Extensions and Special Circumstances Service

What's changed? (2021/22)

• Extensions will revert to the pre-pandemic approach of requiring students to provide an accepted reason. No evidence is needed for extension requests. 

• All special circumstances applications will need to be supported by evidence.  

• When students cannot provide medical evidence for special circumstances, they can instead provide a statement from a staff member, and/or a self-certification form about their ill health. 

• Evidence that is in a language other than English will need to be supported by a translation. Students may provide this translation themselves; official or paid translation services are not required. 

Self Certification Form (58.28 KB Word)

Covid-19 guidance

If you are required by the NHS to self-isolate, you may find that you are:

• Unable to get to essential resources to complete assessments;
• Unable to attend an essential in person assessment.

Your School Student Support Team and/or Personal Tutor can give you advice on what type of support you can apply for (e.g. extension and/or special circumstances).  You can apply for an extension to get up to seven additional days. If the assessment does not permit extensions, or if you will be impacted for longer than seven days, you can apply for special circumstances.

Special circumstances applications will need to be evidenced by a screenshot of the notification of the requirement to self-isolate.

If you are ill with Covid-19, you can apply for an extension and/or special circumstances.

Delay To Start of In-Person Studies

Any student approved to delay the start of their in-person studies does so at their own academic risk. In the assessment of your request, your School will have determined that it is possible for you to stay on track with your studies if you maintain appropriate engagement. Your late arrival to Edinburgh will not be accepted as grounds for an extension request or an application for Special Circumstances unless there are additional extenuating circumstances. Any student who arrives late without approval from their School (or who arrives after the extended deadline given to them by their School) cannot apply for an extension or for Special Circumstances on that basis. Please note that in these instances your application will be rejected.