Assignment Extension Policy

Version 11, 25 October 2022

This policy replaces all previous Extension policies and versions.

1.Scope of Assignment Extension Policy

The UNE School of Law Assignment Extension Policy (the Policy) applies to all assessments for units offered by the School of Law.

2. Student obligations

2.1 The School of Law regards time management as an important Graduate Attribute and an essential professional skill. The School has an obligation to develop this skill by imposing due dates on assessments. Lengthy extensions can interfere with marking and delay the release of marks and feedback to the entire cohort.

2.2 Students therefore have a general obligation to submit assignments on the due date. Applications for extensions should be exceptional.[1]

3. Assessment items eligible for extensions

3.1 Subject to this policy, extensions can be granted for the following assessments:

3.1.1 Written, constructed response assignments;

3.1.2 Oral Presentations (other than viva voce examinations);

3.1.3 Audio or visual media; and

3.1.4 Quizzes and other automated-marking assessments, but ONLY if expressly made subject to extensions and published as such in the Unit Outline.

3.2 Extensions cannot be granted for the following assessments (ineligible assessments):

3.2.1 Assessments involving group-work UNLESS the other group members and the Unit Coordinator agree in writing;

3.2.2 Tutorial participation;

3.2.3 Forum participation, UNLESS expressly made subject to extensions and published as such in the Unit Outline;

3.2.4 Quizzes and other automated-marking assessments, UNLESS expressly made subject to extensions and published as such in the Unit Outline;

3.2.5 Invigilated examinations, including online examinations and any Alternative assessment offered for online examinations.

3.2.6 Take-home examinations.[2]

3.3 Unless expressly indicated otherwise in this policy, Ineligible Assessments that are not submitted or completed by the due time and date are ineligible to be marked.

3.4 Students affected by adverse unforeseen circumstances who are unable to receive an extension might be eligible for Special Consideration, a Deferred Exam or Withdrawal without Academic Penalty.[3]

4. Due date

The due date for an assessment task is the date published in the Unit Outline. Any change to the due date for an assessment task will be published via a myLearn Unit Announcement and in an amended Unit Outline.

5. Method of submission

5.1 All assignments must be submitted via myLearn before or at the due time and on the date specified in the Unit Outline.

5.2 If submission via myLearn is not possible for any reason, students must email the assignment to the Unit Coordinator as evidence of the version of the assignment at the time of attempted submission.

5.3 Notwithstanding 5.2, the student must submit the emailed version of the assignment through the myLearn e-submission process as soon as that becomes possible, so that it can be checked by the text-matching software, Turnitin.

6. Extensions

When to Apply for an Extension

6.1 Assignment extension applications should be submitted as early as possible, preferably by the due time on the original due date of the assignment.

6.2 Under exceptional circumstances, retrospective extensions may be considered.[4]

6.3 Retrospective applications for extensions will not be considered on or after the date of publication of assessment grades.

Length of Extensions

6.4 The School has a duty of care to ensure that students can keep up with study, assignments and exam preparation, even when an extension is granted.  Therefore, the normal maximum extension is a Short Extension of seven (7) days. Supporting documentary evidence is not required for a Short Extension.

6.5 The Course Coordinator may approve a Long Extension for more serious personal health issues, unexpected work or family commitments or other extenuating circumstances that impact the student’s capacity to complete the assessment task by the due date or with a Short Extension. Requests for Long Extensions will require supporting documentation and an additional statement about the student’s ability to catch up with work.

6.6 The School will not under any circumstances approve an extended submission date beyond the planned date for release of feedback and marks to the cohort.[5] This applies regardless of whether students have valid grounds for an extension.

Grounds for a Short Extension (7 days)

6.7 Valid grounds for a Short Extension are:

  • Any personal health problems,
  • Unexpected work or family commitments, and
  • Other extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student.

Grounds for a Long Extension (longer than 7 days)

6.8 Valid grounds for a Long Extension are more serious:

  • Personal health problems,
  • Unexpected work or family commitments,
  • Other extenuating circumstances, that interfere with the student’s capacity to study or complete assessments within an additional 7 days of the original due date.[6]

6.9 Invalid grounds for a Short or Long Extension are:

  • Inability to have an assignment word processed by the due date,
  • Other assignments falling due on or about the due date,
  • Technology and communications failure, unless publicly documented (ICT failure at the UNE server is treated at a global unit level by the school),
  • Foreseeable work commitments,
  • Personal travel, and
  • Family gatherings, eg birthdays and wedding

6.10 The School will take into consideration each student’s history of making applications for assignment extensions and may reject an application.  Repeated applications for assignment extensions may be an indication of not being able to cope with the workload. Students may be referred for academic or other forms of guidance and support, as appropriate.

