What is special consideration and how do I apply?
Updated
Special consideration is a university process for unexpected circumstances outside your control that significantly affect an assessment. The exact grounds, evidence and deadline vary by university; in the cited policies, deadlines range from the due date itself to five working days after, and some use 24- or 48-hour windows. Check your own university's current rule and apply through its process.
Special consideration is an application for an adjustment to assessment when unexpected circumstances outside your control significantly affect your work. The exact test, evidence, deadline and possible outcome vary by university. In the policies cited here, deadlines range from the due date itself to five working days after, and UTS uses a 48-hour rule for one exam type while UQ uses 24 hours for an extension request. Check your own university's current rule before you rely on a figure.
What special consideration covers
Policies use different definitions. RMIT says special consideration is available for unexpected circumstances outside students' control, including unexpected short-term ill health and unavoidable family, work, cultural or religious commitments. Macquarie says academic work must be hampered to a substantial degree by illness or another cause, and the circumstances must be serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive and beyond your control. Griffith refers to compassionate circumstances among other grounds. These examples do not create one common test.
The label matters. Deakin distinguishes special consideration from extension requests. UQ's deadline in this guide is for an assessment extension request, not a special consideration application. If your assessment is affected, check which process your university uses for that assessment type.
Deadlines vary by university
The table uses the rules in the cited policies. It is not a universal deadline table, and a rule for one university or assessment type does not transfer to another.
| University | Deadline in the cited policy | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Monash University | No later than 11.55pm in the time zone of the unit location on the due date of the affected assessment task | If supporting documentation cannot be submitted by the deadline for reasons beyond your control, Monash says it can be provided up to three calendar days after the deadline with the reasons for the delay explained. |
| The University of Melbourne | No later than four business days after the assignment due date or missed class | Late applications are only accepted in stated circumstances. |
| University of Technology Sydney | Depends on assessment type; for a centrally-conducted exam you attended, within 48 hours after the exam, excluding weekends | UTS says the deadline varies by assessment or exam type. |
| RMIT University | Normally within five working days after the assessment date, or in advance where possible | RMIT says late applications are considered only with compelling or compassionate reasons and evidence. |
| Griffith University | No later than three calendar days after the due date of the assessment item or the date of the exam | Griffith lists several possible outcomes, including a declined application. |
| The University of Queensland | For an assessment extension request, within 24 hours of the assessment due date and time to be on time | UQ says a request received after 24 hours is late and is considered only in exceptional and unavoidable circumstances, with additional information. |
| UNSW Sydney | No later than 3 working days after the assessment due date | UNSW says not all applications are approved. |
| The University of Sydney | 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 | This deadline applies to special consideration for illness, injury or misadventure. |
| Macquarie University | Before, or no later than five working days after, the assessment task due date, examination or test date | Macquarie says applications must include supporting documentary evidence. |
| Deakin University | Within 3 University working days after the due date | Deakin says to attach relevant documentary evidence. |
Across these named policies, the range runs from the due date itself to five working days after, with shorter windows of 24 or 48 hours for particular processes. A deadline counted in working days is not the same as one counted in calendar days, and a rule tied to an exam is not automatically a rule for an assignment.
What to prepare
Check your university's current instructions before you apply. An application usually needs to cover: the assessment affected and its due date; what happened and when; why it was outside your control; how it affected your preparation or performance; the evidence that supports your account; and, if you are late, the reason for the delay. This is a list of matters to address, not a statement to copy.
Monash says supporting documentation can be provided up to three calendar days after the deadline if it was not possible to submit it on time for reasons beyond your control, and the reasons for the delay must be provided. Macquarie says applications must include supporting documentary evidence. Deakin says to attach relevant documentary evidence. Do not alter dates, documents or evidence. Submit only information that is true and accurate.
What outcomes are possible
Approval is not automatic. UNSW says outcomes vary depending on the assessment type and your circumstances, and not all applications are approved. Griffith lists possible outcomes: the application is approved and a final grade is recommended based on performance across the course; approved with an opportunity to provide another assessment task; approved with marks adjusted, which may not always change the grade; or declined. These are Griffith's listed outcomes, not a prediction for any other university.
Check your own university's rule
The facts here do not cover every Australian university, and they do not replace your university's current policy. Use the named examples to see the kinds of differences to look for: definition, grounds, deadline, evidence and possible outcome. UK universities set their own processes under their own terminology, so the Australian deadlines above do not transfer. If your university is not listed, check its current assessment policy for the definition, deadline, evidence requirements and outcome rules.
Common questions
Will special consideration automatically change my mark?
No. UNSW says not all applications are approved, and Griffith lists possible outcomes including a declined application. Outcomes vary by assessment type and circumstances.
What evidence do I need?
It varies. Macquarie says applications must include supporting documentary evidence; Deakin says to attach relevant documentary evidence; Monash allows supporting documentation up to three calendar days after the deadline in limited circumstances if the reasons are beyond your control and explained. Check your own university's current instructions.
Can I apply after the deadline?
Sometimes, but the rules differ. Melbourne says late applications are only accepted in stated circumstances; RMIT says late applications are considered only with compelling or compassionate reasons and evidence; UQ says a request received after 24 hours is late and is considered only in exceptional and unavoidable circumstances. Do not assume a late application will be accepted.
Is special consideration the same as an extension?
Not always. Deakin distinguishes special consideration from extension requests; UQ's cited deadline is for an assessment extension request. Check the label your university uses for the assessment and the outcome you need.
Sources
- Monash University, checked 3 November 2026.
- The University of Melbourne, checked 3 November 2026.
- University of Technology Sydney, checked 3 November 2026.
- RMIT University, checked 3 November 2026.
- Griffith University, checked 3 November 2026.
- The University of Queensland, checked 3 November 2026.
- UNSW Sydney, checked 3 November 2026.
- The University of Sydney, checked 3 November 2026.
- Macquarie University, checked 3 November 2026.
- Deakin University, checked 3 November 2026.
General information, not legal or migration advice. Rules differ between universities and change; your university's current page and your own letter apply. 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.