Special Consideration

The University’s assessment practices are designed to ensure that conditions are fair to all students, as consistent as possible and that individual students are not disadvantaged by adverse personal circumstances beyond their control or by the activities of other students.

Generally, serious illness or misadventure will be taken into account when considering a student’s academic performance in a course or Units of Study. There is, however, a clear distinction between longstanding illness or difficulties which prevent students from attending classes or completing required work or which seriously interfere with their capacity to study for long periods, and short-term serious illness or misadventure that may prevent a well-prepared student from sitting for an examination or completing a particular assignment.

Long term and serious issues: If you have a serious or long term illness or misadventure that affects your performance over an extended period, you must inform us as soon as possible, and not wait till after the exam, or very late in the semester. Consideration is not given for "illnesses and misadventures that have prevented students from acquiring a Pass level of knowledge/skills (including all illnesses/misadventures resulting in the student missing six weeks or more of lectures or tutorials)".

It is academic dishonesty to obtain and submit a medical certificate and/or a special consderation form that misrepresents the nature or extent of any illness or misadventure.

Procedure

1. Download and complete the PDF Special Consideration Application Form. Ensure you have attached the appropraite documentation, such as doctor's certificate or other evidence.
2. For any applications regarding Engineering units of study, lodge the original paperwork at the Undergraduate Office of the Faculty of Engineering, Link building, J13, within 7 days of the date(s) for which special consideration is being sought. The original paperwork will be stamped by the Faculty staff and a copy given back to the student as a proof of receipt. If you are seeking consideration for a unit of study given outside the faculty then you must apply to the relevant faculty office (most likely Science, Arts or Economics/Business).
3. Students then submit copies of the stamped paperwork to the School personnel in charge of the unit of study for which special consideration is sought. The Faculty office will direct you to the relevant staff member(s) when the paperwork is stamped. For all civil engineering units of study, this is the School Secretary, Room 418, Civil Engineering Building.
4. Students will be notified of the academic decision concerning their application for Special Consideration by email (to their MyUni account) normally within 14 working days of the application being received at the school. Particularly for Special Consderation applications regarding end of semester exams students should check their USyd emails regularly concerning the nature of any "extra work" that might be required as a result of the misadventure.