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Step 4: Action your plan

Use and maintain your Academic Adjustment Plan (AAP).

Changes to activating your AAP supports

You now apply for AAP-related extensions, short extensions and special consideration through the same assessment adjustments application form as all students. When you apply, select the Academic Adjustment Plan (AAP) option to view the appropriate supporting documents for your application.

If you AAP includes extension, you can still request a short extension (up to 3 calendar days) before requesting the remaining extension time available under your AAP.

Outcomes are now provided in calendar days and do not reduce the extension support available under your AAP.

About this step

Now that you've registered with Student Equity and Disability Services (SEDS), take the final step to implement your AAP.

This step includes:

  • Accessing your AAP
  • Sharing your AAP with teaching and faculty staff
  • Staying in touch to keep your plan up-to-date.

Clock How long this step takes: Allow one week each semester to share and discuss your AAP.

A student with curly hair using a wheelchair downloads their plan on a laptop and sends it to their subject coordinator to activate their supports.

Access your plan

You will get an email when your AAP is ready.

How to access and download

  1. Log into the application portal
  2. Scroll down to ‘Your Active Registration for ongoing support’
  3. Click ‘Your Academic Adjustment Plan’.
  4. To download a copy, click on ‘Print AAP’ and save a PDF copy.
  5. Save your AAP somewhere secure.

Access your AAP

Share your plan

Share your AAP with:

  • Your subject coordinators
  • Teaching staff (if known)
  • If you're a graduate researcher, your supervisor.

Teaching and faculty staff can only provide the right support if they know what you need. Sharing your AAP helps them understand how best to support you. If you decide not to share it, this may limit the adjustments available to you.

When to share

Share your plan early so we can arrange support in time for assessments or research. Ideally, do this at the start of each semester, your candidature, or as soon as your AAP is ready.

How to share

Email is the best way to share your AAP.

In your email, you should:

  • Introduce yourself and which subject(s) you are taking
  • Let them know you have an Academic Adjustment Plan
  • Attach a copy of your AAP
  • Request early access to class materials if needed
  • Inform them if you have Alternative Exam Arrangements (AEAs) in case there are faculty-managed exams
  • Let them know how they can contact you to discuss your supports
  • Share our SEDS email address in case they need advice about how to implement your supports.

Help with sharing

We understand sharing your AAP may sometimes be uncomfortable. It may help to know that when staff receive your AAP, the University requires them to:

  • Be approachable and open to supporting you.
  • Maintain your privacy. To learn more, visit our SEDS privacy information.
  • Provide fair and relevant support based on your AAP and faculty guidelines.
  • Create an inclusive learning environment.

If you need help with sharing, please book an appointment with your SEDS Equity Adviser. You can use the appointment booking link emailed to you in step three or with your AAP.

Discuss your plan

It's a good idea to discuss your AAP with staff you have contacted.

Together, you can:

  • Agree on how your supports will work in the specific subject or program
  • Tailor adjustments to suit your needs and assessments
  • Raise any concerns early, before assessments begin.

Have these conversations early in the semester so there is enough time to agree on what works best and put them in place.

Discussion points

You can make suggestions for how to tailor your supports. Here are some examples for different adjustments:

    • Ask no direct questions to you in class
    • Get class discussion points ahead of class time
    • Complete written discussion questions after class.

  • If you can't attend a class:

    • Complete reflection questions based on the week’s content
    • Complete other written work which addresses learning outcomes for the week’s content
    • Attend online instead of in-person (if classroom set up and lesson plan permit)
    • Meet with teaching staff during consultation hours to catch up on content.

    • Change the task to an individual assessment
    • A smaller group size
    • Allowed to choose your group members.

    • To present in front of a smaller group or a teaching staff member
    • Pre-record your presentation.

Common actions

Complete the actions listed in your AAP. Support requests are subject to approval by your faculty.

  • An extension is a longer period of time to submit an assignment. A short extension is up to and including 3 calendar days and does not require supporting documentation. You must apply by the submission deadline.

    Apply for a short extension

  • Your AAP may include an adjustment that supports a longer extension.

    To activate this support:

    • Apply before the submission deadline
    • Attach a copy of your AAP with your application.

    You can request up to the maximum time provided in your AAP, which is calculated from the assignment’s original due date. If you have already received a Short Extension, you can request the remaining period of time with your AAP.

    Not all subjects offer the full period covered by AAPs. After applying, a staff member will assess the maximum extension allowed in that subject, up to the amount of time you have requested.

