Manchester mitigating circumstances: what to do and deadlines
Rule checked against The University of Manchester's own pages on .
The pages we read do not state the current time limit for mitigating circumstances at Manchester. They give time limits only for the procedure effective from September 2026: for coursework, seven calendar days after the submission deadline; for exams, your School's published end-of-semester deadline, generally set seven calendar days after the end of the assessment period. Check your School's page or your letter for the deadline that applies to you, then submit your request to your programme-owning School with appropriate supporting evidence.
- What this university calls it
- The University calls it mitigating circumstances, covered by its Policy on Mitigating Circumstances and Coursework Extensions.[1]
- Time limit to apply
- Under the procedure effective from September 2026: for coursework, seven calendar days after the submission deadline. For exams, the School's published end-of-semester deadline, which is generally set seven calendar days after the end of the assessment period. Later applications need a strong and acceptable reason.[2]
- Where to apply
- Submit your request to your programme-owning School.[2]
- Evidence you need
- Requests should be accompanied by appropriate supporting documents or evidence.[2]
- What you may get
- For formal exams that were failed or missed, mitigation can allow a second attempt (referral) in the next reassessment period.[2]
What to do first
Manchester calls this mitigating circumstances. The policy is the Policy on Mitigating Circumstances and Coursework Extensions. Submit your request to your programme-owning School. That is the School that owns your programme, even if the unit is managed by another School. If you are an incoming Study Abroad or Exchange student, the Placements and International Programmes Team (PIP) has a specific policy. Contact PIP for how to submit.
The pages we read do not state the current time limit. They give time limits only under the procedure effective from September 2026. Under that procedure, for coursework you have seven calendar days after the submission deadline. For exams, the deadline is your School's published end-of-semester deadline, which is generally set seven calendar days after the end of the assessment period. Later applications need a strong and acceptable reason. Check your School's page or your letter for the deadline that applies to you, and ask your School if the deadline is not clear. Do not treat the September 2026 limits as your deadline unless your School confirms they apply to you.
What to send with your request
Requests should be accompanied by appropriate supporting documents or evidence. Send true evidence only. Keep copies of what you submit and any reply. If you are registered with DASS, you are not required to provide further medical evidence to support your application unless the circumstances are entirely unrelated. Disabled students who choose not to register with DASS should not be asked to provide evidence more than once. The policy also recognises that not all students, particularly disabled students, may be able to provide formal documentation. Independent evidence is preferred. If you do not have formal evidence, ask your School what it will accept. Do not create or alter documents.
How the School decides
Your programme-owning School considers and decides your request. Other Schools may be consulted for input. The policy sets outcomes for formal exams and coursework. For formal exams that were failed or missed, mitigation can allow a second attempt (referral) in the next reassessment period. For coursework, the policy includes a first attempt (deferral) in the next possible reassessment period where the coursework was failed or the deadline was missed, or where the student passed but there is evidence of underperformance. Read the decision letter for what the School has decided for you. No outcome is promised.
Under the procedure effective from September 2026, later applications need a strong and acceptable reason why the circumstances were not, or could not, have been notified before the deadline. The pages we read do not state the current time limit, so check your School's page or your letter and ask your School if the deadline is not clear.
If the outcome is wrong
Read the decision letter carefully. Check what it says about the reason for the decision and any next step. If you do not understand it, ask your School to explain the decision. Keep a copy of your request, your evidence and the decision. Talk to The Advice Service, listed under Free help, by name. Ask what review or appeal route may apply to your situation and what time limit applies. The pages we read do not state the time limit for an appeal.
Free help at Manchester
- The Advice Service Free.
Common questions
Where do I submit a mitigating circumstances request at Manchester?
Submit it to your programme-owning School. That applies even if the unit is managed by another School. Incoming Study Abroad or Exchange students should contact the Placements and International Programmes Team (PIP), which has a specific policy.
What is the deadline for mitigating circumstances at Manchester?
The pages we read do not state the current deadline. They give limits only under the procedure effective from September 2026: coursework seven calendar days after the submission deadline, and exams your School's published end-of-semester deadline, generally set seven calendar days after the end of the assessment period. Check your School's page or your letter and confirm with your School.
What evidence do I need?
Requests should be accompanied by appropriate supporting documents or evidence. If you are registered with DASS, you are not required to provide further medical evidence unless the circumstances are entirely unrelated. Send true evidence only and keep copies.
Can mitigation give me another exam attempt?
For formal exams that were failed or missed, mitigation can allow a second attempt (referral) in the next reassessment period. The policy also sets outcomes for coursework. Read the decision letter for what applies to you.
Sources
- Policy on Mitigating Circumstances and Coursework Extensions, The University of Manchester. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Mitigating Circumstances Procedure, The University of Manchester. Checked 3 November 2026.