Problems with your course

When you need help

Extension to deadline

• Where to get help

  Your school office will be able to advise you on the extension to deadline process and give you information about how and when decisions are made. In either case, it is better to seek help early so that you can get the support you need. 

  If you are experiencing difficulties and would like to discuss this further, we encourage you to reach out to one of our support services, such as your Personal Academic Tutor, Student Support and Guidance Tutor, the Brighton Students' Union, or your course/ Module Leader.

  We have also prepared some frequently asked questions (pdf) that you may find useful.

  If you have a Learning Support Plan you should seek advice from the Disability and Learning Support Team.

• What is an extension?

  If your difficulties are short-term and occur close to a coursework submission deadline, you may apply for an extension to deadline.

  An extension to deadline grants you extra time to complete your assignment without any negative impact on your marks.

  Without an extension, a late submission of work (i.e. handing in the work within two weeks after the submission deadline, or the last working day immediately prior to the feedback date where this is shorter than two weeks) carries an automatic penalty, and the mark for the work will be capped at the module pass mark of 40% for undergraduate or 50% for postgraduate, so it is imperative that you apply for an extension in advance of the submission deadline.

• Different types of extension

  Self-Certification for Extension

  • You can Self-certify for an extension for one assessment per semester.
  • Your need to request to Self-certify at least 48 hours before the assessment or submission deadline.
  • To Self-certify you will not need to give a reason for your request or provide any supporting documentation.
  • You cannot Self-certify for extensions for group-work.
  • Self-certification is not permitted for single-module (CPD) students.

  Standard Extension Request

  • The standard extension period will be a standard is 7 calendar days.
  • You need to request an extension at least 48 hours before the assessment or submission deadline.
  • Please review the grounds for requesting an extension – e.g. this now includes unforeseen and unavoidable caring responsibilities for a dependent.
  • Please ensure you provide supporting documentation – the list of accepted documentation now includes evidence of engagement with internal (university) wellbeing services and a supporting statement from your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT).

  Further information can be found in the regulations section of the Student Contract – see GEAR section B4: Extension to deadline.

• How to apply

  You must apply for an extension in advance of the deadline.

  To request consideration for an extension, you must submit an application form through your School Administration Office.

  You should complete the form and submit it along with supporting documentation (for a full request) at least 48 hours before the published submission deadline.

  The extension request will be considered by the designated signatory – normally your Course Leader or equivalent (e.g., Deputy Course Leader or Year Tutor).

  Please do not send your Extension form to the Additional Consideration Office – they do not process extensions and this may delay your request.

Additional Consideration

If you experience exceptional circumstances which impact on your assessment, you can submit a request for Additional Consideration.

• Where to get help

  • Brighton Students’ Union advice videos
  • Brighton Students Union Get Advice (to book an appointment)
  • Contact your SSGT for advice
  • Additional Consideration reminder: Facing serious unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances? (pdf)
• Self-Certification for absence

  You can Self-Certify for Additional Consideration once per semester, if you have been absent from one or more time-bound assessments (e.g., an exam, viva, presentation or OSCE) as a result of circumstances lasting for up to seven calendar days.

  • You cannot Self-Certify for coursework or attendance.
  • You must Self-certify within 7 calendar days after the last affected assessment date.
  • You do not have to provide evidence to Self-Certify.
  • All eligible assessments in the 7-day period can be included on the request.

  Please use the Online Form to request Self-Certification.

• Full Request for Additional Consideration

  You can make a Full Request for Additional Consideration for non-submission, late submission, absence, or unrepresentative performance in any summative assessments.

  This includes requests that are not eligible for Self-Certification.

• Deadlines to apply

  Undergraduate/postgraduate students (except below)

  You must submit a Full Request for Additional Consideration within 14 calendar days of the last affected assessment/submission deadline.

  BSMS undergraduate medical students (BM BS course)

  You must submit a Full Request for additional consideration within 7 calendar days of the last affected assessment/submission deadline.

  Late request

  If you are submitting a late request after the Additional Consideration deadline you must include a valid rationale for lateness on the form.

