38.1 An extension of study is used where circumstances necessitate an extension to the normal period of study in order for a student to complete the programme. An extension of study may be applied where:
38.2 An agreed extension may involve the payment of additional fees.
38.3 Students who hold a Student Visa and who need to extend their period of study should seek advice from the Student Visa Team on obtaining a Visa extension.
38.4 Students who receive an extension should be advised by their school of the latest date by which the dissertation or equivalent must be submitted in order for the student to be considered for award at the finalist exam board.
Students who are required to undertake reassessment in taught units
38.5 The relevant exam board will provide an extension to a student’s dissertation (or equivalent) deadline and/or period of study where that student is required to undertake reassessment within the reassessment period or supplementary year, as set out below. This action may be undertaken prior to or post the exam board under chair’s action.
38.6 Students receiving an outcome at the early Summer Assessment Exam Board to undertake assessment in the reassessment period will be granted an extension as follows:
| Amount of reassessment to be completed in the Reassessment Period | Length of extension to the dissertation deadline | Extension of studies (extended end date) required? |
|---|---|---|
| 20 credit points | One week | No |
| 30-40 credit points | Two weeks | Yes** |
| 50-60 credit points | Three weeks | Yes** |
| 70-80 credit points* | Four weeks | Yes** |
*Students will be permitted to complete no more than 80 credit points of assessment in the reassessment period. Students who have over 80 credit points outstanding must complete the assessment in the subsequent academic year as part of a supplementary year
**As the extension will go beyond the programme end date (set 12 months from the programme start date), the student’s period of study will also be extended.
38.7 Students with reassessment outcomes should be advised by their School to consider the balance between working on their dissertation or equivalent compared to preparation for and to undertake reassessment. The extension is a mitigation for the additional work required of a student to prepare for and complete reassessment.
38.8 An extension to the deadline for the submission of a group project report where it is part of the research unit is not permitted for an individual student so as not to impact other students in the group. In this case, the relevant student may be permitted to pivot their group work into an individual piece of research with a new deadline for submission to accommodate for this change.
38.9 Students who are intercalating on a taught postgraduate programme and are granted an extension should discuss with their home school the consequences of not submitting by the original submission deadline to returning to their home programme.
38.10 Students receiving an outcome at the early Summer Assessment or Reassessment Exam Board to undertake assessment in a Supplementary Year will be granted an extension to the deadline for submission of their dissertation or equivalent AND an extension to their period of study as follows:
38.11 Students who are permitted to resubmit their dissertation or equivalent under 37.16 will be provided a new submission deadline and, where that deadline goes beyond the normal period of study, an extension of study by the School. Re-submission of the dissertation is normally required within 3 months of the student being notified by the relevant Board of Examiners of its decision (and within 6 months for part-time students and 12 months for part-time variable students).
38.12 A student may also request an extension to the submission of the dissertation or equivalent and/or their period of study to account for the impact of exceptional circumstances upon their ability to complete the programme in the normal timeline.
38.13 Students who do not request an extension prior to the deadline and do not submit their dissertation by the submission deadline may submit exceptional circumstances if they have circumstances they would like considered by the next Exam Board. An extension to studies may be considered mitigation for the impact of a student’s exceptional circumstances, notwithstanding any further exceptional circumstances which may affect the extended period of studies.
38.14 Students who are permitted to resubmit their dissertation or equivalent as mitigation for the impact of exceptional circumstances under 37.17 will be provided a new submission deadline and, where that deadline goes beyond the normal period of study, an extension of study by the School. Re-submission of the dissertation is normally required within 3 months of the student being notified by the relevant Board of Examiners of its decision (and within 6 months for part-time students and 12 months for part-time variable students).
38.15 One or more extensions of study totalling not more than 12 months may be requested by a student and authorised by the relevant Faculty Education Director, on the recommendation of the relevant Programme Director. The request should be made at least two weeks prior to the end of the period of study.
38.16 An extension of study for any period that takes the accumulative total over 12 months will also require the approval of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students). The request should be made at least four weeks prior to the end date of the original period of extension.
38.17 There may be additional rules on extensions from a funding body. It is the responsibility of the student to confirm that arrangements and approval for the extension have been secured with any funding body that is involved.
