What to do if you need to make an Extenuating Circumstance Request?

If you are struggling to meet deadlines or unable to attempt an assessment, there is the option to submit an Extenuating Circumstance Request (ECR). You must apply before your deadline, with the relevant evidence.

What is an Extenuating Circumstance Request? 

It is a request to extend or delay your assessment deadline if it can’t be met due to serious personal issues. Your ability to complete an assessment must have been affected by something that you could not control to apply for an ECR.

Deferrals and Extensions:

An extension for an assessment deadline is a maximum 5 working days, a longer extension is not permitted. This is only for coursework, not for exams or other assessments.

A deferral will mean your assessment takes place at the next suitable assessment period. You won’t be able to pick the next assessment date; therefore, a deferral might stop you from moving on to the next stage of your course or delay your graduation if the resit is in a new academic year.

If you are an international student, an Extenuating Circumstance Request to defer your deadline may impact your visa.

What type of evidence do I need to submit?

This will be dependent on your circumstance. You may need a letter or email from your doctor, the University’s Student Wellbeing service, hospital admission record, death certificate or a police report for example.

The evidence should be:

• Directly relevant to the request
• Related to the relevant period (not historic)
• From an official, third party source such as the ones stated above
• Written in English, or accompanied by a certified translation

The form should also explain:

• What circumstances affected your ability to complete the assessment
• When it arose
• How long it is expected to last (or has lasted)
• Why it could not have been anticipated

For more information on supporting evidence, see the Registry Team’s advice: Extenuating Circumstances and Evidence.

How to submit an Extenuating Circumstances Form

You must submit a request for an extension or deferral via the online ECR form which can be found here.

If the evidence is about someone else you must complete a Third Party Consent form which can be found on the ECR student portal pages for Coventry University and Coventry University London here and CU Coventry, CU Scarborough, CU London (Greenwich), CU London (Dagenham) and Coventry Unievrsity Wroclaw here. 

How Your Student Union Advice Service can support

Your Advice Service are happy to proofread your Extenuating Circumstance Request application if it is sent ideally, 3 working days before the deadline. 

As well as this, we can advise you if you have read the guidelines above and still have questions. To get help with the ECR process, complete the service's online enquiry form here. We can also help you appeal the outcome of the request if you don’t agree and feel that you meet the grounds.