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Extenuating Circumstances - Undergraduate Applicants

We understand that sometimes an applicant's academic progress and attainment may have been impacted by circumstances that were beyond their control.

Extenuating circumstances may be considered at either A: the application review stage and/or B: the point of reviewing your final results.

Please note that this is separate from our standard Contextual OffersLink opens in a new window policy, which has specific eligibility criteria; you do not need to fill in an extenuating circumstances form to be assessed for a contextual offer. These forms are not for use by applicants applying to A101 Medicine MBChB. MBChB applicants should contact the postgraduate admissions team here.

Examples of extenuating circumstances

We understand that different circumstances impact applicants in different ways, however, in order to ensure that we operate a fair and consistent process, we have a general framework of circumstances we will consider.

 

Some extenuating circumstances that will be considered are listed below (this list is not exhaustive):

  • bereavement of close relative/significant other
  • serious accident of applicant or close family member
  • serious, acute or chronic illness/medical condition of applicant or close family member
  • significant and ongoing caring responsibilities
  • significant adverse personal/family circumstances
  • significant disruption to the provision of education at school or college
  • victim of (or witness to) a serious crime / domestic violence

 

Note: If you have a disability or long-term health condition, we will generally not consider this an extenuating circumstance unless:

  • there were no appropriate adjustments made for studies or assessments or
  • you had an acute episode of illness which had a particular impact on a period of study or your exam performance

 

There are some situations that are not usually considered under our extenuating circumstances policy. For example:

  • minor illnesses or injuries during studies or examinations (e.g. cough, cold, headache, hay fever)
  • disruption to your education due to Covid (e.g. school closure, remote learning or teacher absence)
  • situations where reasonable adjustments have already been made by the school or examining body (e.g. for a disability or long-term health condition)
  • feeling unprepared for an examination, or suffering from mild stress or anxiety related to examinations

How to tell us about your extenuating circumstances

A: When applying to Warwick and advice for referees

Form A allows you to provide information explaining how your recent education, academic progress, and/or attainment (for example your GCSE grades) have been negatively impacted by circumstances beyond your control and which may be helpful to us in our initial review of your application.

Ideally your referee should include any such information within your reference – if we have received this information in your UCAS reference you do not need to provide it again. Please see our guidance on referencesLink opens in a new window.

If it was not possible or appropriate for the information to be provided by your referee, or if you need to send further supporting attachments, then you or your referee should complete Form A.

The information will be considered alongside your application and used to determine whether we can make you an offer (where we might not otherwise have done so purely on academic grounds), and/or whether in very exceptional circumstances, a discretionary reduced offer might be appropriate.

Deadline:

Extenuating circumstances Form As must be received within two weeks of submitting your UCAS application; information received after a decision has already been communicated will not be considered unless this was within two weeks of you applying via UCAS.

B: After you have received an offer

Form B allows you to provide further information if extenuating circumstances affected your performance in your final exams or assessments. It will open for submission in Summer 2025.

Deadline:

Extenuating circumstances Form Bs must be received by 12 July 2025.

How we consider extenuating circumstances

The information you provide will be treated in confidence and with sensitivity. The information will only be shared with necessary members of the Undergraduate Admissions Service and relevant academic members of staff. Extenuating circumstances forms will be attached to your application, and we will also “add a flag” to your electronic application to ensure that the information is considered in the decision-making processes. We use details of your extenuating circumstances only to put your academic achievements into context; applicants will not be disadvantaged for disclosing a medical problem or other extenuating circumstance.

If you submit extenuating circumstances information, it does not guarantee that the University will be able to make you an offer or that we will confirm your place at the University if you do not meet the conditions of your offer. However, we will consider your extenuating circumstances alongside your UCAS application and use the information that you provide to help us assess your academic performance in light of your individual circumstances.

Please note that we cannot say in advance whether or not an application is likely to be successful on consideration of extenuating circumstances.

 

In the forms we ask for details of a third party whom we can contact regarding the information you have submitted, if required. Depending on the circumstances you have mentioned this could be a teacher, medical professional, social worker etc., but we ask that you do not name friends or relatives as referees. If the nature of your circumstances is highly confidential, and as such only close friends or relatives are aware, please let us know when submitting your form so we can advise you further.

 

Please note that any information submitted via these forms will be used solely for the purpose of considering your application and will not be passed to Wellbeing and Student SupportLink opens in a new window. If you wish to make Wellbeing and Student Support aware of your circumstances, please contact them directly.