Please note:
- if you have a SORA that gives you extension already, there is no need to submit ECs.
- if you submit a DAP, there is no need to provide evidence and there no need to submit an EC too
- if you submit an EC, you must submit evidence unless it is difficult to do so in which case you need to explain why
- you must always submit an EC before the deadline of your assessment
What is a Delayed Assessment Permit (DAP)?
A DAP is a guaranteed approval of a short extension or a deferral (The type of mitigation granted is dependant on the piece of work you are requesting this for). Unlike ECs, DAPs are not reviewed by the Faculty EC Panel. Students are entitled to 3 Delayed Assesment Permits (DAPs) in each Academic Year of study. Depending on the nature of your programme, modules, or assessments, there may be some difference in the type of mitigation granted. For more information on DAPs please see Section 2: Delayed Assessment Scheme of the Academic Manual.
- You can only use a DAP before the assessment takes place. Any claims submitted after the assessment must be made formally to the EC panel and accompanied by formal evidence.
- DAPs cannot be used to defer an assessment where the original deadline has passed, or to suspend late submission penalties.
- You can only cover 1 assessment per DAP. If you have more than 1 assessment you would like to use DAPs for you will need to use separate DAPs.
Once submitted, you cannot withdraw your DAP. You should ensure that you submit your work in line with the new assessment deadline. You are expected to submit at the same time as your original deadline unless specified otherwise. For IOE all deadlines are at 1pm so if you are granted a five working days extension, you must submit by 1pm on the new deadline date.If you are submitting a DAP to defer an exam, your department will contact you with revised exam details. You should not attempt the original exam in the meantime.
Applying for a DAP
After you have read all of the guidance, please submit your EC application on Portico.
- Navigate to the MyStudies tab and
- click on My Delayed Assesment Permits
follow the on-screen prompts to complete your application
For further information on extension requests, please visit the UCL Academic Manual.
What are Extenuating Circumstances?
‘Extenuating Circumstances’ (often referred to as ‘ECs’) are events which are sudden, unexpected, significantly disruptive and beyond your control and which may affect your performance at summative assessment, such as a serious illness or the death of a close relative. ECs should only be used for these kind of events as it can have an impact on your progression and awards. Each EC is reviewed by the Faculty Extenuating Circumstances Panel (FECP) who make a decision on your claim.
- You can submit an EC claim to access ‘mitigation’ such as an extension or deferring an assessment to a later date
- Any student considering an EC application needs to meet the grounds for EC
Applying for an EC
Are you already on a Study Support Plan or a Learning Agreement?
Often students on a Study Support Plan or a Learning Agreement require extensions to their assessments as part of the agreed mitigation plan. If this is the case, you must discuss the requirements with the author of the Study Support Plan or the Learning Agreement (usually the Programme Leader). If an extension is found to be the best way to support you, you will then be able to apply for an extension via Portico and provide your completed and signed Study Support Plan or Learning Agreement as evidence. EC requests not mentioned on your Study Support Plan or Learning Agreement will not be accepted and any extensions given outside of the agreed plan will be void.
If you are not sure whether you should use Extenuating Circumstances, Section 1: How to Use This Framework includes details of all the different support that is available to you.
To contact the IOE EC team, please email ioe-ec@ucl.ac.uk
For further information visit the UCL Academic Manual.
Longer-term conditions
ECs are designed for emergencies. If your circumstances are not sudden, unexpected and beyond your control, UCL has a wide range of other options to support your studies – please see Section 1: How to Use This Framework for more details.
If you are disabled or have a health condition that you feel might impact on your ability to perform in assessments, you can apply for reasonable adjustments to your assessment(s).
Where a student with a disability or long-term condition needs regular extensions to coursework deadlines this should be explicitly stated in the Summary of Reasonable Adjustments (SoRA). Such students do not need to submit a separate EC application as an extension will be automatically granted as per their SoRA.
If a student who already has a SoRA extension in place needs additional time and the grounds for EC are met, they are able to apply for further extensions using this process.
For further information on SoRAs, please visit our SoRA FAQs.