    If extensions are not available and your assignment has a submission deadline, your AAP can be used as evidence for an alternative outcome such as a re-weighting. This is not for scheduled assessment such as exams. You can apply through the same process and timelines as an AAP-activated extension.

    All extension requests made after the submission due date require additional evidence.

    You will also need extra documents if your AAP does not cover the type or duration of adjustment you’re applying for.

    Extra ocuments must show:

    • Evidence of a condition flare up
    • Impact on your ability to complete your assessment
    • Dates and duration of the impact.

    If your circumstances are outside of the verified condition in your AAP, you will need to provide alternative documents relating to that circumstance. For example, an additional hardship to your AAP requires documents relating to the hardship, not your AAP.

    If extensions are not listed in your AAP, you can still apply, but you will need to provide extra supporting documents.

    Apply for extension

  • Special consideration provides a one-off adjustment to an assessment task. It's applied close to or shortly after the assessment’s due date.

    Apply for special consideration if the supports in your AAP do not cover what you need. For example, you require:

    • An extension longer than your AAP allows
    • To apply for an adjustment after the assesment's due date
    • A special exam.

    This may occur when your condition worsens or you experience a flare-up, circumstances outside of your AAP have impacted you, or you need an adjustment not covered in your AAP.

    You will need to attach a copy of your AAP and additional supporting documents.

    Your supporting documents should confirm your circumstances and include:

    • The dates your circumstances affected you, covering the assessment date and/or the period leading up to the assessment
    • The impact on your ability to prepare for or complete the assessment
    • Details of any worsening symptoms or flare-up, if relevant.

    Supporting documents may include evidence from:

    • A registered health practitioner (for you or a person you care for)
    • Your sporting organisation, if you are an elite athlete
    • Your religious organisation
    • Another appropriate professional or organisation relevant to your circumstances.

    If your documents do not cover the assessment date, they should demonstrate a significant impact during the lead-up to the assessment.

    If your Alternative Exam Arrangements (AEA) were not implemented correctly

    If your assessment was affected because your approved Alternative Exam Arrangements (AEA) were not implemented correctly (for example, during an exam, mid-semester test or quiz), you can apply for special consideration.

    Include evidence from Student Equity and Disability Services (SEDS), the Exams Office or your faculty confirming the approved arrangements were not correctly provided.

    Apply for special consideration

  • If you didn't get your preferred class, you can use your AAP to request a timetable change.

    You can also request support for timetabling issues unrelated to your AAP.

    Please note, this process does not cover flexible attendance. Please discuss attendance arrangements with your subject coordinator or teaching staff.

    Request timetabling assistance

Alternative Exam Arrangements (AEAs)

If your plan includes AEAs, we will apply these to exams running in the:

  • Semester 1 and 2 exam periods
  • Summer term exam period
  • Summer term, Semester 1 and 2 special and supplementary exam periods.

You will see these in your central exam timetable in my.unimelb, as long as you meet the AEA deadline.

You may also have faculty-managed exams, coordinated by your faculty. These are any exams that do not appear in your exam timetable. You will need to email your subject coordinator to inform them of your AEAs at least 10 business days before the assessment.

For more information about AEAs, visit the Alternative Exam Arrangements page.

Assistive technology

If your plan includes assistive technology, you can download software and view guides.

Maintain your plan

We can update your plan if your situation changes and you need different supports. This includes enrolling in a new course or program. If you need to update your exam supports, make sure you do so before the AEA deadline.

How to update

Submit an enquiry to request changes.

We may require additional documentation to support certain adjustments.

Request AAP update

Share your updated AAP

Remember to follow the steps above to access and share your updated AAP.

Common questions

If you have further questions, contact us for help.

  • If you encounter a staff member who is unsure how or hesitant to provide support, please refer them to the Accessibility guides for academics. Or ask them to contact us.

    You can book an appointment with your SEDS Equity Adviser if you need help sharing your AAP.

    You can also discuss any concerns with University of Melbourne Student Union Advocacy.

    If you feel you have grounds, you may raise a complaint and grievance.

  • You can find your subject coordinator's details in the Handbook.

  • Most plans expire at the end of your studies. For shorter-term circumstances, your AAP expiry will match the duration of impact.

    If you take longer to complete your studies, we can update your AAP to match your completion date.

    If your plan has expired, you will need to reapply.

Need more help?

If you have further questions, you can ask the Stop 1 AI Assistant.

Step navigation

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Step 1: Prepare to register

Step 2: Register for ongoing support

Step 3: Create your plan

After registering

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