Extenuating Circumstances Policy to be Replaced in September 2025

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A new incoming Additional Considerations for Assessment Policy will replace the current Extenuating Circumstances and Late Submissions policies in September 2025

The policy is due to take effect in September 2025, the beginning of the next academic year. The new policy was passed at a session of the Academic Council of the university, and an implementation plan is now underway.  

The overall policy will have three key options for students: a self-declared five day extension with no penalty, an additional five day extension with a penalty of one grade point, and certified additional considerations.

So, what will this look like in practice?

‘Self-declared’ additional considerations for extensions simply means that no formal documentation is required to request an extension. Both the ‘self-declared five day extension with no penalty’ and the ‘additional five day extension with a penalty of one grade point’ will only apply to written assignments and coursework. Although you will not need approval from academic staff to avail of this, a module coordinator may place a cap on the number of extensions you can avail of per module. Excluded from these self-declared extensions are ‘high frequency, low stakes assessments’, which are assessments that happen on a rolling basis and have a low-impact on the overall grade, such as MCQs and short exercises, as well as ‘work integrated learning’, which are assessments students would undertake throughout internships or placements. 

The new ‘certified additional considerations’ will require students to provide formal evidence for their circumstances, such as medical certificates or other documentation. These certified additional considerations can include significant life events, health and wellbeing, caring responsibilities, bereavement, and logistics. This mechanism is designed to benefit students who may have long-term challenges in particular, and applications for Certified Additional Considerations will be decided by the Governing Board. If approved, all alternative avenues for assessments will be explored for a student, before a module coordinator can offer a re-sit assessment as a completion option.

The new policy has arisen from a Working Group established at the start of the 2023/2024 Academic Year. The Working Group is led by Professor Aideen Quilty, the Associate Dean of Social Sciences, and has included the UCD Students’ Union Education Officers and Presidents for the years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. UCDSU Education Officer Tia Cullen and President Miranda Bauer currently sit on the Working Group, and say this policy is the result of “an excellent example of staff-student partnership and collaboration.”

The current Extenuating Circumstances and Late Submissions policies remains in place until the implementation plan for the new Additional Considerations for Assessment policy is finalised, though it is expected to be introduced in September 2025.