Special Consideration

Official University Policies on Special Consideration can be found at :

• Assessment and Examination of Coursework
• Assessment and Examination: Special Arrangements

The University's assessment practices are designed to ensure that conditions are fair to all students, as consistent as possible and that individual students are not disadvantaged by adverse personal circumstances beyond their control or by the activities of other students.

Generally, serious illness or misadventure will be taken into account when considering a student's academic performance in a course or Units of Study. There is, however, a clear distinction between longstanding illness or difficulties which prevent students from attending classes or completing required work or which seriously interfere with their capacity to study for long periods, and short-term serious illness or misadventure that may prevent a well-prepared student from sitting for an examination or completing a particular assignment.

Students should read the University policy carefully, but note especially that consideration is not given "illnesses and misadventures that have prevented students from acquiring a Pass level of knowledge/skills (including all illnesses/misadventures resulting in the student missing six weeks or more of lectures or tutorials)".

The information you supply on this application is needed by the University so that it can assess your application for Special Consideration. This document, and any associated records, will be retained by the Faculty of Engineering, where the records will only be available to staff who need access in order to carry out their duties. All records will be destroyed in a secure manner one year after the completion of the Unit of Study for which consideration was sought. Any request to access and/or correct the information should be addressed to the Undergraduate Administration Officer at the Faculty of Engineering.

1. Obtain a Special Consideration Application Form.
   Download PDF Special Consideration Application Form.
2. Complete the Special Consideration form and other relevant
   documentation - For consideration due to serious illness, the student must have a registered medical practitioner or counsellor complete the Professional Practitioners Certificate. - For consideration due to misadventure, the student must attach the appropriate documentation (police reports, counselling service statements etc) Special Consideration - Professional Practitioners Certificate
3. Lodge the original paperwork at the Undergraduate Office of the Faculty of Engineering, Link building, J13, within 7 days of the date(s) for which special consideration is being sought.
4. The original paperwork will be stamped by the Faculty staff and a copy given back to the student as a proof of receipt.
5. As soon as practical ( within about 1 working day) students must supply copies of the stamped paperwork to the department personnel in charge of the unit of study for which special consideration is sought. The Faculty office will direct you to the relevant staff member(s) when the paperwork is stamped.
6. Students will be notified of the academic decision concerning their application for Special Consideration by email (to their MyUni account) normally within 14 working days of the application being received at the department.
7. Particularly for Special Consderation applications regarding end of semester exams students should check their USyd emails regularly concerning the nature of any "extra work" that might be required as a result of the misadventure.

• Applications must be received within seven (7) days from the end of the period for which consideration is sought (ie from the assignment due date or date of examination).
• The Faculty of Engineering will only process applications related to Engineering UOS (AERO, AMME, CHNG, CIVL, ELEC, ENGG, MECH, PMGT). If you are seeking consideration for UoS given outside the faculty then you must apply to the relevant faculty.
• MATH, PHYS, CHEM, BIOL, etc: Apply to Faculty of Science.
• ACCT, ECON, FINC, etc: Apply to Faculty of Economics & Business.
• FRNC, HIST, GRMN, JPNS, etc: Apply to the Faculty of Arts.
• Please consult the relevant Faculty for information on Faculty specific procedures for the application.