You are not required to automatically approve all requests, if there is a good reason not to, such as a pressing business need. But you must give proper consideration to any requests – not doing so could amount to discrimination under the Equality Act. You should approve it wherever possible, as any other leave request.

For colleagues managing staff: You can treat these requests in the same way you would any other request for annual leave or flexible working – give them proper consideration and approve wherever possible. If it is not possible to approve a request for legitimate reasons you should discuss the situation with the individual to see if there are some adjustments that can be made. For example, enabling staff to work from home, allowing a temporary change to working hours, adjusting times when breaks are taken or allowing a longer break to suit prayer needs.

For colleagues supporting students: All timetabling arrangements for students with time off needs relating to religion or belief are made individually by departments, as required. Students should not be registered as having an unauthorised absence from lecturers/seminars if their absence is due to religious commitments and this has been discussed and agreed beforehand.

A staff member or student with a religion or belief should not automatically be given priority over others. The Equality Act protects both those who do and do not have a religion or belief – this means prioritising these requests for time off or flexibility over others could amount to discrimination against people with no religion or belief.

You should consider all request for time off or flexibility thoroughly, reviewing the situation for each case.

Departments are encouraged to take a pragmatic approach to specific extension requests from both undergraduate and postgraduate students who may require an extension for reasons of religious observance. Students can also be advised that for eligible assessments, they can apply for an extension of 5 working days, without the need for evidence, via the self-certification policy.

Students are expected to attend examinations; presenting for an exam is taken to imply fitness to undertake the examination. If a student is unable to sit an exam on a particular day or at a particular time due to a religious commitment, you should advise them to complete a Religious Observance Form and return it to the Examinations team as soon as possible. The deadline for submission of this form will be during the Spring Term (for the academic year 2022/23, the deadline is Friday 3 February 2023). The University will make every reasonable effort to avoid times/dates identified in the form. However, due to timetabling constraints this may not always be possible. In these instances, colleagues in the academic department should discuss the situation with the student to see if any alternative arrangements can be made, such as deferral of an examination period.

Reasonable religion, faith, or belief-based exam or assignment extension requests or flexibility should be considered for both centrally and departmentally scheduled deadlines.

Please note that this is guidance only, please see the University’s policies for full details on mitigating circumstances and exam deferral.

You might find the following links helpful in considering requests for time off or flexibility:

• Annual leave.
• Hybrid working.
• Flexible Working Guidelines.
• Mitigating Circumstances.
• Self-Certification.
• Examinations - Religious Observance.
• Deferral of Examinations.