EXTENSION OF SUBMISSION AND Special CIRCUMSTANCES EXTENSION

A request for an Extension of Submission must be given by the student to the Module Tutor before the original submission date.  

To do this:

• Submit a completed extension form (ask your Module Tutor for this form) and relevant evidence (if any) explaining why you need an extension to your Programme Leader.

Programme Leaders may allow assessments to be submitted late without penalty.  The Maximum extension time given is 14 calendar days, except for individual projects or artifacts, which may be longer.

• Requests for more than 14 calendar days must be made using the University’s Mitigating Circumstances regulations and procedures.

Penalties

A student who fails to submit assessments by the original date or revised date outlined above, shall be subject to the following penalties;

• Up to 7 calendar days late – 10 marks will be subtracted but if the assessment would normally gain a pass mark (40 for Undergrad and 50 for Postgrad), the final mark will not be lower than this.
• More than 7 calendar days – this will be counted as a non-submission and no marks will be recorded.

Special Circumstances (Formerly Mitigating Circumstances)

“Special Circumstances” is a term used to describe unforeseeable personal events that may significantly impede your ability to sit an examination or complete an assessment by the required deadline.

These are events that cause significant difficulties, far beyond the normally accepted difficulties of everyday life. This could include:

• A sudden, severe illness or physical injury,
• A serious personal event (e.g; a bereavement),

Special Circumstances would not normally include events considered to be a normal part of life, any ongoing circumstances or things that reasonably may have been planned for or avoided. This would include:

• A mild illness,
• Periods of high workload,
• A longstanding medical condition or illness (though a “flare-up” of said condition may be considered),

These are things that are generally considered to be either part of life or manageable through experience and appropriate preparation and planning.

Examples of circumstances that DO NOT fall under Special Circumstances:

• Proximity or number of examinations or other assessments,
• Missing a deadline due to computer difficulties or transport difficulties,
• Losing work not backed up on computer disk,
• Failure to make alternative travel plans when disruptions were known in advance,
• Normal work commitments on behalf of an employer,
• Misreading of assignment deadlines or examination timetables,
• Poor time management,
• Scheduling of holidays or time abroad,

Medical Circumstances

The University would not normally consider a long term medical condition or illness under Special Circumstances, as the student would be expected to possess the experience and medical knowledge required to effectively manage their condition and have the opportunity to register with the University’s disability service. However, it is possible that such conditions may “flare-up”, regardless of any any management or treatment and evidence of such temporary changes and their effect may be considered.

When medical circumstances are to be considered, they should generally be evidenced by a medical certificate or letter. This medical evidence should:

• Relate specifically to the dates and duration of the illness, 
• Be signed by hand on bona fide headed paper from the specialist or doctor’s surgery (appointment cards are not sufficient evidence),
• Contain a clear medical diagnosis or opinion and not merely report a claim that a student felt unwell and/or had reason to believe he/she were ill at some point in the past. It may therefore be difficult to obtain a medical certificate after an illness is over and such evidence is less likely to be considered as valid,

Please note that: 

• Doctors are entitled to charge for any medical certificates or notes they provide, 
• Doctors do not always provide certificates for short periods of illness, 
• Doctors might not provide certificates after illness has ended, because after recovery it might be impossible to know that a student had been ill,

Applying for Special Circumstances

To apply for Special Circumstances you should send a completed Special Circumstances submission form to Mit-Circs@greatermanchester.ac.uk before your assessment deadline date.

Alongside this submission for you should submit:

• A covering note including a clear and honest explanation of the circumstances you have experienced,
• Evidence that would adequately support the circumstances in question,
• Evidence of the deadline date(s) of the assessment(s) you are submitting Special Circumstances for,

Please note that a Special Circumstances Application may be automatically declined if:

• It is submitted from an email address other than your University email address,
• It is submitted outside of the required timeframe without good reason,
• No valid potential reasons are cited,
• The evidence submitted is incomplete or no evidence had been submitted,

Students’ Union Special Circumstances Support

The SU’s academic advice team can offer you support and advice on navigating many of the University’s procedures, including Special Circumstances. If you are considering applying for Special Circumstances, feel free to get in touch. Pop into our office in the chancellor’s mall, reach out to us over the phone or by email or book an appointment with one of our advisers through the link below.

SU Academic Advice Booking Link: https://outlook.office.com/book/StudentsUnionAdvice@boltonuni.onmicrosoft.com/

Special Circumstances Form and Procedures: https://greatermanchester.ac.uk/student-policy-zone/student-policies-2025-26/mitigating-circumstances-regulations-and-procedures-2025-26