Extenuating Circumstances & Mitigation

Mitigation is the University’s process for supporting students facing serious or unexpected circumstances that are preventing them from completing assessments on time.

If an extension isn’t suitable you can request mitigation, which typically results in a deferral—allowing you to take the assessment at a later date set by the course.

Some examples of acceptable circumstances include:

• Bereavement
• Illness (physical or mental health-related)
• Significant family or personal problems

The University does not usually accept the following as valid reasons:

• Holidays or planned travel
• Weddings and family celebrations
• Technical issues such as computer failure or corrupted USBs The responsibility is on you to regularly back up your work—need help? Visit: www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/blogs/library/2018/10/saving-your-work-with-onedrive/

Yes. You must provide independent documentary evidence that supports your application and shows how the circumstances affected your ability to meet your assessment deadline.

The evidence should:

• Cover the relevant assessment date(s)
• Be submitted within 5 working days of the assessment deadline
• Be uploaded via MyHub or emailed to your course administrator

You can submit the form without the evidence initially, but you must add the evidence within 5 days.

Here are some examples of valid supporting documents:

• Medical certificate or letter from a GP/health professional
  (Note: a prescription alone isn’t enough)
• Letter from a medical professional treating a family member
• Death certificate, order of service, or a letter from a faith leader
• Police report or crime reference number
• Statement from a counsellor
• Statement from a lecturer
• Letter from any professional that has ongoing awareness of your circumstances

Yes! You should check with International Advice & Compliance before submitting a mitigation request, as it may impact your visa:
Email: siac@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

• Your course admin team will forward your request to the next Mitigation Panel
• These panels usually meet regularly (often monthly)
• You’ll be contacted via student email with the outcome—this is usually within 5 working days of the panel meeting

If you don’t apply for mitigation—or your request is rejected—and you haven’t submitted your work, it will count as a non-submission unless you submit late and within the accepted period.

Check the University’s late submission rules (Section 3.12):
Academic Regulations PDF

We can’t give feedback on the online form itself, but if you want to draft your personal statement in a Word document, we’re happy to check it over.

Make sure you include:

• Your circumstances
• The type and date of your assessment(s)
• Whether it’s a resit
• How your circumstances affected your ability to complete the work

Attach your draft to our contact form available here:
https://www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/advice/

• Submit your mitigation application via MyHub:
  Mitigation Form – MyHub
• Read the Student Factsheet:
  Student Guide on Extenuating Circumstances & Mitigation
• Check the full university regulations (Section 8):
  Academic Regulations – Section 8

We’re here for you. The Students’ Union Advice Service is completely independent from the University, and we’re happy to support you confidentially at any stage of the process.

Contact us here: https://www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/advice/