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(Monday-Friday 08:30-17:00)
+44 (0)1234 400 400

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+44 (0)1582 74 39 89

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admission@beds.ac.uk (admissions)
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University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU

Mitigating Circumstances Criteria

Valid reasons for making a mitigating circumstances claim

Pensive girl student

The following are examples of what is normally considered as mitigating circumstances:

  • serious personal injury, such as a broken limb, or a medical condition requiring hospital attention or one with an incapacitating effect
  • an acute illness such that a reasonable person would have been unable to carry out the assessment task as required
  • being the victim of a serious crime, such as robbery, burglary or a violent assault during the period immediately preceding the assessment
  • the serious illness or death of a close relative: normally a partner, parent, child or sibling
  • birth of a baby and/or unforeseen pregnancy complications

Circumstances that are not normally acceptable include:

  • the death or illness of a distant relative
  • financial problems, including payment of fees to the University
  • difficulties with housing
  • difficulties with baby-sitters, child-minders
  • transport difficulties such as public transport strikes, roadworks or private transport breakdowns
  • confusion over time, date or location of the examination, or assignment hand-in date on the part of the candidate when this has been clearly notified, and not posed any problem to other students in the group
  • work pressure if you are enrolled as a full-time student
  • computer problems such as viruses, disk corruption, printer problems, network problems

Student responsibilities

You must have valid reasons supported by clear and appropriate evidence for any claims submitted. Studying at University is all about managing your time and deadlines and the Mitigation Team will not give extensions or further opportunities for bad time management.

Decisions will be based on the severity, disruptiveness, unexpectedness, timing and length of the problem, and whether the circumstances are not wholly or largely of your own choosing or making.

The Mitigation Team must be convinced that the effect of the circumstances was sufficiently serious that you were clearly unable to carry out the assessment task at the specified time. If you are a full-time student then unexpected work commitments will not be recognised as a legitimate claim.

In the past there have regretfully been cases of students ‘making up’ claims, falsifying evidence and thus cheating on students who have genuine extenuating circumstances. Doing so may lead to disciplinary action.

Bedfordshire University

Student life» Student Support» Academic advice and support» Mitigating Circumstances Criteria

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