Special consideration for an assessment
At some point during your study at AUT, your ability to attempt or prepare for an assessment may be seriously affected by exceptional circumstances beyond your control. If this happens, you can apply for special consideration for that assessment.
You could also apply for a short extension of up to 3 days
How to apply for special consideration
You must submit completed applications with supporting evidence no later than 5 working days from the assessment due date.
If you don't have a valid reason for missing the due date or have not notified your AUT teaching department within the required time, you will receive a failing grade for your assignment or examination.
To apply for special consideration:
- Go to the Special Consideration Application tool
Message for Faculty of Health students only: Choose ONE Assessment LO combination when applying for your SCA, not multiple LOs. - Refer to this user guide for step-by-step instructions
Permissions request
When you're accessing the tool for the first time, you'll be asked by Microsoft to approve access to the new software. Make sure you click on ‘accept’ and proceed.
Examples of exceptional circumstances
Exceptional circumstances can be due to:
- Medical or emotional/mental conditions
- Bereavement
- Being a victim of crime
- Essential sporting or religious commitments
- AUT-related commitments
- Other circumstances
The specific requirements for your application will depend on the situation and are explained in the Special Consideration Application (SCA) form.
COVID-19
COVID-19 continues to affect students’ lives and health. You can apply for a special consideration for assessment if you have COVID-19 and are unwell or you’re needing to isolate. You can also apply if you're suffering from ongoing health effects due to COVID-19 or your whānau or household has been seriously affected by COVID-19. Use the ‘Medical’ reason for application.
Medical or other evidence needs to be provided (though delays in accessing medical care through no fault of your own can be taken into account).
Exceptional circumstances do not include:
- Misreading assessment dates, times or instructions
- Computer problems, including printer problems, unless they relate to an officially notified failure of university equipment
- Losing data – ensure that you keep backup copies of everything
Short extensions – new in 2024
If you don't have exceptional circumstances but simply need a couple of extra days to submit your assessment, you can apply for a short extension (3 days). You don't need to provide evidence for a short extension.
You can only have one short extension per course. If you need further extensions for the same course, you'll then need to provide evidence of exceptional circumstances.
Important things to note about short extensions
- You must apply using the Special Consideration Application tool and select ‘short extension’ on the second screen
- The short extension is for 3 calendar days
- You can't apply for short extensions for tests and exams; any assessment conducted under controlled conditions is not eligible for a short extension
- You can only have one short extension per course
- You must apply by midnight the day BEFORE your assessment is due
For example, if an assessment is due at 4pm on Monday 20 May, in order to be eligible for a short extension, you must apply BEFORE midnight on Sunday 19 May. - If you need more time than 3 days because of valid exceptional circumstances, you need to apply for the standard extension and provide evidence
Student Impairment Report
If you need support with extensions on assessments and are applying under medical impairments or emotional/mental wellbeing impairments, you need to provide a completed Student Impairment Report to accompany your Special Consideration Application form.
The Student Impairment Report must be completed by a suitably qualified person. You can connect with our support services below to organise a report. If you’re seeing an external practitioner, you should download the Student Impairment Report so they can complete it for submission.
Medical impairments
For medical impairments, registered nurses at the AUT Student Medical Centre can complete the Student Impairment Report for your Special Consideration Application.
Emotional or mental impairments
For emotional/mental wellbeing impairments, a qualified advisor at the Student Hub can assess you for a Student Impairment Report.
To find a qualified advisor at your closest Student Hub:
- Visit My AUT and log in
- Click on 'Make a booking'
- Select 'Book a Student Hub appointment'
- Click on the ‘Special Consideration Application’ button
Student Counselling and Mental Health services are also available for appointments if you have urgent or ongoing needs for counselling and/or mental health support.
AUTSA support
AUT Students' Association (AUTSA) has advocates who are there to provide advice and support while you’re studying at AUT. Contact them if you're having difficulties with the process or feel the outcome of your Special Consideration Application was unfair.
Contact us
Need help or have a question?
Contact the Student Hub throughout your studies at AUT.
Email: studenthub@aut.ac.nz
Phone: 0800 288 864
Contact us online