Student Services

There is a strict deadline when applying for Extenuating circumstances (EC) and you will need to provide evidence to support your claim.

• If you are not able to attend an examination or an in-class test, you should apply for EC before the date of the test or examination. If this isn’t possible (for example, you become ill on the day of the examination), then you have 10 working days from the date of the test or examination to apply for EC.
• If you are not able to do an assessment, you should apply for an extension in the first instance. If you believe or you are advised that an extension will give not give you enough time to get the work done, then you should apply for EC before the submission deadline or within 10 working days of the submission deadline.
• Once your results have been formally ratified by the Board of Examiners you will not usually be able to make a claim for EC unless you can provide evidence of really exceptional circumstances.
• You apply for EC using your Blackboard account. Claims are looked at by a panel.
• If your EC claim is successful, you will usually get the opportunity to do the work again. However, if your original mark is higher then this will override the mark you get in the assessment.
• Claims and evidence are treated confidentially. Decisions are sent to your university email account and copied to your School office.

If your EC claim is not successful, you have up to 15 days to provide further evidence.

In order to make a successful claim for EC you will need to provide with your claim, independent evidence to show how the EC affected your ability to study at the relevant time.

For example: if you have been ill, you could provide a medical certificate, hospital record or a letter from a medical professional which confirms your illness and also the impact on your ability to study on the relevant dates.

• If you have been affected by the illness of a family member then remember that you will also need evidence of how this affected you, and again this will usually be from your own medical practitioner.
• If you have been the victim of a crime then you will need evidence from the Police as well as medical evidence.
• One of the most important things to remember is that the evidence must relate to the time of the assessment you are claiming for.
• Letters from friends or family members will not usually be regarded as independent evidence.
• If your evidence is not in English, you will need to provide an official translation, which you may have to pay for. You may also have to pay for medical evidence.
• Please remember that it is your responsibility to provide the evidence to support your claim. It is not enough to ask the University to contact your GP or the Police.

If there is an issue in your life which is affecting your studies you can talk to an adviser in confidence. To book a telephone appointment with a professional adviser please email studentsuport@lincoln.ac.uk, telephone Student Support on 01522 837080, or visit the Information Hub on the ground floor of the Atrium in the Minerva Building.

You can find further information about Extenuating Circumstances via this link