Students sitting at a table in a study area with laptops and folders.

Special consideration

Apply if circumstances affect your ability to complete your assessments.

About special consideration

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

Adjustments we offer

Adjustments you may receive as an outcome of special consideration:

  • An assessment undertaken at a later date.

    For example:

    • A special exam rescheduled in the Special and supplementary exam period
    • A special assessment (eg practical and performance-based) rescheduled at a time suitable for the assessment's requirements.

  • An extended period of time to submit the assessment. This can include a resubmission if you've already submitted.

    The length of extension usually matches the duration of impact indicated in your documents. It can be shorter if you request less time in your application.

    Depending on your circumstances, there are two options:

    • Request a short extension through the faculty
    • Apply for a longer extension through special consideration.

    To understand which process is right for you, visit the Extensions page.

  • Changes to the assessment's format or delivery mode to accomodate your circumstances. The assessment type and due date remain the same.

  • Also called an 'alternative assessment', it replaces the original assessment task with something different.

    For example:

    • A written essay to replace a quiz
    • An oral exam to replace an essay
    • A new task that assesses learning outcomes from two or more impacted assessments..

  • A re-weighting is a change to how much the impacted assessment's mark contributes to the overall subject result. The faculty may waive the impacted assessment. This means its mark does not count towards the subject result and other assessment tasks will have higher weighting.

    This is only possible for assessments up to 25 per cent and where this does not affect learning outcomes or academic standards.

    For example:

    • Waiving this week's quiz and redistributing its weighting to the remaining weekly quizzes.

    Your subject coordinator will determine the best re-weighting adjustments. This may depend on subject and assessment design, and how far into the subject you are.

What special consideration cannot offer

Not available as an outcome of special consideration:

  • Adjustment of an assessment's or subject's mark. Except where policy permits re-weighting.
  • Change to subject delivery mode or exam format.

The following are not part of special consideration, but are available, subject to availability via other processes:

Eligibility

We  follow the eligibility criteria in the Assessment and Results Policy. When determining eligibility, we will consider:

  • Your circumstances
  • Their impact to your ability to complete your assessment, and
  • If  you met the deadline to apply.

Examples of eligible circumstances:

  • Short-term health condition
  • Bereavement
  • Hardship
  • Trauma or victim of crime
  • Computer failure or technical issues (eg equipment, internet, system or power outage)

Students with an Academic Adjustment Plan (AAP)

You can also apply for additional special consideration if:

  • There is an exacerbation of your medical condition or disability
  • You need a one-off adjustment that is not covered by your AAP.

Ineligible circumstances:

  • Brief or planned interruptions to internet access or power.
  • Submission issues where you did not leave enough time to submit.
  • Software disruptions that your subject coordinator has already compensated for.
  • Public transport delays.
  • Misreading your timetable.
  • Celebratory events such as weddings or birthdays.
  • Late enrolment into a subject.
  • Travel plans (including exchange or study abroad).
  • Anything considered to be in your control.

Application process and deadline

Understand when and how to apply.

1. Know the deadline

Understand the deadline for applying.

2. Prepare supporting documents

Collect the required documents. You can complete the next step while waiting for your documents.

3. Submit your application

Allow 10-20 minutes to complete the online form.

4. Complete your assessment

If you’re able to do so without compromising your health or the health of other people.

5. Receive your application outcome

We will notify you once we've processed your application.

Read the sections below for more information about each step.

You can also check you have completed the application steps by using the Special consideration checklist (DOCX 4.3 MB).

Current processing times

We're assessing applications that were submitted on Friday 2 May.

Our average turnaround time is five business days.

Last updated: Thursday 8 May 2025.

Deadline to apply

Apply no later than four business days after your assessment's due date.

If you're aware of an upcoming impact, apply before your assessment's due date.

Extra time for supporting documents

Still apply by the deadline if there's a delay in getting your supporting documents. We will hold your application for up to four business days.

Late applications

We will only accept late applications if you:

  • Apply before the release of subject results and
  • Were unable to submit your application on time (eg due to hospitalisation, severe trauma or close personal or family bereavement) and
  • Submit supporting documents that verify this impact.

We cannot accept applications after the release of subject results.

If you missed the deadline and have failed a subject, you may be eligible to apply for fee remission.

Prepare documents

To assess your application, we need to understand the impact of your circumstances. Your supporting documents allow us to do so. You must provide these when you apply, or within four business days of applying.

Your documents must outline:

  • Impact on your ability to complete or prepare for an assessment
  • Dates and duration of the impact.

Verifying documents

We may contact the signatory or organisation on your documents if we need to verify information.

The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action, such as terminating your studies, if you:

  • Misrepresent your circumstances on your documents
  • Falsify documents in any way.

Accepted types of documents

  • Accepted documents:

    Documents must show:
    • Date(s) of consultation(s) with your health professional
    • Impact on your ability to complete your assessment
    • Dates and duration of the impact.

    If you are applying late, your documents will also need to  show:

    • Dates of hospitalisation (if applicable)
    • Reason for applying late (eg severe illness or injury)
    • That it was not possible for you to apply on time.
    Who can complete medical documents

    A health professional who can verify your condition. See guidelines below.

    Documents not accepted:

    • Medical test results or prescriptions.
    • A medical certificate if you have not had a consultation. Consultations must be in person or via telehealth.
    • Photos of your medication or injury.
    • Statutory Declaration.
    • Letter from University or College staff. Except if from the University's Health Service, or Counselling and Psychological Services, and you have an existing client relationship.

  • Accepted documents:

    • A death notice
    • Newspaper obituary
    • Funeral notice or
    • Death certificate.

    Where the above does not show your relationship to deceased, please also provide:

    Documents must show:
    • Evidence of the deceased's passing
    • Your relationship to the deceased
    • Impact on your ability to complete your assessment
    • Dates and duration of the impact.
    Who can complete medical documents

    A health professional who can verify your condition. See guidelines below.

  • Support services

    We know how difficult it can be to repeat your story after a traumatic event. You may prefer to share your situation with a support service who can provide a letter.

    Support services include:

    You do not need to make a formal report to access these services, but they can support you to do so if you choose.

    Accepted documents

    We are flexible with the documents we accept. These may include:

    • A letter from one of the above services
    • A police report or notice to victim form
    • Other legal documentation
    • A Statutory Declaration.
    Documents must show:
    • Evidence of the event and its connection to you
    • Impact on your ability to complete your assessment
    • Dates and duration of the impact.

  • Accepted documents:

    • Screenshots of error messages with time stamps.
    • Photos of failed devices (including date taken or metadata with time stamps).
    • Evidence of contact to Stop 1, Student IT, or another support service. Stop 1 can email you an outline of your call. Student IT can provide your chat transcript or ServiceNow ticket number.
    • Outage notification from your Internet Service Provider.
    Documents must show:
    • Evidence of the event
    • Impact on your ability to complete your assessment
    • Dates and duration of the impact.

    We investigate all events to substantiate the impact.

    Documents not accepted:

    • Statutory Declaration
    • Documents without timestamps.

  • Accepted documents:

    • Signed police reports, court orders, or court documents.
    • A Statutory Declaration. Not accepted for medical or health circumstances.
    • Documentation from the Safer Community Program
    • Emergency services notifications, eg Country Fire Authority (CFA) alerts.
    Documents must show:
    • Evidence of the event and its connection to you
    • Impact on your ability to complete your assessment
    • Dates and duration of the impact.

  • Accepted documents

    A signed letter from the relevant organisation. The letter must be on official letterhead.

    Documents must show:
    • Dates of your duties and obligations
    • Impact your ability to complete your assessment.

  • Accepted documents:

    And:

    • A letter from your sporting organisation.
    Documents must show:
    • Dates of your duties
    • Impact your ability to complete your assessment.

