Special consideration

If you are unable to complete an assessment piece or exam due to exceptional circumstances, you may apply for another chance through special consideration.

Special consideration is not automatically guaranteed. When it is granted, you will not receive a mark adjustment.

If you have a disability or medical condition, you may be able to sit your exams under alternative conditions. See alternative assessment arrangements.

Extensions for assessments
Faculties may allow short extensions for assessments. Consider this option first by checking with your faculty. The faculties listed below have specific information about extensions.

Eligibility

If you complete the final exam or assessment task, you will not be eligible to apply for special consideration.

You may be eligible if you didn't complete your final exam or assessment due to exceptional circumstances beyond your control, the reasons may include:

acute illness
loss or bereavement
hardship or trauma.

You may also be eligible for special consideration if you can show your obligation to:

military service
jury service
emergency services such as the Country Fire Authority
Monash Sport's athlete support program, if you are participating in a key event.

When and how to apply

Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the faculty but will not under any circumstances be accepted after the results have been released.

Assessment tasks

You need to apply no later than two University working days after the due date of the assessment by submitting your supporting documentation with the relevant form:

Exams

Before the exam (early applications)
You may apply for early approval of a deferred exam up until five University working days before your exam. Submit supporting documentation with an end-of-semester deferred final assessment (pdf 84kb).

During the exam
If you are unable to finish your exam due to illness or other eligible cause and you want to apply for special consideration you need to:

let one of the exam invigilators know no later than 30 minutes before the end of the exam
request an Examination Cancellation Request form, complete it and return to the exam invigilator
provide your course managing faculty with an end-of-semester deferred final assessment (pdf 84kb) form and supporting documents within two University working days of your last scheduled exam.

After the exam
If you planned to attend the exam but were prevented by exceptional circumstances, you can submit your application and documentation no later than two University working days after the exam.

Compulsory unit activities

Use the in-semester assessment (pdf 71kb) form, if you are:

a Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences student and you cannot attend a compulsory tutorial or practical.
enrolled in Science units and you cannot attend a compulsory unit activity.

Supporting documentation

You will need to provide one or more of the following documents to support your application for special consideration:

medical certificate, letter from a medical professional
letter from a social worker, lawyer, psychologist
death notice or certificate and evidence of relationship
police report
statutory declarations from students or relevant people
notification from:
- defence services
- Juries Commissioner's Office
- emergency service organisations such as the Country Fire Authority
- Monash Sport's elite athlete support program.

Medical/professional certificates must state you were unfit to sit your exam or complete work for assessment on or before the relevant date.

Where to submit your application

In-semester assessment tasks

Submit your form to the faculty teaching the unit.

Faculty teaching the unit	Submit your form to:
Art, Design and Architecture	Student services office
Arts
Business and Economics
Education
Law
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Engineering	Department or School teaching the unit
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences	Department or School teaching the unit
Information Technology	Lecturer teaching the unit
Science	Unit coordinator

End-of-semester assessment task or exam

Submit your form to the faculty managing your course.

Medicine, Nursing & Health Science students need to submit applications to the school or department office administering your course.

Outcomes and notification

Possible outcomes

If you are approved special consideration, this will result in one of the following outcomes:

an extension to a submission date
an alternative and equivalent form of assessment
a deferred exam.

See deferred and supplementary exams and assessment.

Notification of the decision

In-semester applications
The faculty teaching the unit will email your student account to notify you of the outcome of your application.

End-of-semester applications
If you applied for early approval of a deferred exam (submitted at least five University working days before the exam) you will receive notification by email at least 24 hours before the exam.

If successful, you will be advised to attend a deferred exam. When results are released, your interim grade for the unit will be DEF (deferred assessment has been granted).
If unsuccessful, you will be advised to attend your scheduled exam.

If you applied because you could not complete an exam, you will be notified of the decision through the Web Enrolment System (WES).

An interim grade of DEF or WH (withheld) will appear against the unit if you have been granted a deferred or alternative assessment task or exam.
If unsuccessful, your unfinished exam paper will be marked and count towards your final unit result.

Impact on unit selection

If you receive a DEF or WH result, this could affect prerequisite requirements and your unit choice for next semester. See failed and invalid units.

Support and advice

Student rights officers can provide independent advocacy, assistance and advice.
Talk to your lecturer or tutor if you are having difficulties.
See ask.monash frequently asked questions about special consideration.
Contact your faculty