Exceptional Circumstances

During the course of your degree programme you might be faced with personal, medical or family problems that are outside your control and are negatively affecting your academic performance. Such problems are known as 'exceptional circumstances'.

If you believe that what is happening to you is affecting your ability to study, prepare or participate, then it is your responsibility to let your School know what is happening to you.

In the first instance you should talk to your School Director of Academic Tutoring. You can also contact your Student Support Coordinator:

Student Support Coordinators

You can also speak to the Advisory Service at RUSU (advice@rusu.co.uk) to discuss your situation. Students studying with the Henley Business School can contact your Programme Administrator. Study Abroad students should contact their Study Abroad Co-ordinator.

Submitting an Exceptional Circumstances form with supporting evidence will enable your School to decide what action can be taken if your circumstances have affected your performance or your ability to complete your assessment.

More information exceptional circumstances can be found here:

Exceptional Circumstances

What are considered to be Exceptional Circumstances?

Claims will be considered where your performance or ability to work has been impaired circumstances that are beyond your control; such as accidents, severe illness, death or severe illness of close relative or partner, mental health problems, a physical attack, or other events of comparable effect).

Confidentiality

The information which you provide on this form will be kept in strict confidence and will be restricted to those who are involved in deciding the action to be taken in the light of your circumstances. The decision on your request will be passed to those who need to know, but the detailed circumstances will remain confidential.

If you are uncomfortable with disclosing confidential information about your circumstances, please do discuss the matter with a member of staff (ideally your Academic Tutor) or a RUSU adviser.

Appeal of an Exceptional Circumstances Outcome

You have the right to appeal against a School-level or University Standing Committee on Special Cases decision in respect of an exceptional circumstances request. If you wish to pursue this option, please do the following:

1) Download and complete the EC Appeal Form - Word Version or, if you prefer, here is a PDF version of the form that you can print off to complete by hand and return: EC Appeals Form (PDF Version).

2) Get any official documents or paperwork that you need to support your appeal.

3) Send the form and the documents the Student Appeals and Academic Misconduct Officer (ecfappeals@reading.ac.uk) before the deadline. You were notified of your deadline for appeal in the email which confirmed the outcome of your exceptional circumstances request.