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.
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.
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 circumstance | Supporting documentation required |
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Student health or medical condition |
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Exceptional family or personal circumstances that are outside of the control of the student |
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Participation in Defence Force or emergency services or Jury duty |
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Unavoidable and unexpected work commitments not opted into on a voluntary basis |
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Extreme weather events such as major bushfires, floods, earthquakes or tsunamis. |
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Elite athlete sporting activity participation |
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Being a victim of crime, including domestic violence | One or more of the following documents:
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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:
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First Nations cultural grounds | First Nations students obtain a written communication from:
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