If you are unable to submit your assessment by the due date due to circumstances beyond your control, you may be eligible for an extension. The assessments covered by this extension process include those that are completed individually and completed outside of class time, such as essays, reports and portfolios.

Timed assessments, such as quizzes and take-home exams are generally not eligible for extension, except for extraordinary, documented circumstances as listed below. To defer practical assessments, presentations, or exams, see Deferred Examination.

From January 1 2025, a new Student Assessment Support Procedure will apply for all teaching periods. This includes a new assessment extension procedure to improve communication between academic staff and students and acknowledge the circumstances that may affect a student’s ability to complete their assessments.

You can apply for:

  • Up to 5 working days of extension without documentation.
  • More than 5 working days of extensions if you have exceptional circumstances and provide supporting documents.

Applying for extensions for up to five working days

To apply for an extension of up to five working days from the original due date, you must make a request in writing to the Unit Coordinator as soon as possible. This request should be sent before the due date of the assessment. Applications in writing may be accepted after the assessment due date. Documentation is not required for this extension request.

In your request to the unit coordinator, you must include the reason you require an extension, and share your plan to avoid future late submissions. If you believe your circumstances may affect you again later in the semester, please include this in your request.

Regardless of whether your extension was approved before or after the due date, your assessment must be submitted within five working days of the original due date of the assessment.

Sonam is unwell with a stomach bug that is impacting her ability to complete her essay, which is due in one day. She emails her Unit Coordinator with a reason, and a plan to avoid late assessments in the future.

Dear Unit Coordinator,
I have been unwell due to a stomach bug I have caught which has impacted my ability to finish my essay in time for the due date. As this is a virus, it should pass soon and I do not expect my submissions for other assignments will be impacted. I would like to request an extension so I can recover and then get my assignment handed in.
Thank you, Sonam

Sonam’s extension is approved and she has five extra working days from the due date to complete her work. She submitted her completed assessment two days later.
Drew has been kept at home due to a storm warning in their area. During the storm, their house loses power and reception for two days and Drew misses the date to submit their assignment. They continue working on the assignment in the meantime. When Drew regains internet access, they email their Unit Coordinator with a reason and their plan to
avoid late assessments in the future.

Dear Unit Coordinator,
Due to the storm in Roleystone, I lost power and reception and was unable to submit the assignment due on Wednesday. I am emailing you now, on Friday, to request an extension as I have just reconnected to internet access and am now able to work on my assessment again. This was an isolated weather event, and I don’t believe my future assessments for this unit will be late for the rest of the semester.
Thank you, Drew

Drew’s assessment is approved and has three business days left to complete their assessment, as they requested the extension two days after the due date. They submit on Wednesday, the last day of the extension.

Making multiple extension requests

Requests for extensions should not be unreasonably refused. If multiple extension requests are made in the same unit, your teaching staff may reach out to you to connect you with our Student Success and Support teams.

Your extenuating circumstances may continue beyond five working days. In this case, you may need a longer time frame for your extension. You may apply for an additional extension if you meet the criteria for exceptional circumstances and you have documentation. You may use the initial five days to provide you time to collect the documentation you need for a longer extension.

Applying for extensions beyond five working days

Assessment extensions beyond five working days may be granted if you have experienced extraordinary circumstances beyond your control, and have evidence or documentation to support your request. Your documentation must include the reason you were affected and which extraordinary circumstance it applies to, the dates you were affected, and support the length of extension you are requesting.

Extraordinary circumstances include:

Extraordinary circumstanceSupporting documentation required
Student health or medical condition
  • Signed statement on relevant official letterhead from a medical practitioner or other approved health professional registered with the Medical Board of Australia, Psychology Board of Australia or other relevant professional board or authority.
  • Medical statements from pharmacists are not acceptable.
  • Signed statement on relevant official letterhead from Murdoch University’s Counselling Services outlining how circumstances have impacted the student’s ability to submit or sit the Assessment at the scheduled date and time.
Exceptional family or personal circumstances that are outside of the control of the student
  • Death certificate or funeral notice.
  • Police report or statement.
  • Any form of supporting documentation accepted under the student health or medical condition category listed above.
  • Statutory declaration outlining the relationship to the impacted family member if this is not evident without clarification.
Participation in Defence Force or emergency services or Jury duty
  • Emergency services: signed statement of support on relevant official letterhead detailing the mandatory service requirements or participation in a recognised emergency services callout.
  • Defence Force: signed statement on relevant official letterhead detailing the student is rendering defence service.
  • A copy of the jury summons. The summons must include the start and finish dates of the jury duty.
Unavoidable and unexpected work commitments not opted into on a voluntary basis
  • Signed statement on company letterhead from the employer supporting claims of unavoidable and unexpected work commitments, confirming that these were not opted into on a voluntary basis.
  • For self-employed students, sufficient detail to adequately explain why work commitments are both unavoidable and unexpected will be provided.
Extreme weather events such as major bushfires, floods, earthquakes or tsunamis.
  • Evidence of home address in the affected area or statement from emergency services.
Elite athlete sporting activity participation
  • Signed statement of support from the University’s Elite Athlete Coordinator outlining how circumstances have impacted the student’s ability to submit or sit the Assessment at the scheduled date and time.
  • The extension request must be related to a specific sporting event or activity.
Being a victim of crime, including domestic violence

One or more of the following documents:

  • police report,
  • written verification from a registered Health Practitioner,
  • statutory declaration (students located in Australia only).
Religious 

A signed and dated statement (on the organisation’s letterhead) from an imam, pastor, rabbi, priest or equivalent spiritual or community leader that includes:

  • the student’s name, and
  • that the student is a regular attendee or participant.
First Nations cultural grounds

First Nations students obtain a written communication from:

  • the manager of Kulbardi or delegate,
  • a First Nations service provider/ incorporated body, or
  • a letter from an elder/ community member sighted by the Manager of Kulbardi.

Contact

For personalised support and advice, contact myMurdoch Advice.

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