Applying for an Assessment Extension

Check your course StudyDesk to confirm that an extension is allowed and appropriate for the specific assessment item before attempting to submit an assessment extension request.

• If you are experiencing special circumstances and assessment extensions are not available for a specific assessment item, you can apply for deferred assessment, and you may be granted the opportunity to complete a deferred and/or varied assessment item instead. 
  
  
• You cannot request an assessment extension for Formal Examinations. For more information see the Applying for a Deferred Examination website.

The documents you need to provide depends on the type of request you submit. 

Short extensions

Short three (3) calendar day assessment extension requests on eligible assessment items are automatically approved and do not require the provision of a Statement of Circumstances or supporting documents for an outcome.

Note: If the assessment item is a quiz and the published due date has passed, or you have submitted your request outside University business hours, you will need to wait for our confirmation email that your course StudyDesk has been updated to reflect your due date extension. You won’t be able to attempt the quiz before we make the date changes to your quiz link in StudyDesk.  

Long extensions or Deferred Assessment

When you request an extension for four (4) or more calendar days, you will need to provide a Statement of Circumstances that includes sufficient detail so you can receive a timely outcome that best considers your situation and follows UniSQ policy and procedure.

A long extension request must be submitted on or before the due date of the Assessment Item. If you are unable to submit your request by this time, you will need to provide evidence in accordance with the Assessment of Special Circumstances Procedure that it was not possible to submit a request prior to the due date.

Student Statement of Circumstances

A long extension or deferred assessment request must include a detailed Student Statement of Circumstances that addresses the key criteria used for determining Special Circumstances, and should state:

1. what the circumstances are
2. when they became known to you; and
3. how they affected your ability to submit your assessment by the published due date

Supporting Documentation

The Supporting Documentation included in your request should verify your Student Statement of Circumstances, and:

1. state what the circumstances are
2. include the dates and/or length of the circumstances, for example, the start and end date of an illness or injury, the start and end date of periods of service or other commitments
3. explain the impact of the stated circumstances on your ability to meet the assessment due date.

Supporting documents should be attached as part of the online assessment extension request. Your documents must be in a viewable file format such as pdf, jpg or docx, without any security or permission restrictions.

Trouble getting supporting documents?

In circumstances where supporting documents are not immediately available, you are still expected to submit your online assessment extension request on or before the assessment item’s published due date.

Regardless of your reasons for submitting a request for an assessment extension, you must provide a detailed explanation of the impact these circumstances have had on your ability to meet the assessment item's published due date, in the Statement of Circumstances section of the online assessment extension request.

Include any information about the supporting documents you will be providing, including the type of documents, when they will be available and details explaining why documentation was not able to be provided sooner.

You can add supporting documents to a submitted extension request through your Student Centre within 5 University Business Days of your submission.

Note: An assessment extension submitted without supporting documentation will be assessed. You will be asked to supply supporting documents which you must provide within 5 University business days of this request. In accordance with the Assessment Procedure a penalty for late submission will apply if your assessment extension request is not approved. If your request is approved penalties will not be imposed.

Providing falsified information

When you request an extension, you must provide information that’s true, accurate and complete, without intending to mislead or gain advantage.

Making a false statement or providing a falsified supporting document as part of an Assessment Extension Request is a breach of the Student General Conduct Policy. Requests made using falsified information will not be approved. Breaches of the Student General Conduct Policy are managed in accordance with the Student General Misconduct Procedure.

You can find more information about the documentation types and supporting evidence on the Reasons for requesting Long Extensions and Deferred Assessments webpage.

1. Log into UConnect to access the Online Requests in your Student Centre and add a New Request for an Assessment Extension.
   
   
2. Follow the prompts to provide the necessary information in your Statement of Circumstances and include a detailed explanation of the impact these circumstances have had on your ability to meet the assessment item's published due date.
   
   In circumstances where supporting documents are not immediately available, include any information you can in your Statement of Circumstances about the supporting documents you will be providing, such as the type of documents, when they will be available and details explaining why documentation is not able to be provided sooner.
   
   
3. Check the required supporting documents are in a viewable file format such as pdf, jpg or docx, without any security or permission restrictions and attach them to your request.
   
   
4. Submit your request on or before the assessment item's due date and time. Extension requests submitted after the due date are only approved where a student can provide evidence that it was not possible to submit a request prior to the published due date, in accordance with the Assessment of Special Circumstances Procedure. 

