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 can provide support such as the opportunity to resit your exam later in the year without a penalty being applied, extra time to complete your assignment with a deadline extension, or adjustments to help protect your degree outcomes. It cannot lead to an increase in the component or module mark.
Your Personal Tutor is a great first point of contact for advice and guidance. It is recommended to speak to them before submitting a Mitigating Circumstances claim.
You’ll usually need to provide evidence. Submit your claim through the Mitigating Circumstances Portal (or myWBS if you're a WBS student) and check the full policy for details.
Mitigating circumstances are here to support you, but it is important to note that the work will still need to be completed.
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 called a deferral, which simply means to push back or delay, and it's covered under the Deferral of Assessments policy. You’ll usually need to provide evidence to support your request.
Speak to your Senior Tutor for guidance, they'll help you to understand your options and guide you through the process. If you and your Senior Tutor agree it's in your best interest, they can request a deferral on your behalf (with your permission).
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 or changes during the academic year, you may want to consider a temporary withdrawal.
This allows you to pause your studies for a specific period of time and return at a later date when you're ready (usually 12 months).
Temporary withdrawal can be requested at any point in the year, but supporting evidence is required. Start by speaking to your Personal Tutor and Senior Tutor if you're considering temporary withdrawal as an option.
