Special Examination/Special Consideration/Special Extension of Time Policy
Please read this carefully it contains information on submitting your application and its processing
Special Examination
If you could not sit your exam or if your performance in the exam was severely affected then you can apply for a "Special". You are not allowed to decide whether you will sit the exam — only if you have evidence that you could not sit (such as a medical certificate) may you not attend the exam. If in doubt check with the Student Centre first.
If you did sit the exam you may be awarded an "Optional Special". This means you have passed the exam but you have an opportunity to re-sit and improve the grade. You cannot lose the original grade by re-sitting. You will be asked what grade you will accept: if you achieved that grade in the original exam then you will not have the Optional Special offered to you.
Misreading of the exam timetable is not a sufficient reason for the award of a Special.
The sitting of consecutive examinations is not a sufficient reason for the award of a Special.
Special Consideration
If your circumstances do not merit a Special Exam you can apply for Special Consideration so that the Unit Coordinator can apply some discretion when marking your paper.
Special Examination or Special Consideration
If you are in doubt which to apply for, enter C/E on the application form and the Faculty will decide which is appropriate. Alternatively, seek advice directly from the Student Centre.
Special Extension of Time
If you have not submitted mandatory work for a Unit and the Unit Coordinator cannot accept it in time to be marked prior to the grades submission date, you can apply for a '"SET" (Special Extension of Time). If granted, you must meet the SET deadline, so think carefully - you may wish to discuss a date with your Unit Coordinator before applying. Note: Applying for a SET is not an alternative to avoiding penalties under the Faculty's late submission of assignments policy. Applications for SETs must include supporting evidence.
Supporting Evidence
All applications need supporting evidence. This must be submitted with your application or it will not be successful. Supporting evidence may include:
- Medical certificates which must clearly state:
- the date you consulted your doctor
- the state or extent of your medical condition
- the period covered by your medical certificate.
(We do not require information on the nature of your medical condition).
- a supporting letter from a minister of religion, a solicitor, a Head of College (not a college tutor), the Director of the Oorala Aboriginal Centre, a counsellor, psychologist etc.;
- a statement from the NRMA, RACV, RACQ etc.
- in exceptional circumstances the Faculty will accept a Statutory Declaration;
- employer non-release — if your employer would not release you to attend the examination we require a letter from your supervisor on corporate letterhead. This must state that the inability to be released was unforeseen when you enrolled — if it does not then we will contact your supervisor directly to check.
Application Deadline
Applications must be received within 5 working days of the end of the examinations period. Late applications will be rejected unless there are stated and verifiable reasons (such as a medical certificate) that physically prevented the application being submitted on time. Do not waite until after the receipt of your results before applying. It is your responsibility to see that your application is received and on time.
Processing Applications
Applications are considered en bloc by the Student Affairs Committee (a meeting of the Course Coordinators) shortly after the examination period. Information will be sought from the School, which offers your unit to check that a Special Examination is appropriate — for example, if you have failed other compulsory parts of the unit, a Special is useless.
Notification
You will know if your application has been successful by the codes on your examination results slip — you will not receive any further communication from the Student Centre regarding the result of your application. The following codes apply:
Special Examinations:
SPTS (Special Examination, T heory, Semester Paper)
Optional Special Examinations:
POSPTS (Pass, Optional Special Examination, T heory, Semester Paper)
Special Extension of Time:
SET (date) (Special E xtension of Time until date)
Special Consideration:
Is not separately notified - you may call the Student Centre to ask if Special Consideration was recommended and ask the Unit Coordinator to see what discretion he/she exercised.
Sitting a Special Examination
Specials are held at the next examination period.
- Specials for June papers are held in November.
- Specials for November papers are held in January the following year.
No concession is granted for additional examinations (Specials) in the next examination period. You are required to take this into account when planning your revision/study program.
Failure to sit a Special or meet a SET
You must comply with the same procedure as for your original application — you may be granted a Withdrawal without Failure (W). You might also consider applying for remission of HECS — the HECS Officer can advise you.
The Faculty will not grant deferred Special Examinations.
If you fail to sit a Special Examination and had previously received a grade of N, your mark will change to NI to reflect incompletion of the unit by not sitting the examination.
Submission of Application
Send your application with supporting evidence to:
Student Centre
UNE NSW 2351
Fax: 02 6773 4400
Notification may be sent by email to studentcentre@une.edu.au but you will need to forward your application and supporting evidence by fax or email.
If you would like further information or wish to discuss your application, please telephone (02) 6773 4444.
Adopted by Faculty: 27 June 1990
Ratified by Faculty Teaching & Learning Committee: 12 November 2003
Revised following the establishment of the Student Centre: 15 June 2004