6.11 If a student is unable to meet an extended deadline, is ineligible for an extension, or an extension does not resolve the problem, students are encouraged to withdraw from the unit.[7]

7. How to Apply for an Extension

7.1 An application for an extension is made exclusively to the School’s administrative office via AskUNE on this form: http://askune.custhelp.com/app/forms/law_assignment_extension.[8]

7.2 Students should not approach Unit Coordinators to ask for extensions.

7.3 Supporting Documentation

7.3.1 Applications for Short Extensions do not require supporting documentation.

7.3.2  Applications for a Long Extension must be accompanied by documentary evidence supporting the grounds for an extension (supporting documentation). Scanned copies will be accepted.

7.3.3 If documentation is unavailable at the time of application, students should include a note in the application estimating when it will be provided. Please note: the School may not process an extension application until supporting documentation is received.

7.3.4 The following types of documents will be considered.

Long Extensions (more than 7 days)

Applications for a long School Extension must be accompanied by a statement detailing:

  • how the more serious adverse circumstances impacted on the student’s capacity to study or complete   the assessment within an additional 7 days of the original due date; and
  • How the student plans,   given their study load in all units, to catch up with other study and   assessment commitments if the School Extension is granted.

Adverse Circumstances

Supporting documentation required

Personal health problems

Signed medical certificate stating:

  • the date on which the student was examined; and
  • the dates that the student’s study was or will be   impacted by illness; or
  • if applicable, a copy of the Study Access Plan   issued by Student Accessibility and Wellbeing.
  • If applicable, group members’ and the Unit   Coordinator’s written agreement.

Unexpected work or family commitments

  • Signed letter from employer or supervisor; or
  • If self-employed, a statutory declaration; and
  • If applicable, group members’ and the Unit   Coordinator’s written agreement.

Other extenuating circumstances

  • A statutory declaration completed by the   applicant; or
  • Other form of corroborative document evidence   such as funeral notice or police report; and
  • If applicable, group members’ and the Unit   Coordinator’s written agreement.

7.4 Notification of outcome of Extension application

Approved applications are notified to the student via AskUNE and are also visible on the Assignment submission page in the unit’s myLearn site.

Students should not contact the School's administrative office unless they have not received notification from AskUNE or if there is no notification visible on the myLearn page after three (3) working days from the time of application.

If students have not received a response within three (3) working days, please contact the School office directly on (02) 6773 1293.

Extensions are coordinated by the School office. Unit coordinators are not authorised to issue extensions. Students should not contact the Unit Coordinator about extension applications or the outcome.

8. Late Submission

Assignments that are received after the submission date or, where an extension has been granted, after the extended date, will be subject to a late submission penalty:

8.1 A penalty of 5% of the total marks allocated to an assignment task will be deducted for each day or part day an assignment is not received past the due date. To give an example, an assignment that would receive 15/20 will only receive 13/20 if it is 2 days late.

8.2 Assignments received more than ten (10) calendar days past the due date/ or extended due date will not be marked and will receive a mark of zero. For the purpose of rules relating to mandatory assessment items, late submission even beyond ten (10) days past due or extended due date is deemed to be ‘submission’.[9]

8.3 The School of Law will not under any circumstances accept assignment submissions after results and feedback have been released to the unit cohort. This applies regardless of whether students have applied for an extension, intend to apply for an extension or have been granted an extension.

9. Special Extensions of Time (SET)

A SET[10] under UNE Assessment Guidelines[11] will not be approved for a submission date beyond the date for release of marks and feedback to the unit cohort unless:

9.1 The assignment is NOT a scenario-based, hypothetical assignment;

9.2 The Unit Coordinator will NOT be releasing or has not released an Answer Guide; and

9.3 The Unit Coordinator considers that feedback and information released to students CANNOT be used to advantage in completing the assessment.

10. Learning Management Systems

All references to ‘myLearn’ in this policy include such Learning Management Systems as are in use by UNE at the relevant time.



[1] Students with chronic medical conditions or disabilities that regularly impact ability to study are strongly encouraged to contact Student Accessibility and Wellbeing to inquire about a Study Access Plan: accessinclusion@une.edu.au.

[2] Adjustments made under study access plans for timed assessments, assignments and OLX are not applicable to take-home examinations.

[3] For more information about Special Consideration, a Deferred Exam or Withdrawal without Academic Penalty, please refer to the School of Law Student Essentials.

[4] UNE, Assessment Guidelines cl 17(a).

[5] The School has a duty to return feedback and marks to the cohort in a timely fashion.

[6]  Students with approved Study Action Plans do not need to establish grounds for extensions approved under the SAP.

[7] Applications for a withdrawal are made via AskUNE. For more information about Special Consideration, a Deferred Exam or Withdrawal without Academic Penalty, please refer to the School of Law Student Essentials.

[8] Once the application is submitted, AskUNE notifies the student. The student can see the outcome via the Assignment submission page on myLearn.

[9] UNE, Assessment Guidelines cl 18(c).

[10] A SET is an extension of more than 20 days.

[11] UNE, Assessment Guidelines cl 51.