Assessment Extensions

If you should find yourself in difficulties and are unable to submit an assignment by the due date, it is important that, before that due date, you request an extension.

Please note: An extension cannot be granted by the School, through its procedures as set out below, beyond the end of the assessment and examination period for that trimester. For an extension beyond the end of the examination period, students must apply for a Special Extension of Time.

Extensions up to 7-days

An extension of up to 7 calendar days can be granted without supporting documentation (although it may be requested). Most units in the School of HASS, with the exception of honours and reading or project units, use the automated extension tool that allows you to self-register for a 7-day extension via the unit myLearn page for most assessments. In the first instance, please use this extension tool. Where the automated extension tool is not available, please use UNE’s extension application portal.

Please note the extension tool will grant 7-days from the original assessment due date, not from the date that you register for the extension.

Extensions beyond 7-days

An extension beyond 7 calendar days will require supporting documentation. These assessments must be applied for through UNE’s extension application portal.

Please note, that should the extension be for beyond the end of a teaching term’s assessment and examination period, a Special Extension of Time will be required, that must be applied for through the appropriate forum submitted through AskUNE.

Note: Assignments that have received an extension may be returned with a significantly reduced level of criticism and commentary. If an extension is obtained for the final assignment, it is unlikely that the work will be returned before the examination period. Assignments submitted late without an extension may receive a mark only, without commentary.

Some examples of supporting documentation for assessment extension applications

Circumstances

Supporting documentation

Personal health issues Signed medical certificate stating:
  • the date on which the student was examined; and
  • the doctor's opinion of the effect on the student's ability to complete the assignment.
A medical certificate which merely states any of the following is unacceptable:
  • "not fit for duty"; or
  • "suffering from a medical condition".
Unexpected work or family commitments.

Letter from employer (or a statutory declaration if self-employed).

Statutory declaration if family commitment.

Other extenuating circumstances A statutory declaration and/or other supporting evidence, e.g. death notice, police report.
Penalties for Late Assessments

Assignments received after the due date WITHOUT an extension of time having been approved will be penalised.

  1. Where an assignment is up to 10 calendar days late, a penalty will be imposed of 5% of the total marks for the assessment per day or part thereof. The penalty will accrue on both weekdays and weekends including public holidays (ie. 35% per week).
  2. An assignment received more than 10 calendar dates late will receive no marks.
  3. Tasks that are mandatory to submit that are submitted more than 10 days late but within the relevant teaching period will be deemed to have been submitted, although receiving no marks.

Students should be aware that late assignments submitted more than one week late may be returned with a significantly reduced level of, or no, feedback.

Please note that if an extension is obtained for the final assignment, it is unlikely that the work will be returned before the examination.

All coursework assignments must be submitted before the end of the examination period for trimester units unless the student has been granted a Special Extension of Time.

Special Assessments

UNE offers Special Assessments where students are unable to meet assessment requirements under specific circumstances.  The Assessment Guidelines state:

Part D - Special Assessments

Due to personal health issues, unforeseen technical issues, unexpected work or family commitments or other extenuating circumstances, a student may:

a. have an adverse perfomance in an assessment task or examination; or

b. be unable to sit an examinatin or complete an assessment task within the relevant teaching period.

Please read the Assessment Guidelines, Part D, to ensure you apply correctly.

Special Examination

If you are unable to sit your exam or if your performance in the exam was severely affected, you may apply for a Special Examination. This is subject to approval, so it is always best that you attend your examination if you possibly can.

Special Consideration

If your circumstances do not merit a Special Examination, you may apply for Special Consideration so that the Unit Coordinator can apply some discretion when marking your paper. If you have not sat/will not sit the exam you MUST apply for a Special Exam.

Special Extension of Time (SET)

A student who is enrolled in a unit which is not subject to formal examination, or which the formal examination is the basis of a part of the total assessment, and who has been prevented through illness or other unavoidable circumstances from completing, by the specified date, work which the School considers essential, may seek a Special Extension of Time in which to complete the work. Special Extensions of Time apply to an assignment(s) that is unable to be submitted prior to the last day of the relevant examination period.

Forms for applying for special assessment

Forms for applying for any of these Special Assessments are available on the Forms and Procedures page. You can find them towards the bottom of the list under "s".