumstances.

Who can apply?

The eligibility for special consideration is stated in the university policy. The policy covers all coursework students whose work during a teaching period or whose performance in an examination or other assessment has been affected by acute illness or other exceptional cause beyond their control.

The accepted causes are:

serious illness or psychological condition – e.g. hospital admission, serious injury, severe asthma, severe anxiety or depression. Does not include minor illness such as a mild cold.
loss or bereavement – e.g. death of a close family member, family relationship breakdown.
hardship/trauma – e.g. victim of crime, sudden loss of income or employment, severe disruption to domestic arrangements.
those students demonstrating relevant obligations to military or jury service or service to emergency services such as the Country Fire Authority, and
elite athletes registered with Monash Sport's athlete support program participating in a key event

How and where to apply?

This will depend on the course you are enrolled in and on whether the special consideration is for the final examination or for an in-semester piece of assessment.

For final examinations

You may apply for a deferred exam (regardless of whether you sat the exam or not) by lodging the special consideration form with the supporting documentation to the Faculty that manages your course within two working days of your last exam scheduled in the examination period.

In the case of the courses managed by the Faculty of Science, the application must be lodged at the Faculty Office.

You will be notified of the outcome by mail by the faculty. You should also be able to check it on the Web Enrolment System (WES).

For the final report of a research unit

You may apply for an extension by lodging the special consideration form with the supporting documentation to the Faculty that manages your course within two working days of the report submission deadline

In the case of the courses managed by the Faculty of Science, this application must be lodged at the Faculty Office.

If you are granted an extension you will be notified by email by your Unit Coordinator within 5 working days.

For an in-semester assessment such as assignments, pracs, etc for a unit owned by the Faculty of Science

You may apply for special consideration by lodging the special consideration form to the Unit Coordinator within two working days of the assessment submission deadline.

You will be notified of the outcome of your application by email by your Unit Coordinator (or designated person). The outcome will depend on your particular case and the type of assessment, and it my involve

extension to the assessment submission deadline
alternative assessment
in units with activities that require compulsory attendance: exemption from attending the activity, granting an average mark for it
for weekly quizzes or other regular assessment: exemption from completing a quiz/assessment, granting an average mark for it
rejection of the application.

Supporting documentation

In all cases above, you must provide appropriate evidence and documentation.

Supporting documentation can include:

written statements and statutory declarations from students or relevant people;
evidence provided by professionals who are registered with a professional body, such as social workers, medical practitioners, lawyers and psychologists;
death notice or certificate; or
a police report.

Certificates signed by family members are not acceptable.

Further information

Detailed information about the university special consideration policy and procedures and the Faculty of Science procedures are outlined in the following documents: