Extensions - All subjects

Evidence must be completed by an authorised medical practitioner. A Health Professional Report (HPR) - (PDF) is the preferred form of evidence.

The evidence must cover the entire duration of the requested extension. Extension requests may only be partially approved if the student cannot demonstrate impact for the entirety of the requested extension period.

If due to COVID-19, you are unable to source a medical certificate, health professional form, or statutory declaration to support your application a screenshot of your PCR test result, or a picture of your RAT test alongside your ID and a note indicating the date when your test was taken can be used.

Where possible, students should provide independent verifiable evidence. This can be from a psychologist, social worker, police officer, etc. In certain instances, a statutory declaration will be considered, but only where the student can demonstrate that no other form of evidence is available.

Students are advised to submit their application and, if additional evidence is required, the Academic Support Office will provide details of what is needed.

This does not apply for JD or Breadth students.

Applications for extensions in relation to work commitments will not generally be considered as eligible, however MLS may, on a case-by-case basis, provide adjustments to students who can demonstrate they have been affected by exceptional employment commitments. The student must provide independent verifiable evidence of these commitments. This can be a signed and dated statement from a human resources representative from the student’s place of employment and/or a statutory declaration. These circumstances must be unforeseen, and above and beyond the demands of their usual role.

Take-home examinations (MLM only): temporary COVID-19 response

This does not apply for JD or Breadth students.

Students who:

• are parents or carers who have parenting or carer responsibilities during the days allocated for the take home examination; or
• have other commitments similar in nature and impact to the first category and not otherwise addressed by normal grounds for special consideration

may apply for an extension to a take home examination. The extension will seek to ameliorate the impact of the relevant parenting, caring, or other similar commitment, so may be for other than a standard 24-hour period that would normally apply for an extension.

Students must provide relevant supporting documentation:

• in the case of parents or carers:
  • birth certificate/s for primary school aged children or other appropriate evidence of the student’s role as parent or carer and
  • a statutory declaration as to the normal requirements of their role over a weekend period.
• in the case of other commitments similar in nature and impact to the first category and not otherwise addressed by normal grounds for special consideration, documentation as advised by the Academic Programs Coordinator (Wellbeing) law-wellbeing@unimelb.edu.au or the Assistant Dean – Teaching & Learning jmarychurch@unimelb.edu.au.

This does not apply for Melbourne Law Masters or Breadth students.

Applications for extensions in relation to extra-curricular activities including volunteer positions or competitions will not generally be considered as eligible; however MLS may, on a case-by-case basis, provide adjustments to students participating in competitions and other events for which the student has been selected by MLS to represent MLS.

This does not apply for Melbourne Law Masters or Breadth students.

Students will not be awarded an extension where a clerkship or internship impacts upon their capacity to submit an assignment by the advertised due date. Students are advised to plan their enrolment around clerkships/internship opportunities.

This does not apply for Melbourne Law Masters or Breadth students.

Students who:

• are parents or carers who have parenting or carer responsibilities on weekends; or
• are scheduled to work in paid employment on the weekend of the take-home examination and are unable to take leave from their work or otherwise re-schedule their work commitments on the relevant weekend; or
• are religiously observant and participate in religious or cultural practices involving significant time on weekends; or
• other commitments similar in nature and impact to the above categories and not otherwise addressed by normal grounds for special consideration

may apply for an extension. The extension will seek to ameliorate the impact of the relevant parenting, caring, work, religious, cultural observance or other commitment, so may be for other than a standard 24-hour period that would normally apply for an extension.

Students must provide relevant supporting documentation:

• in the case of parents or carers:
  • birth certificate/s for primary school aged children or other appropriate evidence of the student’s role as parent or carer and
  • a statutory declaration as to the normal requirements of their role over a weekend period.
• in the case of students scheduled to work in paid employment on the weekend of the take-home examination and unable to take leave from their work or otherwise re-schedule their work commitments on the relevant weekend:
  • documentation from the employer of the student’s work commitments on the relevant weekend (eg copy of a work roster, email or letter from the employer) #  and
  • a statutory declaration of the expected dates and hours of work of the student on the relevant weekend; describing in detail the efforts the student has made to take leave or otherwise reschedule this work; and, the student’s lack of success in those efforts to take leave or reschedule the work commitments.

  # Students who are unable to provide documentation from an employer as to their work commitments on the relevant weekend should consult with the Assistant Dean – Teaching & Learning for advice on the appropriate supporting documentation (please contact Judith Marychurch at jmarychurch@unimelb.edu.au).

• in the case of students who are religiously observant and participate in religious or cultural practices involving significant time on weekends:
  • a letter from a minister or religion or other relevant, independent person who can verify the religious or cultural observance, the day of the week involved and the time frame normally devoted to the observance and
  • a statutory declaration from the student that they are religiously or culturally observant and will be participating in the relevant religious or cultural activity during the normal period of the weekend take-home examination, the date of this observance and the time frame normally involved.
• in the case of other commitments similar in nature and impact to the above categories and not otherwise addressed by normal grounds for special consideration, documentation as advised by the Academic Programs Coordinator (Wellbeing) or the Assistant Dean – Teaching & Learning.

Temporary COVID-19 response

During COVID-19, computer issues may be more common due to band-width and other issues, and support more difficult to access due to closure of non-essential businesses. You must make all reasonable efforts to rectify a computer/ IT problem in a timely manner, but if you do experience computer/ IT issues caused or exacerbated by COVID-19, you may apply for a short extension. Please explain the circumstances in your personal statement and attach any screenshots or other evidence of the problem. If more information or documentation is required, the Academic Programs Coordinator (Wellbeing) will liaise with you to seek this.