Self-Certification Policy: The Essential Guide

As revealed back in June, the College have introduced a self-certification extensions policy which will streamline the process for students to extend their assignment deadlines.

That policy has now been confirmed and can be viewed on the College Intranet, along with a guide to extensions and extenuating circumstances.

What’s The Story?

This policy was driven by VP Welfare & Diversity, Willow Wong, who worked with the College’s Vice-Principal (Student Experience) Bob O’Keefe, in a bid to free up Health Centre appointments. As highlighted in Willow’s blog post back in June, almost one-third of appointments were being taken up by requests for medical notes, rather than for medical diagnosis or consultation.

Policy was passed at academic board, and students who cannot meet their assessment deadline due to short-term unforeseeable or unpreventable circumstances, can now apply for an extension to their original deadline.

Types Of Extension

There are two different extension types you can apply for:

A five day self-certified extension for circumstances of a very short-term nature, where it may not be possible to obtain evidence (e.g. illness lasting less than five working days). You can apply for this extension twice per academic year, and will be asked to meet with your department should you apply for more than two extensions, so that any wellbeing issues or support that may be required can be discussed.

A ten day evidence-based extension, which must be supported by appropriate evidence. There is no cap on the number of extensions that you can request, but again you will be asked to meet with your department as above, should you apply for more than two in an academic year.

Examples of circumstance where you may be able to self-certify, and a guide to what will and won’t be accepted as appropriate evidence, are outlined in Appendix B: Extensions and Extenuating Circumstances.

Other Key Info

• You can request for an extension until the original assessment deadline, however the College is unable to guarantee that an application made less than two working days before the deadline will be processed in time for the deadline.

• You should continue to work to your original assessment deadline until you hear about the outcome of your application.

• If you have been granted an extension but are unable to submit the assessment by the extended deadline, you can still apply for Extenuating Circumstances.

• Evidence submitted must be in English. Documents in another language needs to be professionally translated.

• If you have more than one deadline in the same week affected by the same circumstance, your department will normally consider all the deadlines as one instance of self-certification.

• If you are unable to submit an application for extension before the deadline, and are unable to submit the assessment by the deadline, you can still apply for Extenuating Circumstances.

• For UG and PGT student, the application process for extensions can be completed online through Campus Connect. PELP students have to contact CEDAS, while PGR students have to contact the Director of Graduate Studies for advice.

• The SU Advice Centre will offer impartial and confidential advice and support to student on a range of academic issues, including extensions and extenuating circumstances.