What is the extenuating circumstances process?
Please refer to Guidance for Students on Extenuating Circumstances for more details on how to complete the process.
During your period of study any number of circumstances may affect your ability to perform well in assessments (this includes essays, class tests and final examinations).
"Extenuating circumstances" (formerly known as "mitigations") is the process of informing your School of circumstances that have affected you throughout the year. Depending upon the nature and severity of these circumstances your School may wish to take them into account when the Board of Examiners meet to decide what your progress decision should be.
To ensure that details of your extenuating circumstances are handled with the utmost sensitivity, privacy and confidentiality, discussions about the validity of requests for extenuating circumstances will take place at Extenuating Circumstances Panels, rather than the full Examination Board. The Examination Board will not discuss details of the extenuating circumstances you present.
Please ensure that you are aware of the cohort legislation that will apply to you. This means the Legislation that applies to you throughout your Programme of study, this is dependent upon your entry cohort, i.e. the year in which you started your studies.
Presenting an extenuating circumstance
You should use the forms and guidance below to ensure that you correctly submit your request for an extenuating circumstance to be taken into account.
Forms and guidance
Extenuating circumstances
College online forms for Extenuating Circumstances
College of Arts and Law https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/43491
College of Social Sciences https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/43442
College of Life and Environmental Sciences https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/44367
College of Medical and Dental Sciences https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/36707
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Chemical Engineering - https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/47880
Chemistry - https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/47819/pages/wellbeing-and-support
Computer Science - https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/47814
Engineering - https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/47894
Mathematics - https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/47910
Metallurgy and Materials - https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/47893
Physics and Astronomy - https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/4791
Medical certificates
Mental Health and Wellbeing Service users
If you have registered with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, you can discuss with your counsellor/wellbeing advisor the issues which have affected your academic work. If appropriate, they may provide written support for your extenuating circumstances. However, they are unable to provide this written evidence unless they have worked with you for a minimum of two sessions following your initial assessment.
Further help
Nightline is a student listening and information service operating every night during term from 18.00 to 08.00. The service is run by trained student volunteers and is completely anonymous. Please note that Nightline runs on a non-advisory basis.
Staff information
Additional information for staff is available here: