How Do I Apply for Extenuating Circumstances?

How Do I Apply for Extenuating Circumstances?

If you are facing unexpected personal, medical, or emotional challenges that are affecting your ability to complete your academic work on time or to your usual standard, you might be eligible to apply for extenuating circumstances. Most colleges and universities understand that sometimes life does not go as planned, and they provide support systems to help students through difficult periods. Applying for extenuating circumstances is one of the formal ways to request consideration for serious issues that may be beyond your control, such as illness, bereavement, family emergencies, or mental health challenges.

The process can differ slightly depending on your institution, but it generally involves submitting a form along with evidence to support your claim. This evidence could include a doctor’s note, a letter from a counselor, or any other relevant documentation. Some schools require you to submit your application within a certain time frame, often within a week or two of the affected assessment or deadline, so it is important to act quickly.

It is also a good idea to talk to your academic advisor or course tutor if you are unsure about whether your situation qualifies or if you need help navigating the process. They can provide guidance and may even advocate on your behalf. Keep in mind that applying for extenuating circumstances does not guarantee that your request will be approved, but the system is mapped to be fair and supportive. Being honest, thorough, and timely in your application will give you the best chance of receiving the help you need

 How do you get extenuating circumstances?

You can get extenuation through an online form. You will need to provide information on each assessment you are applying for and provide a detailed explanation of your circumstances and how they have prevented you from submitting or negatively impacted your performance during the assessment.

You will also need to provide evidence in support of your claim. This should be submitted via your student portal following your online application. This might be in the form of a doctor’s letter, hospital discharge papers, an eviction notice, or a death certificate. Generally, anything that can support the circumstances you talk about in your application. Official papers such as prescriptions or appointment letters will not be accepted by the University. You can find examples of acceptable evidence to give in your claim here. We have also written a guide for medical professionals writing support letters for extenuation claims.

When Can I Apply?

Generally, you can apply as soon as you realize that your ability to submit your work on time is being impacted; however, we find that applications that are submitted too far in advance of submission deadlines are more likely to be rejected. Applying around 2-3 weeks beforehand should be fine. You can also submit a claim after your assessment deadline has passed.

There are deadlines each academic semester/year by which you need to submit your extenuation applications. These vary depending on your year level.

Semester A (autumn): 23 January 2026
Semester B (spring): 29 May 2026
Semester B (spring) re-sits: 31 July 2026
Semester C (summer): 25 September 2026

If you miss these deadlines but still need to apply for extenuation for an assessment, you can do so via the appeals process. However, it is harder to have extenuation granted via that process, so it is strongly recommended that you try and meet the above deadlines as much as possible.

Read Also: Does the College of Cape Town accept late applications?

How Does Extenuation Get Me?

If your extenuation claim is accepted by the University, you will be able to submit your work at the reassessment deadline without your mark being capped.

If extenuation is granted at the resit, then you will be able to defer the assessment and re-register for the module again. This may only be possible when students have not exhausted all assessment attempts. In these circumstances, the re-registration of the module may incur tuition fee costs.

If you have an extenuation granted on your resit attempt but not the initial attempt, then your repeat module will be capped. If you have had extenuation granted on both your initial and resit submissions, then your repeat module will be uncapped.

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• Where Can I Re-Write My Matric?
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• Tshwane South TVET College Online Application Forms 2026-2027