Special Consideration

The following Special Consideration guidelines apply to all FIT undergraduate and postgraduate (coursework) students whose work during a teaching period or whose performance in an examination or other assessment has been affected by serious illness or other exceptional cause beyond their control.

Please note: Special Consideration is not automatically granted. The BOE or delegate reserves the right to verify document authenticity and make a decision in light of all evidence available.

Eligibility to apply

The eligibility for Special Consideration is stated in the university policy.
These include:

acute illness – 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.
those 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

Outcomes

Under the revised University Special Consideration policy there will be no mark adjustments under any circumstances. Possible outcomes may include:

a deferred exam
additional/alternative assessment
extension to submission deadline
no action recommended

How to apply

In semester assessment (assessments submitted during semester)
Students requesting special consideration for any assessment during semester (eg. Assignments, tests or presentations) are required to submit a Special Consideration application form (in-semester exam/assessment task) directly to their unit leader within two working days before the assessment submission deadline. Lecturers will provide specific outcomes directly to students via email within 2 working days. The lecturer reserves the right to refuse late applications.

End of Semester (final piece of assessment for semester eg. examination)
Students must lodge the Special Consideration application form (end-of-semester exam/assessment task) with supporting documentation to your School office or Caulfield Service Centre (Caulfield Students only) within two working days of the assessment due date or their last exam scheduled in their examination period. Students may lodge an application for early approval of a deferred examination up until five University working days before the examination for which special consideration is sought. Students must lodge the original application and supporting documentation plus one copy for each unit that special consideration is requested for. The Faculty reserves the right to refuse late special consideration applications.

IMPORTANT: You cannot apply for a deferred examination if you have already sat for the examination.

Applications for units which have a final exam will be assessed by a Faculty level Panel of staff members, applications for all other units will be assessed by the lecturer for the unit. Students who are granted a deferred exam within the University's deferred exam period will be notified via the Web Enrolment Systems (WES).

Students will have two weeks to appeal their special consideration outcome and submit additional supporting documentation for their special consideration application.

Note: students who are offered a deferred examination must ensure they are available to sit the examination during the university deferred examination period.

Delayed-deferred examination may only be granted in exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the student, such as evidence that the student was an inpatient in a hospital. Applicants must provide substantiated evidence of extenuating circumstances beyond their control. Please refer to University Special Consideration Policy for detailed information.

A student who attends the final exam but is unfit to complete due to illness or other eligible cause must, if the student wishes to apply for special consideration:

Advise the examination invigilator no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled end of the examination that they are unable to complete the examination and that they intend to apply for special consideration;
Complete an Examination Cancellation Request Form declaring themselves unfit to complete the examination and acknowledging that their attempt at the final examination will not be marked;
Provide the faculty with an End-of-Semester Special Consideration Application Form, together with supporting documentation, no later than two University working days after the date of their last scheduled examination.
If the student’s special consideration application is refused, the examination that was sat will then be marked and count towards the final result for the unit.

Supporting documentation

Students must provide appropriate strong evidence and documentation to support a special consideration application. Supporting documentation can include:

For medical reasons:

medical certificate that must clearly state that you are unable to attend an examination/assessment on the relevant date or unable to complete work for assessment on or before the relevant date. OR
Completion of Professional Practitioner Statement section in the Special Consideration application form which must clearly state that you are unable to attend an examination/assessment on the relevant date or unable to complete work for assessment on or before the relevant date..

Medical statements that “student is unfit for school or studies” will not be accepted. Consulting with your doctor at time of illness is highly recommended. The Faculty has discretion to investigate medical certificates or medical statements that are dated several days after the unit examination/ assessment time, and verifictaion can be sought from the medical practioner.

For non-medical reasons:

written statements and statutory declarations from students or relevant people;
evidence provided by professionals who are registered with a professional body, such as social workers, medical practitioners, lawyers and psychologists;
death notice or certificate; or
a police report.

If a student has applied for special consideration in consecutive semesters or in more than one semester, the Faculty is entitled to seek from student the details of specific conditions suffered. Documentation signed by family members are not acceptable.

Further information

Detailed information regarding the university special consideration policy and procedures are outlined in the following documents: