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Unconsidered Extenuating Circumstances

Suggested Template

You need to explain how Unconsidered Extenuating Circumstances applied to your situation. If you are unsure of where to start with this, you may find the following template helpful:

"On (date), (state reason) happened. I believe that this falls under Unconsidered Extenuating Circumstances, as I could not predict or control this because (state reason). I tried to resolve this by (state action you took). It did not work because (state reason)."

"I did not mention the problem at the time because (state reason). I have been in contact with the following services for support: (state services)."

Examples of extenuating circumstances include:

  • Bereavement
  • Serious short-term illness of accident (for example, something that in employment would have led to absence on sick leave)
  • Evidenced worsening of a long-term health condition
  • Significant adverse family or personal circumstance

Your appeal form must include evidence and explain how your evidence supports your appeal. For example:

The evidence which I am providing is (state evidence).

This supports my appeal because (state reason).

(Check that your evidence confirms the circumstances described in your statement)

There is more guidance about evidence here:

Public Documents - Academic Appeals Process.pdf - All Documents (sharepoint.com)

Extenuating Circumstances

It is important that you explain why you did not submit your extenuating circumstance prior to the assessment – think about how you were feeling at the time or what your circumstances were and how this may have affected or impacted your decision making.

Explain how the circumstances affected your academic work and why you didn’t apply for an extension if you were struggling. For example:

My circumstances affected my academic work because (state reason).
I didn’t apply for an extension because (state reason) / I did apply for an extension but it didn’t help because (state reason).

Fit to Sit

You need to state why you do not think the University of Sunderland’s Fit to Sit policy applies in your case - think about how you were feeling at the time or what your circumstances were and how this may have affected or impacted your decision making.

If you have had any correspondence with a member of staff regarding the publication of result, document the communication and be as a specific as you can with dates, times, location and details of conversations or correspondence.

Outcome

What you want from the appeal process. Remember, you can’t ask for your work to be remarked or any outcome which goes against the University academic regulations.

For example: 
I would like to be reinstated on my course/ to be offered another opportunity to submit module (name and code) attempt/ to have the 40% cap removed from my work/ other (please describe).