Reasons for requesting Long Extensions and Deferred Assessments

If you are applying for an assessment extension based on medical reasons, your Statement of Circumstances must explain how your circumstances have affected your ability to meet the due date for the assessment item. 

You must also obtain supporting documentation from a registered health practitioner, such as a GP or specialist, or health service such as a pharmacy, telehealth, Dial A Doctor or internet doctor on or before the assessment item's published due date.

Examples of acceptable supporting documents 

• A medical certificate from a registered health practitioner, such as a GP or specialist, or health service such as a pharmacy, telehealth, Dial A Doctor or internet doctor
  
  
• A report from a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist
  
  
• Hospital issued medical documentation
  
  
• A current UniSQ Learning Support Plan (LSP) with approved adjustments for a physical, sensory, psychiatric, learning or intellectual impairment, or long-term medical condition, or responsibilities as a primary carer that may impact the completion of assessment items.

Submit all required supporting documentation with your extension request to avoid any delays in receiving an outcome. The documentation must be current and:

1. be written on official letterhead, signed and dated by the health practitioner or service provider
2. should include a medical provider number and contact details of the practice
3. state the specific dates you have been declared unfit to study or include the LSP review date.

You may submit additional written, third-party documentation that you believe will help us to assess your extension request. 

Note: Xray’s, scans or photos of injuries are not appropriate documents to attach to an extension request.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, mental health, medical condition or carer responsibilities that impact your studies, Learning Support Plans are available. Book an appointment with an Accessibility Support Officer to discuss your needs.

Employment and Career-related reasons are not usually accepted as Special Circumstances, however we will consider an assessment extension request if:

• your employer increases your working hours and/or changes your work roster, changes your work responsibilities or redeploys you to a different position.
• your employer unexpectedly changes your work location or directs you to transfer to a new work location.
• you have important career events and/or opportunities that require significant time commitments for preparation, training, travel, or location changes that creates a disruption to your internet access, study schedule or learning environment.

Your Statement of Circumstances must explain how your circumstances have affected your ability to meet the due date for the assessment item. You must also obtain supporting documentation from your employer on or before the assessment item's published due date.

Examples of acceptable supporting documents 

• A statement or formal communication such as a formal letter, email correspondence, duty roster, travel itinerary or other work issued document from your current employer(s) indicating that you were:
  • required to perform work duties that were significantly more than your normal work hours and responsibilities, and/or
  • directed to change work location or redeploy to a different position
    
    
• Documents demonstrating important career events and/or opportunities, such as a statement or formal communication, event registration and/or program, travel and/or accommodation itinerary that include your name and the dates your study has been impacted.

Submit all required supporting documentation with your extension request to avoid any delays in receiving an outcome. The documentation must be current and: 

1. include details that clearly identify the business or organisation, such as official letter head, company logo or insignia
2. be written by a relevant representative of the business or organisation, such as your employer(s), manager or supervisor and include their position, contact details at the place(s) of employment, or email signature block
3. clearly demonstrate the dates your study has been impacted.

You may submit additional written, third-party documentation that you believe will help us to assess your extension request. 

An extension based on compassionate reasons may be granted for a family or personal circumstance that has occurred, has a significant impact on your ability to meet an assessment item's due date and is beyond your control. 

Compassionate reasons include, but are not limited to: 

• Sudden serious illness of a family member, carer responsibilities
• Sad News/Sorry Business, recent death of a family member or close friend
• Observance of cultural and/or religious commitments that significantly impact your study
• Hardship or trauma such as personal injury or accident, sudden loss of income, financial hardship, such as sudden loss of employment or income
• Adverse experience such as including witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime, domestic violence or sexual assault 
• Traumatic events, including natural disaster, political upheaval, acts of war or terrorism, global pandemic 
• HeadStart and School attendees/Minors/Under 18’s where school or family commitments create a disruption to internet access, study schedule or learning environment
• Changes to living circumstances that create a disruption to your internet access, study schedule or learning environment, such as moving house, end of lease arrangements, immediate or emergency accommodation insecurity.
• Other Major or One-off significant events, where the location creates a disruption to your internet access, study schedule or learning environment, and where the assessment item published due dates were not known at the time of acceptance or enrolment, or the coincidence of dates could not be anticipated or avoided.

Examples of acceptable supporting documents

• A carer’s statement from a medical practitioner. The statement must include the patient’s relationship to you, and the specific dates the patient was unwell. The medical certificate must state the period that you are required to provide care for the patient. 
  
  
• Death certificate, death/funeral notice, or funeral service pamphlet. If the relationship between you and the deceased is not immediately clear (e.g., you have different surnames), provide details in your Statement of Circumstances, or a Statutory Declaration. 
  
  
• A signed and dated statement (on the organisation’s letterhead) that includes your name, indicating you are a regular attendee or member, from your spiritual or community leader.
  
  
• A police report or statement from a relevant authority, or a letter from a professional you disclosed the trauma, incident or crime to and/or a detailed Statement of Circumstances, or a Statutory Declaration.
  