• How to apply

  • Please read the full guidance.
  • Download the ARGEAR form (do not complete it on your phone).
  • Please make sure to complete all sections of the form correctly.
  • Please tell us if you have a Learning Support Plan (LSP) and will require reasonable adjustments or help with the application process.
  • Email the completed form and supporting documentation as attachments to: additionalconsideration@brighton.ac.uk. 
• How your request is processed

  •  Requests for Additional Consideration are reviewed by an Initial Assessor or, for complex cases, by the Additional Consideration Sub-Committee. Relevant cases are allocated to the next available Sub-committee. The next scheduled meetings of the Sub-Committee are: 29 January 2025, 11 February 2025, 27 February 2025, 4 March 2025, 21 March 2025 and 9 April 2025.
  • If your request is upheld, this decision will be reported to the relevant Course Examination Board who will determine how the Additional Consideration can be taken into account.
  • If your request is not upheld, you will be sent further information by email about how to submit an Outcome Review (form).

When things go wrong or you want to change how you study

Repeating a period of study

If you have failed all or part of the academic year, you may not have to leave the university. Instead, you may be able to repeat a period of study.

Repeat study opportunities are offered at the discretion of the examination board. You will need to discuss your individual situation with your personal tutor or course leader.

Bear in mind that repeat study funding, including bursaries, is a complex issue, and we recommend that you see a student adviser to ensure that you will be able to successfully fund your repeated year.

Placement issues

If you experience issues while you are on a placement, contact your placement officer. You can also contact your personal tutor, course leader or Student Support and Guidance Tutor (SSGT) if your school has one.

If you find yourself without the contact details you need, call the main switchboard on 01273 600900 and ask to be put through to a member of staff from your area.

Fitness to Practise

Students studying for awards which lead to registration with a professional body e.g. nursing (Nursing and Midwifery Council), pharmacy (General Pharmaceutical Council), social work (Social Work England) and teaching (Teacher Regulation Agency) are expected to be aware of, and work towards, relevant professional standards and should notify the university of anything likely to affect their fitness to practise (i.e. any concerns that a student may have breached professional standards or may have an ongoing significant health problem that might prevent admission to the relevant profession). 

The Fitness to Practise procedure is available The University of Brighton Student Contract.

Poor academic practice and academic misconduct

If you have received a letter accusing you of poor academic practice or academic misconduct, it can be confusing and upsetting. Academic misconduct is taken seriously by the university and can lead to disciplinary action.

The letter you receive will indicate whether yours is considered to be a case of 'poor academic practice' or 'academic misconduct' and will give you a date for an academic practice review meeting with the Head of School or nominee or an Investigating Panel for cases of academic misconduct.

We advise you to contact the Students' Union support service for advice and support with the process as soon as possible. The Students' Union is there to make sure you are treated fairly throughout the process and to advise you on your options.

When you want to submit an appeal or complaint

Errors or queries about your marks, or the assessment process, before an Examination Board meets

At any point during the academic year and up to the time that an Examination Board meets, you are encouraged to speak to your Course Leader, School Quality Lead or school office to discuss your concerns regarding a provisional mark (ie a mark that has not been approved and confirmed by an Examination Board) including where you feel that this has been incorrectly recorded.

Where such a concern arises, the Course Leader or School Quality Lead will undertake such actions as to check the provisional assessment outcome and notify the student of their findings. Students should note that marking errors (eg ‘slips’ such as transposition or arithmetic errors) may be rectified prior to an Examination Board if an error is acknowledged by the academic school.

Results review

If you have any queries relating to your results, once your marks have been ratified (i.e. confirmed by the Course Examination Board), you have up to 14 calendar days from receipt of your results to contact your school office and request a Results review.

You should state clearly why you have a concern and what you expect the outcome to be. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Results review, you will have a further 21 calendar days to submit a formal Stage 1 Appeal.

Academic appeals

An academic appeal is a formal request to the university to ask an Examination Board to look again at its decision about your progression or award. This might concern your degree classification or your ‘progression’, which means a decision about whether you continue to the next stage of your degree, are asked to repeat a module, or are asked to leave the university.

Read our regulations on Academic Appeals in Section H of GEAR.

