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Applying for an assessment extension

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Overview

Don’t leave your assignment until the last minute — we encourage you to plan your workload so you can meet all assessment deadlines. 

If unavoidable circumstances prevent you from submitting an assessment on time, you may be eligible for an individual or group extension. Please note that extensions:

  • are not available for all assessment tasks
  • cannot be longer than 28 days
  • cannot be longer than the number of days on your supporting documentation.

Check your course profile to find out if you can request an extension for an assessment task, and the maximum duration that may be granted.

Some assessment is not eligible for extensions. You will need to apply for a deferred examination for:

  • in-semester examinations
  • end-of-semester examinations
  • deferred or supplementary examinations.

You must follow the correct application process. Applications sent directly to course coordinators will not be accepted.

You can request a maximum of 3 extensions for the same assessment task. A third request will also require you to complete an Assessment Management Plan (AMP). This plan outlines how you intend to complete the task based on your new requested due date and time. 

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When do you need to apply?

You should aim to submit your application on or before the assessment due date and time. To be on time, a request must be received within 24 hours of the due date and time.

If we don’t receive your application within 24 hours, it will be considered late. Late applications will only be considered in exceptional and unavoidable circumstances (e.g. hospitalisation) and you will be required to supply additional information, including relevant documentation to support your request.

While your extension request is being considered, you should work towards completing your assessment by the due date and time. If you submit your assessment late and/or are not approved for an extension, late penalties will apply. 

Refer to the 'Assessment' section of your course profile to see the late penalties for each assessment task. 

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Acceptable reasons for an extension

Your request may be denied if you don’t provide appropriate evidence to support your application:

  • Supporting evidence should be in written English (or translated by a NAATI-accredited translator).
  • Statutory declarations are only considered when you can't obtain the required supporting evidence (e.g. a police report, road service report etc.)
  • Keep original copies of your supporting evidence for at least 6 months. If you fail to produce the original documents, your application may be refused or overturned.
  • If you provide a medical certificate as evidence, you must meet the requirements for medical certificates. 

You can request 1 discretionary extension for 48 hours for a single assessment task per semester, with no supporting evidence required. You can apply using the standard application form if:

  • the assessment task allows it (see your course profile for details), and
  • it is your first extension request for that assessment.

Please note: Discretionary extensions cannot be used for group work. If you have a Student Access Plan (SAP), you will need to submit your request under those grounds. However, a Student Access Plan (SAP) for an individual student does not guarantee an extension for a group assessment item.

To understand when you can apply for an assessment extension and the evidence you must provide, please see the list below or refer to Acceptable evidence for assessment extensions (PDF, 333.2 KB).

Medical grounds

If you have a disability or a chronic medical condition (including a mental health condition), you are encouraged to meet with an Accessibility and Welfare Adviser. 

Acceptable documentation

A registered Australian medical practitioner must assess your condition and provide a written statement that meets UQ requirements for medical certificates:

  • If you’re enrolled or studying offshore, you may be able to submit an international medical certificate. However, this must be completed in English or have a certified English translation.
  • The medical practitioner must be independent – they cannot be a near relative (e.g. a spouse, partner, child, brother, sister, or parent) or a close associate (e.g. a close friend, neighbour, or partner or child of a colleague)
  • The doctor's written assessment of your condition must state how it affected your capacity to submit the assessment item by the due date. 

For students with a disability or a chronic medical condition:

  • A statement from a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist that confirms how your circumstances affected your ability to meet the due date for the assessment item.
  • If you have a Student Access Plan (SAP) which clearly states the provision for extensions to assessment due dates, you should apply under these grounds.
Unacceptable documentation
  • Medical certificate for an elective or non-critical medical appointment (e.g. optical, dental).

Student Access Plan (SAP)

Students with active Student Access Plans which are supported by current supporting evidence are eligible to request extensions of up to 7 days (for first extension requests), without having to provide additional supporting documentation. Students wishing to develop a SAP can make an appointment with an Accessibility and Welfare Adviser. 

Students who do not wish to develop a SAP but do wish to register for streamlined extensions will need to provide supporting evidence of their medical or mental health condition, diagnosed disability, neurodivergence or exceptional circumstance.

Acceptable documentation

A Student Access Plan (SAP) approved by Student Support and Wellbeing Services which clearly states the provision for extensions to assessment due dates.

  • If the extension duration requested is longer than 7 days or if it is not your first extension request for the assessment, you will be required to provide additional evidence to support your request.
  • This evidence should align with the nature of your circumstances. Please refer to the other reason categories for examples of appropriate supporting evidence (e.g., in the case of extended medical issues, refer to medical grounds).

OR

Completed registration with Student Support and Wellbeing Services including confirmed submission and acceptance of required supporting evidence.

Compassionate grounds

This can include:

  • Sudden serious illness of a family member
  • Recent death of a family member or close friend
  • Traumatic events or misadventure
  • Being the victim of a crime
Acceptable documentation
  • Death certificate, funeral notice, or statutory declaration. If the relationship between you and the deceased is not immediately clear (e.g., you have different surnames), please also provide a statutory declaration.
  • A police report or statement from a relevant authority, or a letter from a professional to whom you disclosed the trauma, misadventure or crime. If you didn’t report the trauma or crime, we will accept a statement from a counsellor, or a group such as the Sexual Misconduct Support Unit.
  • A statement from a medical practitioner. The statement must include the medical status of the patient, the patient’s relationship to you, and relevant dates. If you are a carer, the medical certificate must state the period that you are required to provide care for the patient. 

Academic commitments

If you have academic commitments directly related to your enrolment and studies at the University – such as a research trip, or an exchange program – and they conflict with the due date for assessment items, you are eligible to apply for an extension. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. 

