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Special consideration

The information on this page is based on the Monash University policy and procedures for Special Consideration and it is the student's responsibility to read and understand the information to be found at:

Eligibility

A student whose work during a teaching period or whose performance in an examination or other assessment has been affected by acute illness or other exceptional cause beyond their control may apply in writing to the relevant Faculty for special consideration. The accepted causes are:

  • acute illness or psychological condition - e.g. hospital admission, serious injury, severe asthma, severe anxiety or depression. Does not include minor illness such as a mild cold.
  • loss or bereavement - e.g. death of a close family member, family relationship breakdown.
  • hardship/trauma - e.g. victim of crime, sudden loss of income or employment, severe disruption to domestic arrangements.

In addition,

  • students demonstrating relevant obligations to military or jury service or service to emergency services such as the Country Fire Authority, and
  • elite athletes registered with Monash Sport's athlete support program participating in a key event

will be eligible to apply for special consideration.

Students are asked to note:

Supporting documentation

Suitable documentation must be submitted with the application form. Suitable documentation includes a medical certificate*, evidence provided by other professionals who are registered with a professional body (eg. social worker, lawyer, psychologist), death notice/certificate, police report. A complete list of acceptable supporting documentation can be found in the Monash University Special Consideration Procedures.

*Medical/professional certificates must state that the student was unfit to sit the relevant examination on the relevant date or unable to complete work for assessment on or before the relevant date.

Application process

There are 2 types of Special consideration forms:

  1. Special Consideration application form (in-semester assessment task)
    (This form is to be used for students applying for special consideration for in-semester assessment tasks such as assignments, in-semester tests, laboratory classes or continuous assessment tasks such as art folios.)
  2. Special Consideration application form (end-of-semester exam/assessment task)
    (This form is to be used for students applying for special consideration for performance in either a formal end-of-semester exam or an assessment task that has a due date in the final week of the teaching period.)

All applications for special consideration must be made using the University's standard application forms.

In-semester assessment task

For units taught by the Faculty of Education
Students must lodge applications for special consideration, with appropriate documentation and evidence, no later than two University working days after the due date of the affected assessment.

Applications must be lodged at the Faculty of Education Student Services Office  of the campus where the unit is taught.

Faculty of Education Student Services staff will check if the application meets the Special Consideration eligibility criteria. If the criteria have not been met, the student may be advised to complete and submit an Application for an Extension of Time form or to obtain appropriate documentation which will meet the required criteria and then re-submit the Special Consideration form. If the criteria have been met, the completed cover sheet will be stamped or signed and returned to the student. The application will then be recorded and forwarded to the unit leader for consideration and the student will be notified by email (to the Monash student email address) of the outcome. Possible outcomes may include:

  • an extension to the original assessment submission deadline
  • an alternative assessment task with a new submission deadline
  • rejection of the application

For units taught by another faculty
Please check the other faculty's website for their application procedures.

End-of-semester examination or assessment task

(Students should lodge the application with the faculty that manages their course – this may not be the faculty that teaches the unit for which the application is being made.)

For courses managed by the Faculty of Education – Early application for approval of a deferred exam
Students who lodge a special consideration application, with appropriate documentation and evidence, no later than five University working days before the day of the examination for which special consideration is sought, will receive an early notification of the outcome at least 24 hours prior to the examination.

The outcome will be either:

  • the application is successful and you should attend the deferred exam only which will be scheduled during the official deferred examination period (a DEF grade will appear for the relevant unit when results are released); or
  • the application is unsuccessful and you should attend the current scheduled exam

Applications must be lodged at the Faculty of Education Student Services Office of the campus where your course is managed.

Faculty of Education Student Services staff will check if the application meets the Special Consideration eligibility criteria. If the criteria have not been met, the student will be advised to obtain appropriate documentation which will meet the required criteria and then re-submit the Special Consideration form. If the criteria have been met, the completed cover sheet will be stamped or signed and returned to the student. The application will then be recorded and forwarded to the unit leader for consideration and the student will be notified by email (to the Monash student email address) of the outcome.

For courses managed by the Faculty of Education – All other end-of-semester applications
Students must lodge applications for special consideration, with appropriate documentation and evidence, no later than two University working days after the student's last scheduled examination (if the application is for an exam) or no later than two University working days after the due date of the end-of-semester assessment task (if the application is for an end-of-semester assessment task).

Note: Students who complete the final examination/assessment task will not be eligible for special consideration.

Applications must be lodged at the Faculty of Education Student Services Office of the campus where your course is managed.

Faculty of Education Student Services staff will check if the application meets the Special Consideration eligibility criteria. If the criteria have not been met, the student will be advised to obtain appropriate documentation which will meet the required criteria and then re-submit the Special Consideration form. If the criteria have been met, the completed cover sheet will be stamped or signed and returned to the student.

The application will then be recorded and forwarded to the unit leader for consideration and the student will be notified by email (to the Monash student email address) of the outcome. 

Possible outcomes for an end-of-semester exam special consideration application are either:

  • the application is successful and you should attend the deferred exam which will be scheduled during the official deferred examination period (a DEF grade will appear for the relevant unit when results are released); or
  • the application is unsuccessful

Possible outcomes for an end-of-semester assessment task special consideration application may include:

  • an extension to the original assessment submission deadline (an WH grade will appear for the relevant unit when results are released)
  • an alternative assessment task with a new submission deadline (an WH grade will appear for the relevant unit when results are released)
  • rejection of the application