Special consideration is the Australian process for assessment affected by circumstances beyond your control, and most universities require an application within three to five working days of the due date with supporting documentation. Approved outcomes range from an extension to a deferred assessment or an adjusted mark.
What It Covers
Special consideration applies where something outside your control affected your ability to complete or perform in an assessment. Australian universities usually group grounds as:
- Medical — illness, injury, hospitalisation, a mental health episode
- Compassionate — bereavement, family crisis, caring responsibilities
- Hardship or trauma — accident, crime, natural disaster, sudden housing loss
- Obligations — jury duty, military service, elite sporting or cultural representation
Not covered: workload, clashing deadlines, employment you knew about, travel booked in advance, or technology failure without evidence.
Apply before or on the due date wherever possible. Most Australian institutions accept applications up to three to five working days after, but an application lodged before the deadline is assessed more favourably and often resolved faster.
Evidence Australian Universities Accept
- A Professional Authority Form or medical certificate completed by a registered practitioner — many universities require their own form rather than a generic certificate
- A statutory declaration for circumstances without documentary evidence
- A death or funeral notice for bereavement
- A police report or insurance claim
- Official correspondence for jury duty or service obligations
Retrospective certificates stating only that you reported feeling unwell later carry little weight. See a practitioner at the time.
Possible Outcomes
- Extension — most common for assignments, usually short
- Deferred assessment — a supplementary exam at a later sitting
- Alternative assessment where the original cannot be repeated
- Adjusted mark or a re-weighting of the unit's assessment
- Withdrawal without academic penalty for circumstances affecting a whole teaching period
You are not usually granted a higher mark on the work you submitted. The remedy is another opportunity, not compensation.
Writing the Application
Keep it factual and dated. State what happened, when, which assessment it affected, and how. Assessors are matching your account to the criteria, so name the connection explicitly: "The migraine on 14 May prevented me from attending the 2pm examination" rather than "I have been unwell this semester."
Ongoing Conditions
If you have a chronic health condition or disability, repeated special consideration applications are the wrong instrument. Register with your university's Accessibility or Disability Services for an Access Plan, which puts standing adjustments in place — extra time, alternative formats, flexible deadlines — without applying each time.
If It Is Refused
Ask for the reason in writing. Refusals usually turn on evidence or on the ground falling outside the policy, and both are sometimes fixable with a resubmission. Your student association provides free advocacy and handles these regularly.
Frequently asked questions
What is special consideration at an Australian university?
The formal process for assessment affected by circumstances beyond your control — medical, compassionate, hardship or official obligations. Outcomes include an extension, a deferred or alternative assessment, or a re-weighting of the unit’s assessment.
How long do I have to apply for special consideration?
Most Australian universities require an application within three to five working days of the assessment due date, though the exact window is set by each institution. Applying before the due date where possible is assessed more favourably and usually resolved faster.
What evidence do I need?
Usually a Professional Authority Form or medical certificate from a registered practitioner, and many universities require their own form rather than a generic certificate. Statutory declarations, death notices, police reports and official correspondence are accepted for non-medical grounds.
Can I use special consideration for a chronic condition?
It is the wrong instrument for an ongoing condition. Register with your university’s Accessibility or Disability Services for an Access Plan, which puts standing adjustments in place without requiring a fresh application for each assessment.
Want This Checked Before You Submit?
Our tutors review your draft against your own rubric and explain what to change and why — used by 45,000+ students across the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.