  • Accepted documents:

    And:

    • A letter from your performance organisation.
    Documents must show:
    • Dates of your obligations
    • Impact your ability to complete your assessment.

  • Accepted documents:

    • A signed letter from your religious congregation or cultural authority. The letter must be on official letterhead.
    • If you are unable to get a letter, you can provide Statutory Declaration.
    Documents must show:
    • Your name
    • Dates of observance and your commitments
    • Impact your ability to complete your assessment.

Document guidelines and processes

  • Please do not upload any sensitive images. Images are not accepted as documentation. We will not assess images if submitted.

  • A health professional must complete a Health Professional Report, medical certificate or letter.

    Health professionals we recognise:

    • An Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registered general practitioner (GP), psychologist, or psychiatrist
    • An Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) registered social worker
    • A Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) or Australian Counselling Association (ACA, level 3 and above) registered counsellor
    • Any other AHPRA-registered practitioner qualified to diagnose and treat a health condition (such as a physiotherapist) within their area of expertise
    • A registered practitioner with equivalent overseas qualification.

  • You'll need to provide a NAATI-certified translation. NAATI stands for National Accreditation Authority for
    Translators and Interpreters.

  • Still apply by the deadline if there's a delay in getting your supporting documents.

    Attach a Word document to your application stating the reason for the delay. We will hold your application for up to four business days.

  • To add documents, log in to the special consideration portal.

    You will not be able to add documents if your application is:

    • Pending Outcome
    • Withdrawn
    • Complete.

Submit your application

You need to fill in the form and attach your documentation to apply.

Apply for special consideration

Next steps

Now you've applied, find out what happens next.

Complete your assessment

Your welfare is more important than your studies. Complete your assessment if you can do so without risking your health or the health of others.

Submitting your assessment won’t impact your application.

Receive your application outcome

There are two stages of processing your application:

  1. Eligibility. This is where we check your documents to determine if you qualify.
  2. Outcome. This is when we decide what adjustment(s) to offer for each impacted assessment.

We aim to process your application within five business days. The outcome stage sometimes takes longer.

We will notify you:

  • When we receive your application
  • If we need more information from you
  • Once we've determined your eligibility
  • To confirm your outcome for each impacted assessment.

Other adjustment options

Help and support

  • Details you cannot change in your application:

    • Subject code
    • Study period
    • Impact date range
    • You cannot add subjects or assessments.

    Please submit a new application if you need to amend the above details. Include your previous application ID in the new application so we can assess both together.

    Need more help?

    Enquiry (recommended) Call us

  • If you are experiencing login issues, please try these steps:

    1. Reset your password at https://accounts.unimelb.edu.au/
    2. Wait 30 minutes for the new password to sync.
    3. Reattempt to login.

    If you can't login after trying the above steps, contact Student IT.

    Need more help?

    Call us (recommended)

  • If you're granted a special assessment:

    • Your subject result will display a ‘SPE’ grade and your mark will be blank.
    • Once you complete your special assessment, your final result will replace the SPE grade, typically withing 10 working days.

    Or you can choose to decline your special assessment:

    • For exams and performative assessments, you must decline before the assessment/exam starts.
    • For submitted assessments (eg written assignments), you must decline before the assessment due date and time.
    • If you decline, you'll receive your grade and mark based on your original assessment submission.
    • Your special consideration outcome will explain how to decline.

    If you neither decline nor complete your special assessment, you'll receive a zero mark for the assessment.

    For more information, refer to the Special and Supplementary Assessment page.

    Need more help?

    Special and supplementary assessment page (recommended) Call us

  • You should still apply by the deadline if there's a delay in getting your supporting documents.

    Attach a Word document to your application stating the reason for the delay. We will hold your application for up to four business days.

    Need more help?

    Enquiry (recommended) Call us

  • To add documents, log in to the special consideration portal.

    You will not be able to add documents if your application is:

    • Pending Outcome
    • Withdrawn
    • Complete.

    Need more help?

    Enquiry (recommended) Call us

Need more help?

Submit an enquiry (recommended) Call us

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