Life can be unpredictable, and personal challenges can get in the way of your studies. This page outlines the key support options available to help you stay on track - from extensions and deferrals to temporary withdrawal and reasonable adjustments.
Always reach out to your Personal Tutor or Senior Tutor if you need support or want to explore more the most appropriate next steps. They're here to help you.
If personal challenges such as illness, mental health difficulties, or unexpected life events are making it hard for you to study or take exams, you may be eligible to submit a Mitigating Circumstances claim.
Mitigating circumstances do not lead to an increase in the component or module mark, but can lead to support such as resits without penalties, deadline extensions, or adjustments to help protect your degree outcomes.
You’ll usually need to provide evidence, and your Personal Tutor is a great first point of contact for advice and guidance.
Submit your claim through the Mitigating Circumstances Portal (or myWBS if you're a WBS student) and check the full policy for details.
If you're dealing with a significant but short-term issue around exam time - like illness or a personal emergency - you may be able to defer your assessments to the next available exam period.
This is covered under the Deferral of Assessments policy, and you’ll usually need to provide evidence.
Speak to your Senior Tutor for guidance, and make sure to read the full deferrals procedure and guidance alongside the mitigating circumstances policy to fully understand your options.
If you have a long-term condition or disability, you may be eligible for Reasonable Adjustments to help you study more comfortably. These can include adjustments such as extra time in exams, flexible deadlines, or changes to assessment arrangements.
For personalised support and to explore your options, reach out to Disability Services - they’re here to help.
If you're experiencing a short-term or minor issue that affects your ability to meet an assessment deadline, you may be able to use Self-Certification to request an automatic five-working-day extension on eligible assignments.
No evidence is required, and you can submit your request through the Self-Certification Portal (SCP) or on myWBS (for WBS students only).
If you're experiencing a short-term issue that may require additional support, you can request a specific extension for an individual assessment. The length of the extension is determined through academic judgement and may require supporting evidence.
Students should follow their department’s procedures when requesting an extension and refer to the relevant guidance and policy for full details.
If you're experiencing significant or ongoing difficulties during the academic year, you may want to consider a temporary withdrawal.
This allows you to pause your studies and return at a later date when you're ready.
Temporary withdrawal can be requested at any point in the year, but supporting evidence is required, and you should first speak with your Senior Tutor.