The following are not considered grounds for an extension:

  • events of a purely social nature
  • events of minor benefit. 
Acceptable documentation
  • A confirmation letter from a relevant staff member. The letter must detail the nature of the academic commitment and how it will benefit your studies.

Defence forces or emergency services

If you're a reservist member of the defence forces or an emergency services member or volunteer (e.g. SES, Rural Fire Service) and you are required to render any service, including training, you are eligible to apply for an extension. 

Acceptable documentation
  • A letter or statement on official letterhead, signed by an authorised officer of the relevant organisation. The letter must detail your role within the service, and the start and finish dates of training or activity. 

Jury Duty

If you have received a jury summons that clashes with assessment due dates, you are eligible to apply for an extension. 

Acceptable documentation
  • A copy of the jury summons. The summons must include the start and finish dates of the jury duty.

Registered Elite Athlete - Sporting event

If you are an elite athlete representing Australia – or an Australian state or territory – you may be eligible to apply for an extension.

To apply for consideration, you must hold UQ Elite Athlete status for the current semester. See Programs and Assessments for Elite Athletes for more information on applying for registration as an elite athlete at UQ. The extension request must be related to a specific sporting event or activity.

The following are not considered grounds for an extension:

  • sporting events that aren't at a state, national or international level
  • additional holiday time before or after elite sporting commitments. 
Acceptable documentation
  • A letter written on state, national or international sporting letterhead. The letter must:
    • confirm the specific event and dates of the sporting event or activity
    • describe the nature of your sporting commitment (e.g. training, travel etc.)
    • explain how it affects your ability to submit the assessment on time.

Elite performer

If you're working at the highest levels as an artist or performer, you may be eligible to apply for an extension.

You must have a specific and significant commitment to a recognised state, national or international cultural or artistic event. These events might include members of:

  • Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
  • Ausdance or Australian Dance Theatre
  • Australian Chamber Orchestra
  • State symphony orchestras
  • Australian Youth Orchestra
  • Opera Australia.  

This list is not exhaustive, and performers or artists who are working at similarly high levels are eligible to apply. 

The following are not considered grounds for an extension:

  • amateur or community theatre performances
  • local artistic or cultural events
  • attending performances or cultural activities. 
Acceptable documentation

A letter on an official letterhead that confirms the dates of the event. The letter must:

  • confirm the nature of your commitment to the event
  • explain why you can't submit the assessment item on time. 

Significant family or social commitment

Attending a wedding as a guest is not considered an acceptable reason for an extension.

However, if you are an important member of a wedding party (e.g. bridesmaid, groomsman, or equivalent) or if the event is a significant and important family occasion, you may be eligible to apply for an extension. 

The following are not considered grounds for an extension:

  • being invited to attend a wedding as a guest
  • pre-booked flights to return home
  • pre-arranged holidays or other travel / accommodation
  • additional holiday time before or after a wedding
  • reasonably anticipated or ordinary family commitments. 
Acceptable documentation
  • A copy of the wedding invitation must be provided. The invitation must clearly show that you are invited to the wedding and that you are a member of the wedding party.

Unavoidable work commitments

We expect students to tell their employers about their university commitments at the beginning of each semester.

Employment-related reasons are not usually accepted as exceptional circumstances.  However, we will consider your application if you have been directed to undertake unusual or extraordinary duties that were beyond your control and affected your ability to submit an assessment on time. 

The following are not considered grounds for an extension:

  • irregular casual work
  • increased ordinary work commitments
  • financial problems
  • conference attendance
  • ordinary demands of employment
  • increased work or pressures as a consequence of promotion. 
Acceptable documentation
  • A letter on company letterhead from your employer. The letter must confirm the existence of unforeseen and extraordinary work commitments, and detail:
    • the date when you were first notified of the commitments
    • why they were unexpected
    • how they affected your ability to submit the assessment on time. 
Unacceptable documentation
  • Emails from a colleague about work.
  • A statement from you without supporting evidence from your employer. 

Unacceptable reasons for an extension include (but are not limited to):

  • computer or internet problems
  • holiday arrangements
  • misreading an assignment due date or time
  • unexpected events causing the loss of a few hours of study time close to the due date
  • difficulty studying effectively or adjusting to the demands of university life
  • visa or financial problems
  • everyday levels of stress and/or anxiety associated with employment and/or studying
  • ordinary family events or commitments
  • dysfunctional group dynamics, poor performance by individual group members, or illness or other issues of members for a group assessment item - these issues should be actively managed by the group and the Course Coordinator as appropriate, during semester.
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How to apply

Request an extension for an assessment task

Before you apply, read your course profile and the relevant section of the Assessment details.

You will receive an email notifying you of the outcome of your request.

If you are applying for an extension as group, or are on your third extension request for a single assessment task, you will need to attach additional documentation with your request.


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Group assessment tasks

You can request an extension on behalf of your group for a group assessment task, provided that at least 50% of your group members also agree to the request.

  1. Download and complete Extension of Group Assessment - Group Member Acknowledgement (DOCX, 40.8 KB)
  2. Attach the form to your extension request.

Assessment Management Plan

If you are submitting a third extension request on the same assessment task, you need to complete an Assessment Management Plan (AMP).

This plan will help you identify steps for successfully completing your assessment by the new requested due date. This can include changing how and/or where you study, breaking the assessment down into sub-tasks, and seeking further help and advice.

  1. Download and complete Assessment Management Plan (AMP) (DOCX, 61.5 KB)
  2. Attach the form to your extension request.
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Help and advice

UQ offer a range of services to support your academic success, health and wellbeing. This includes: 

For general advice, please visit Student Central or phone Student Support and Wellbeing Services on 1300 275 870 (8:30am-5pm).

For more information on extensions, please refer to the Assessment Procedure.

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