USYD special consideration: deadline and how to apply

Rule checked against The University of Sydney's own pages on 3 November 2026.

Special consideration for illness, injury or misadventure at USYD must be applied for no longer than three working days after the original assessment due date, the exam sitting date, or the date of the missed class or placement. Apply online through the Special considerations form, select your reason, make a short statement with specific dates and the impact on your studies, and upload your supporting documents. If you apply late, you need a reasonable explanation or the application cannot be considered.

Time limit to apply

Special consideration for illness, injury or misadventure must be applied for no longer than three working days after the original assessment due date, the sitting date of the exam, or the date of the missed class or placement.^[1]

Where to apply

Apply online through the Special considerations form.^[1]

Evidence you need

Supporting documents must be uploaded; if all the necessary supporting documents are not provided, the application cannot be approved.^[1]

If you apply late

A late application must include a reasonable explanation, otherwise it cannot be considered.^[1]

Short extensions

A simple extension gives five calendar days from the original assessment due date.^[2]

If you're refused

A decision about special consideration or special arrangements is an academic decision that can be appealed under the academic appeals process.^[3]

Apply by the deadline for your assessment

Special consideration at USYD covers illness, injury or misadventure. For those reasons, apply no longer than three working days after the original assessment due date, the sitting date of the exam, or the date of the missed class or placement. The date that starts the clock depends on what you missed. The official example says that if your assessment was due on Monday, you have until Thursday, 11.59pm Sydney local time to apply.

A simple extension is a different route for a non-exam task. It gives five calendar days from the original assessment due date. Simple extension decisions cannot be appealed. If you cannot complete an exam or need an extension for a longer period, look at special consideration and check its eligibility and document requirements.

What to put in the form

Apply online through the Special considerations form. The form should take 5-10 minutes to complete, and you can save it to complete later. Use this order:

Apply online through the Special considerations form.
Select the reason you are applying from the drop-down menu.
Make a short statement with specific dates and describe the impact of the illness, injury, misadventure or special commitment on your studies.
Upload supporting documents.
Select the impacted units of study you are currently, or were previously, enrolled in, then select the assessment item you want included.

You can request special consideration for more than one unit of study or assessment if the same illness, injury, misadventure or special commitment affected them. Keep a copy of what you submit and read any letter or application record carefully.

Evidence you need to upload

Supporting documents must be uploaded. If all the necessary supporting documents are not provided, the application cannot be approved. For grief or bereavement, if you do not have all the documents yet, you should still submit your form by the deadline. The university will contact you to request your documents before it assesses your application. Check what evidence your own letter or the university's special consideration page asks for. Use true evidence only. Do not alter a document or get a certificate for an illness you did not have.

If you miss the deadline

A late application must include a reasonable explanation, otherwise it cannot be considered. Put that explanation with your application. The official pages we read do not state how long a special consideration decision takes. Confirm that on the university's special consideration page or with the Students' Representative Council (SRC) or Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA), listed under Free help.

If you get a decision you disagree with

A decision about special consideration or special arrangements is an academic decision that can be appealed under the academic appeals process. A simple extension decision cannot be appealed. The academic appeals process does not give you an automatic right to have an assessment reviewed or re-marked, and it is not a process for negotiating higher marks just because you are dissatisfied or disagree with the outcome. Read the decision and the appeal grounds. Talk to the SRC or SUPRA, listed under Free help, if you need help understanding the process.

Common questions

How long do I have to apply for special consideration at USYD?

For illness, injury or misadventure, apply no longer than three working days after the original assessment due date, the exam sitting date, or the date of the missed class or placement. The date that starts the clock depends on what you missed.

Can I apply after the deadline?

A late application must include a reasonable explanation, otherwise it cannot be considered.

What if I do not have all my supporting documents?

Can I appeal a special consideration decision?

A decision about special consideration or special arrangements is an academic decision that can be appealed under the academic appeals process. A simple extension decision cannot be appealed.

Sources

General information, not legal or migration advice. This page can't assess your case and doesn't promise any outcome. If the university's current page or your own letter says something different, that applies. If you hold a student visa and the outcome could change your enrolment, a registered migration agent or an immigration lawyer can look at your own situation.