If you are considering making an academic appeal,the Brighton Students’ Union can offer advice and guidance. You can book an on-line appointment for a confidential conversation about your options by completing a Case Form on their website. Contacting Brighton Students' Union does not commit you to any particular course of action.

Appeal documents

• Academic appeals (GEAR section H)
• Stage 1 Academic Appeal Form (.docx)
• Stage 2 Academic Appeal Form (.docx)
• Stage 1 formal appeal guidance (pdf)
• Stage 2 appeal outcome review guidance (pdf)

• How do I appeal?

  You must use the Stage 1 Form and accompanying guidance provided for this purpose, which you can download here or obtain from the BSU. You must appeal within 21 calendar days from receipt of your Course Examination Board results, or within 21 calendar days of the conclusion of your school’s Results Review. You need to follow the guidance instructions carefully and you must attach evidence in support of your appeal, including an attached copy of your results notification email. If you are still awaiting evidence and cannot provide this within the deadline of 21 calendar days, you should submit your appeal form together with a rationale explaining why you have not been able to submit on time and a note explaining what further evidence is awaited and when it will be received. You have a maximum of 14 calendar days to submit this evidence.

• What if I am not satisfied with the outcome of the Stage 1 Formal Academic Appeal?

  If you believe that the outcome is incorrect, you should read the Academic Appeals Regulations Section H of GEAR carefully and seek advice from the BSU to see whether to request a Stage 2 Appeal Outcome Review. To do this, you will need to complete the Stage 2 Academic Appeal Form, referring to the accompanying guidance and submit to academicappeals@brighton.ac.uk within 14 days of your stage 1 Academic Appeal outcome.

• Academic Appeal Panel meeting dates

  Academic Appeals Panels are scheduled to take place in the autumn term.

  Academic Appeals Panels (where Examination Boards fall in February, June or during the referral period), will be established and dates will be published on the university’s website. Where Examination Boards meet outside these times, Academic Appeals Panels will be convened as required. (GEAR section H10.2)

• What if I am not satisfied with the outcome of the Stage 2 Appeal Outcome Review?

  If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Stage 2 Review of Appeal Decision, you have the right to submit a complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (‘OIA’), the time limit for so doing, and further advice and support may be obtained from the Brighton Students’ Union.

• Problems that should be raised as a Complaint and not an Academic Appeal

  If you have a problem with the service delivery of the university, whether this relates to quality of teaching and course materials, supervision or if you think you are a victim of bias or prejudice, you should raise the issue via the Complaints Resolution Procedure, which will enable a proper investigation to be carried out. You should raise this in the first instance with one of your school Complaints Officers, but if the matter cannot be resolved to your satisfaction within 7–14 days, you should bring a formal Stage 1 Complaint.

  See the section below: How to make a complaint.

• Contact details

  Students’ Union website

  Please note that both Stage 1 Formal Appeal and Stage 2 Appeal Outcome Review forms should be submitted directly to academicappeals@brighton.ac.uk.

How to make a complaint

• What is a complaint?

  While the university aims to provide the best possible educational experience for you, sometimes you may feel the service you have received was unsatisfactory. We have produced a How to Complain guide to help you.

• Where can I obtain advice and support?

  If you are considering making a complaint, advisers from Brighton Students’ Union can provide you with advice and support relevant to your individual circumstances, including helping you complete a Stage 2 Formal Complaint Form and accompanying you at meetings. You are encouraged to contact a Students’ Union Adviser before submitting your complaint.

  You can book an on-line appointment for a confidential conversation about your options by completing a Case Form on their website. Contacting Brighton Students' Union does not commit you to any particular course of action

• What can I complain about?

  • Failure by the university to provide a satisfactory service.
  • The quality of facilities or learning resources.
  • Misleading or incorrect information in prospectuses or promotional material and other information provided by the university.
  • Concerns about the delivery of a programme, teaching or administration including, where applicable, that provided by a partner college.
  • Poor quality of facilities, learning resources or services provided directly by the university.
  • Complaints involving other organisations or contractors providing a service on behalf of the university.

Complaint documents

• Complaints resolution procedure (pdf)
• Complaints guide for students (ppt)
• Stage 2 Complaint Form (.docx)
• Stage 3 Complaint Form (.docx)