Extensions
This procedure should be read in conjunction with, and is subject to, the University's Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326).
Eligibility
Students may be considered for an extension of up to 10 business days for an eligible assessment if they can demonstrate that short-term unforeseen circumstances have affected their capacity to prepare for or submit an assessment item by the published due date/time.
All Law assessments have predetermined maximum extension lengths, published for each assessment item on the Learning Management System (LMS). Before applying for an extension, students must consult the assessment information published on the LMS.
Students enrolled in JD and MLM subjects can find this information on the JD and/or MLM LMS Communities; for Breadth students, this information is published on each LMS subject.
Faculty extension requests must be lodged prior to the assessment due date/time using the faculty’s published process.
Potential circumstances and supporting documentation
Students must provide independent, verifiable supporting documentation when applying for an extension.
Supporting documentation must adhere to the standards required by the University. For a detailed list of eligible circumstances and accepted forms of supporting documentation, please refer to special consideration.
MLM students only may submit applications for extensions on grounds of work commitments if they can demonstrate they have been affected by exceptional employment requirements which are unforeseen, and above and beyond the demands of their usual role. 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. In these circumstances, MLS may, on a case-by-case basis, provide adjustments.
How to apply
Extension requests for students enrolled in Law subjects are managed at the faculty level by the Law Wellbeing team. Students are required to submit a formal application prior to the assessment due date/time.
Subject Coordinators and stream teachers do not manage extensions or other adjustments.
The Law Wellbeing team cannot accept emailed extension requests.
Outcomes
Students will receive an outcome for their extension application within three (3) business days (Monday-Friday).
Approved extensions will align with the duration of impact outlined in the supporting documentation and the assessment adjustment information published on the LMS.
Students who receive an extension of less than 10 business days and would like a longer extension of up to 10 business days for an eligible assessment should re-apply for an extension and provide additional documentation to support the provision of a further extension.
Pending extension requests
Students awaiting the outcome of an extension application should continue working on their assessment where possible.
Students who have not received an outcome for an extension application by the assessment due date/time must email a copy of their work-to-date to law-wellbeing@unimelb.edu.au by the original due date/time.
Information to include in the email:
- Student ID,
- Subject code and name, and
- The following statement: “This is a partial submission of my work and I am awaiting an outcome from an extension and/or special consideration review”.
For Cadmus assessments in particular, students must not submit their partial submission in Cadmus itself; please ensure the partial submission is emailed to law-wellbeing@unimelb.edu.au.
Once an extension is granted, the assessment submission link will be reopened so students can submit their assessment prior to their extended due date.
If an extension request is ultimately deemed ineligible, the time-stamped partial submission will be sent for marking to avoid late penalties.
Subsequent extensions and adjustments
Students should apply for special consideration in the following circumstances:
- Students who have been granted a faculty extension of 10 working days and would like a longer extension for an eligible assessment
- Students seeking adjustments for assessments for which extensions are not permitted
- Students seeking an alternate outcome for an assessment, other than an extension (ie, a Reweight)
Please note that requests submitted via special consideration for extensions longer than the published predetermined maximum extension duration will generally be considered for alternative outcomes, such as a late withdrawal.
Data retention
Students should maintain a copy of their supporting documentation, should they require it for any other purpose.