You can check the status of your extension request in your Student Centre.

You don’t need to wait for the outcome of your request to make progress on your assessment item. If your situation allows, keep working on your assessment and try to submit it as soon as you can. We understand that waiting for an outcome may be difficult.

UniSQ is fully committed to helping students facing challenging circumstances. You are not alone, and support is readily available.

Short extension requests
Permitted assessment items are automatically approved, and you’ll receive an email confirming your revised due date immediately.

Assessment items with a closed submission link or quiz
Your StudyDesk link will be updated as a priority during normal university business hours, and we’ll let you know by email as soon as they are accessible.  

Long extension requests
Requests for more than four (4) calendar days with all the required supporting documents normally takes between two (2) to five (5) University business days to evaluate and provide an outcome.

After hours
Assessment extension requests are not processed outside normal university business hours, over the weekend or on public holidays.

Multiple requests
If you submit more than one request on the same day, you may not receive an outcome to all requests at the same time.

Request for additional documents
You may be asked to provide additional supporting documentation to help us to assess your extension request, which can add to the time required to provide you with an outcome. You can add supporting documentation to an extension request through your Student Centre.  

Requests for long or further extensions
These requests may be forwarded to the Course Coordinator or other relevant decision-makers for their consideration, which can add to the time required to provide an outcome.

Requests for long extensions or deferred assessment are carefully considered in accordance with UniSQ’s Assessment Procedure and Assessment of Special Circumstances Procedure. Your request will be assessed on:

• the details provided in your Statement of Circumstances explaining how your study has been impacted and why you can’t meet the published due date, including when and for how long you’ve been impacted, and how much time you’ve asked for, to recover and/or catch up
• the relevant supporting documents that provide evidence of how your study has been impacted and why you can’t meet a submission due date, including the dates, and whether documents are original and unaltered
• your request history, including if you have requested multiple extensions or prolonged extensions across the study period.

The outcome of your request will be emailed to your UMail account.

You will be advised whether your request has been approved or not approved, and reasons for this decision. You’ll also receive information about what you need to do next and how to connect with UniSQ support services and resources designed to assist you during your studies.

If your request is approved

First Extension to your assessment’s published due date
If your request is approved, you’ll be granted a revised due date. Your extension will take effect from the published due date of your assessment and normally reflects the day or set of days specified in your supporting documents.

Subsequent Extension to your assessments revised due date
If your request is approved, you’ll be granted an extension to your revised due date. Your extension will take effect from the original published due date of your assessment and normally reflects the day or set of days specified in the supporting documents you attach to your subsequent extension request.

Deferred assessment
If the extension date you apply for is after the last day of the study period, you may be provided with a Deferred Assessment.

Varied assessment
You may be asked to complete a varied piece of assessment if it is not appropriate to defer the original assessment item. A varied assessment item will assess the same knowledge or skills as the original assessment item.

If you require a further extension for an approved assessment item, you will be required to submit a new online request on or before the revised due date and provide additional supporting documentation.

If your request is not approved

Circumstances are Not Approved
The Assessment of Special Circumstances Procedure specifies that special circumstances are abnormal, unexpected, and outside of the student's control.  A long extension is not able to be approved for the circumstances that are to be expected in the normal course of a student's study, work, family, and social life.

Insufficient Supporting Documentation
The requested supporting documentation has not been provided, is invalid, or is not sufficient to support your request.

If you are unhappy with the outcome of your assessment extension request, you may request a Review of Decision in accordance with the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure. 

Assessments submitted without an approved extension or submitted after the revised due date where no further extension has been granted will incur a late submission penalty deducted from your mark for each calendar day an assessment item is late, in accordance with the Assessment Procedure. 

We understand there are many reasons for requesting extensions and acknowledge the impact of challenging experiences on your learning journey.

UniSQ provides an extensive range of support resources and services designed to assist you during your studies, including:

Study Support

The UniSQ Library offers academic support, advice and guidance through online study support resources and toolkits, or you can request a consultation with a Learning Advisor.

Student Success Advising

Book an appointment to discuss support options and get individualised advice.

Wellbeing

Our Wellbeing team can assist with free and confidential counselling, practical welfare assistance, and disability support. Contact details are also available if you require emergency services or personal support outside the University’s normal business hours.