If unexpected circumstances outside your control have seriously affected your studies, assessment performance, or ability to attend an assessment, you may be able to submit a mitigating circumstances claim.
Before submitting a claim, please read the guidance below.
MC widget
- Quick Decision Tool
- What counts as Mitigating Circumstances?
- Before you submit a claim
- How to submit a claim
- How Mitigating Circumstances Claims Are Considered
- Important Deadlines
- What Happens After I Submit?
- What Support Might Be Offered?
- Need Immediate Support?
- How to use the mitigating circumstances app
Is your situation short-term and affecting a coursework deadline that has not yet passed?
✅ Yes → Apply for an Extension
Has your situation affected:
- an examination?
- a timed assessment?
- multiple assessments?
- your ability to study over a longer period?
- assessment performance that has already taken place?
✅ Yes → Submit a Mitigating Circumstances Claim
Do you need ongoing support?
✅ Contact:
- Your Personal Tutor
- Senior Tutor
- Student Wellbeing Service
- Disability Advisory Service
Mitigating circumstances are usually:
- Unexpected
- Outside your control
- Significant enough to affect your academic performance
Examples may include:
- Serious illness or injury
- Significant worsening of a health condition
- Bereavement
- Major personal or family crisis
- Being the victim of a crime
- Caring responsibilities arising unexpectedly
- Housing emergencies
- Serious technical problems affecting an assessment
- Other significant unforeseen events
What does not normally count?
Claims are unlikely to be accepted for:
- Poor time management
- Forgetting a deadline
- Routine workload pressures
- Multiple assessments occurring close together
- Minor technical issues
- Holidays
- Moving house
- Minor illnesses
- Normal exam stress
Talk to someone
If possible, speak to:
- Your Personal Tutor
- Senior Tutor
- Student Wellbeing Adviser
Support is often available before a situation becomes severe.
Gather evidence
Most claims require independent evidence showing:
- What happened
- When it happened
- How it affected your studies
Examples include:
- Medical evidence
- Police reports
- Official letters
- Other professional documentation
Undergraduate and MSc Students
Complete the claim form in the department's
Upload supporting evidence.
Submit your claim as soon as possible.
The Student Support Team reviews submissions and may refer complex cases to the Mitigating Circumstances Board. Current departmental practice is that claims are reviewed by the Senior Tutor and Student Wellbeing team before recommendations are made.
All mitigating circumstances claims are considered by the Department's Mitigating Circumstances Committee (MCC).
Membership of the MCC
The committee includes:
- Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS) - Chair
- Director of Postgraduate Studies (DPS)
- Senior Tutor
- Associate Senior Tutors
- DDO, SWA and Exams Officer
How decisions are made
To ensure that claims are considered promptly, most claims are reviewed by a nominee of the Chair of the MCC on behalf of the committee.
The reviewer will consider:
- Whether the circumstances were unexpected, unavoidable, and outside your control.
- Whether sufficient supporting evidence has been provided.
- The impact of the circumstances on your studies or assessments.
A decision is usually made within one-week.
Complex Cases
Some claims require broader discussion before a decision can be made. Examples may include:
- Complex or unusual circumstances.
- Cases affecting multiple assessments.
- Situations where the appropriate outcome is unclear.
- Cases where further review or discussion is required.
These claims may be referred to the full Mitigating Circumstances Committee for consideration.
Meeting Schedule
The full MCC normally meets according to the following schedule:
Autumn Term
- Tuesday 6 October
- Wednesday 11 November
Spring Term
- Wednesday 13 January
- Monday 15 February
Summer Term
- Wednesday 28 April
- Wednesday 23 June
Resit Period
- Wednesday 25 August
Claims that require committee review will normally be considered at the next available meeting.
Confidentiality
Information submitted as part of a mitigating circumstances claim is treated confidentially and is only shared with staff who need access to consider the claim and provide appropriate support.
Standard Deadline
Submit a claim within 10 working days of the affected assessment.
Late Claims
Late claims require:
- A compelling explanation for the delay.
- Independent evidence explaining why you could not submit earlier.
Late claims are accepted only in limited circumstances.
Your claim will be reviewed together with your evidence.
Possible outcomes include:
Accepted
The department confirms that mitigating circumstances existed.
Rejected
The circumstances or evidence do not meet the required criteria.
More Information Needed
Additional evidence or clarification may be requested.
An accepted claim recognises that circumstances affected your studies. It does not automatically determine the academic outcome. Decisions depend on the circumstances and affected assessment. Possible outcomes may include:
- Removal of late penalties
- Further assessment opportunities
- Consideration by Boards of Examiners
Mitigating circumstances cannot add marks directly to an assessment.
Wellbeing and Mental Health
If you need urgent wellbeing support:
🔗 ImperiaStudent Support Zone
Department Contacts
Senior Tutor
Dr Prabhav Reddy
Student Wellbeing Adviser
Kelly Greenwood
You may also contact your Personal Tutor.