Absence and Illness

The University is here to support you. It’s not just your education that is our priority; it’s

your welfare too. We’re aware that everyone has a life outside of University and that sometimes there are circumstances that can mean you are unable to give your fullest. This is why we have provisions in place to help you through difficulties.

If such a circumstance is affecting your attendance, academic performance, exams, or course work you should inform us at the earliest opportunity.

Mitigating circumstances broadly fall under medical problems, extreme personal and family problems, unforeseen accidents and major unfortunate occurrences, and for part-time students work-related issues. All mitigating circumstances should meet the following criteria:

• Non-academic – Problems with the management of the degree programme or with academic staff should be dealt with via the Student Complaints Procedure.
• Out of your control – You could not reasonably have done anything to prevent them from happening.
• Impact – The circumstances had a negative impact on your ability to prepare for or sit an assessment.
• Relevant – Occurred at the time of the assessment or in the period immediately leading up to the assessment.

Both medical and personal problems can be reported through an Extenuating Circumstance Form, which can be found at:

www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/forms/circsnotes

You must report any extenuating circumstances to your department as soon as you can. We shall consider extenuating circumstances which you report before the final exam period/assessment. The Board of Examiners may take your circumstances into account when considering your results and your final degree classification. Any information you submit will be treated as confidential and will not be used for any other purpose.

If you are registered with the University Health Service (UHS) and the extenuating

circumstances are medical, complete the electronic version of the Extenuating

Circumstances Form located at:

www.sheffield.ac.uk/health

You can also use the ShefUniHealth app in order to obtain medical evidence.

Please note: This does not normally include conditions that are/could be managed by reasonable adjustments through the Disabled and Dyslexic Student Support Team. In all circumstances you should complete the Extenuating Circumstances reporting form and submit it to your Programme Administrator. You will usually need to submit documentary evidence with the form, e.g. a medical certificate.

Please discuss any other difficulties that are affecting your study with your Personal Tutor or the Student Experience Manager. We can signpost you to financial support, study skills, advice and guidance etc.