Deferred Examinations
Deferred assessments (General Rule 13.6)
A deferred assessment is one awarded in terms of the rules by the Dean or his/her duly appointed agent, on application, to a student who, by reason of illness, religious scruples or some other good and sufficient cause, has either failed to attend or complete his/her assessment(s), or who would suffer hardship to an exceptional degree if compelled to complete his/her assessment(s) at the normal time.
A deferred examination will not be granted without supporting documentation. A deferred assessment may be in any format as determined by the Head of School including an oral examination and should bear the same relationship to the course mark as did the original assessment. A deferred assessment will be awarded under the following conditions:
- Illness
- A candidate who is unable to take an assessment because of illness may be granted a deferred assessment if s/he produces the standard health application form (available from the Student Self-Service portal) completed by a Health Professional. If deemed necessary the student may be referred to a Health Professional at the Campus Health and Wellness Centre for further evaluation. Any certificates obtained by professionals who may be family members or friends and which may constitute a conflict of interest, will not be accepted by the University.
- If a candidate applies for deferment on the grounds of illness suffered before an assessment, although he or she may have recovered by the date of the assessment, the medical certificate must describe the nature and degree of disability, which interrupted the candidate’s preparation for the assessment.
- A candidate who falls ill during an assessmentmust report immediately to the Chief Invigilator who will arrange for him or her to be accompanied to the Campus Health and Wellness Centre (CHWC) (see 1.12.12). If s/he is unable to complete the assessment a deferred assessment may be granted to the candidate if he or she is certified as being unfit to complete the assessment by CHWC.
- Save as provided in Rule G.13.7 and 1.19 below it will not avail a candidate who presents himself or herself for an assessment and takes it when ill, to produce a doctor’s certificate after having taken the assessment.
- In cases where acute assessment anxiety produces illness, a deferred assessment may be granted on the first occasion that this occurs, but the candidate must be informed that unless he or she undertakes the course of treatment offered by the Counselling and Careers Development Unit (CCDU), no further such deferments will be granted.
- Religious grounds
- A candidate who objects to taking an assessment on a recognised University holy day of his/her particular faith must submit a letter of support for his/her application for a deferred assessment from the religious leader of that faith.
- A candidate who objects to taking an assessment on a recognised University holy day of his/her particular faith must submit a letter of support for his/her application for a deferred assessment from the religious leader of that faith.
- Sporting or cultural commitments
- A candidate may be granted a deferred assessment if s/he has been selected to participate in a sporting, cultural or similar event, as a formal representative of the University, province or country, or in a capacity considered equivalent by the Dean’s representative who will consider, inter alia, whether the timing of such an event would constitute a serious impediment, either to the candidate’s presence at the assessment, and/or to the candidate’s preparation for the assessment.
- A candidate may be granted a deferred assessment if s/he has been selected to participate in a sporting, cultural or similar event, as a formal representative of the University, province or country, or in a capacity considered equivalent by the Dean’s representative who will consider, inter alia, whether the timing of such an event would constitute a serious impediment, either to the candidate’s presence at the assessment, and/or to the candidate’s preparation for the assessment.
- Other grounds
- An application for a deferred assessment on grounds other than those listed above will be considered on its merits.
- Save in exceptional circumstances, nothing can be done for a candidate who misreads the assessment timetable
- Students will not be granted a deferred examination based on travel/family events as examination dates are published in advance of the examinations.
An application for a deferred formal assessment must, except in exceptional circumstances, be completed and returned within three working days of the date on which the assessment was due to be taken.