  
• Government department advisories and Public Health Directions, media reports or other information relating to political upheaval, Natural Disasters, pandemics or other circumstances.
  
  
• A letter written on school letterhead. The letter must confirm the specific event and dates of the event or activity. The letter must also describe the nature of your commitment (e.g., rehearsals, training, travel etc.) and explain how it affects your ability to submit the assessment item on time. 
  
  
• Documents demonstrating a change of address, travel and/or accommodation and include the dates your study has been impacted.

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. You must provide a detailed explanation in your Statement of Circumstances.

Note: If you submit an extension request without supporting documents you may be asked to supply them, and extra time will be needed to provide you with an outcome.

You can add supporting documentation to a submitted extension request through your Student Centre within 5 University Business days. If you believe it may take longer to acquire the necessary supporting documentation, make a note of this in your extension request.

If you are an elite athlete, performer, or leader with commitments at a state, national or international level, and your commitments do not allow you to submit your assessment by the published due date, you apply for an extension.

Representative commitments at a team/regional level are not usually accepted as Special Circumstances, however we will consider an assessment extension request where significant training, rehearsals, travel, or location creates a disruption to your internet access, study schedule or learning environment.

The extension request must be related to an unexpected, specific event or activity and show that dates were not known or scheduled prior to the start of the study period (i.e., representative selection was advised after the teaching period commenced).

Examples of acceptable supporting documents

• A letter written on team, state, national or international sporting body letterhead. The letter must confirm the specific event and dates of the sporting event or activity. The letter must also describe the nature of your sporting commitment (e.g. training, travel etc.) and explain how it affects your ability to submit the assessment item on time. 
  
  
• A signed and dated statement (on the organisation’s letterhead) that includes your name, indicating the nature of your commitment (e.g. rehearsal, travel etc.) and explain how it affects your ability to submit the assessment item on time. 

As a member of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)'s Elite Athlete Friendly University (EAFU) Network, UniSQ provides specialised support services designed for students who deal with competing demands of sport and study, helping you achieve your full academic potential.

For more information about becoming a registered elite athlete visit our Elite Athlete Program website. 

If you're a current or former member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), a partner of a current or former member of the ADF, or an emergency services member or volunteer (e.g. SES, Rural Fire Service) and you are impacted by circumstances that do not allow you to submit your assessment by the published due date, you may apply for an extension. 

Examples of acceptable supporting documents

• A letter or statement on official letterhead, signed by an authorised officer of the relevant Defence department or recognised emergency services organisation. The letter must detail your role and the start and finish dates of service, and demonstrate a disruption to your internet access, study schedule or learning environment.
  
  
• Documents demonstrating important career events and/or opportunities, such as a statement or formal communications, event registration and/or program, travel and/or accommodation itinerary that include your name and the dates your study has been impacted.

You may submit additional written, third-party documentation that you believe will help us to assess your extension request.

UniSQ’s Military Connected Student Friendly Support (MCSFS) program provides support services designed for students who deal with competing demands of military service and study, helping you achieve your full academic potential.

More information about the MCSFS program and an application link is available on the Military Connected Student Friendly Support website.

If you have received a jury summons or notice, or court appearance order, or are involved with the justice system for a family or personal circumstance that has a significant impact on your ability to submit your assessment by the published due date, you may apply for an extension. 

Legal reasons may include but are not limited to:

• jury duty
• adverse experience such as including witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime, domestic violence or sexual assault 
• hardship or trauma such as personal injury or accident, or financial hardship.

Acceptable supporting documents

• A copy of the jury summons. The summons must include the dates you are required to be available for duty and demonstrate a disruption to your internet access, study schedule or learning environment. 
  
  
• A letter or email statement from your solicitor or the relevant case manager or officer. The statement must include the specific dates relating to your circumstances and demonstrate a disruption to your internet access, study schedule or learning environment.  

You may submit additional written, third-party documentation that you believe will help us to assess your extension request.

If you were unable to begin study in a program on the published commencement date due to a delay beyond your control, such as the business and administrative processes of the university, a government department or other third-party, and you cannot submit your assessment by the published due date, you may apply for an extension.

Reasons include, but are not limited to: 

• delay in receiving an International Student visa
• delayed enrolment, or delays in receiving textbooks or learning materials
• delayed placement impacting the completion of related assessment items.

Examples of acceptable supporting documents 

• Correspondence from the relevant Australian Government department responsible for immigration regarding a delay in student visa processing.
  
  
• A copy of correspondence with UniSQ, this includes incident reference numbers for Live Chat and email.

You may submit additional written, third-party documentation that you believe will help us to assess your extension request.

The reasons below are not considered special circumstances for a long extension request, and include but are not limited to: 

• failure to understand or ask for clarification of key dates or procedures where you could reasonably be expected to (i.e., misreading an assessment item due date or time)
• other assessments falling due on or about the due date
• time commitments associated with courses that have a residential school, professional or work placement component, unless other Special Circumstances apply
• regular/optional social, leisure, or family activities and discretionary travel.

If you cannot submit your assessment by the published due date and want to know if you are eligible to apply for an extension, contact us for individualised advice based on your circumstances.