Apply for a reasonable adjustment

The University is taking an inclusive approach to assessments, moving to 24-hour online assessments for most modules, negating the need to apply extra time in most cases. You will not receive adjustments such as extra time or rest breaks for these assessments.

Timed online assessments (eg three hours from beginning the assessment) are normally only used for very specific professional body requirements. Reasonable adjustments would apply in this situation, unless learning outcomes would be compromised. 

To apply for reasonable adjustments, please email your medical evidence to disability@uwe.ac.uk as soon as possible and we will get in touch with you about reasonable adjustments. There is no deadline for this but please do this as soon as possible to give us the best chance of being able to get things in place for you. 

Once you are aware of the assessment method being used, if you have concerns about being able to access the assessment please liaise with the academic team to explore whether there is an appropriate alternative assessment. Where you are unable to find a solution, you and your teaching team can contact the Disability Service via disability.advisers@uwe.ac.uk or make a Disability Advice appointment via an Information Point to explore this further.

Overview

The types of adjustments for exams and controlled assessments include:

• extra time
• rest breaks
• use of a computer
• a separate or smaller room
• a reader and/or scribe
• exam papers or answer booklets in a different format
• ergonomic furniture.

Exceptional adjustments to assessments might include:

• alternative assessment
• presenting to a smaller audience.

Read the reasonable adjustments policy (PDF) and exams reasonable adjustment factsheet (PDF) for further information.

Emergency support

If you need emergency additional support arrangements because you've been injured or have a serious infectious illness, the University will make every effort to put adjustments in. The online form will give you options on how to submit your evidence for your application. You need to email disability@uwe.ac.uk with your medical evidence as soon as possible and we will get in touch with you.

Ad-hoc exams

If you have any exams taking place outside of the above assessment periods, the deadline to apply for alternative exam arrangements is three weeks before the exam date.

How long reasonable adjustments will be in place for

Your adjustments will be in place for the duration of your course unless we tell you otherwise. If there's any discrepancies please contact an Information Point and you can check MyUWE at any time.

You may be eligible for a reasonable adjustment if you meet the below criteria and you need ten working days beyond the original deadline to complete the work.

Please note: if you are applying for COVID-19 related reasons and you are not disabled, a primary carer or come under pregnancy and maternity, you will not be eligible for this process. Please apply for the five working day extension to coursework instead. 

Please note this will not give you extra time for exams. For exams, see above.

You will not be able to apply for a reasonable adjustment to deadline if you have already applied for a five working day extension for the same piece of work. 

Disabled students

For disabled students:

• Where other illnesses or events impact you disproportionately, because of your disability.
• Where your disability is fluctuating or episodic (eg mental health condition, health condition such as ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, other fluctuating medical conditions, Autism spectrum conditions. This list is not exhaustive.)
• Where your disability, mental health condition, medical condition or specific learning difficulty - such as dyslexia - has been diagnosed within the last six months.

Other students

For other students:

• Where you are a primary carer of a disabled person.
• Where you are pregnant or a parent with a baby under six months old.

In order to process your request for a reasonable adjustment to deadline we will need to see some medical/supporting evidence which provides us with information about your current needs and situation. The online form will give you options on how to submit your evidence for your application.

Medical evidence

We would usually ask for medical evidence to be a letter or report from a GP or other medical professional that you have seen recently. The medical evidence should include the following information:

• your name and personal information (eg date of birth, address etc)
• a date to show when it was written
• confirmation of a diagnosis or information about your current situation.

If you are pregnant then please provide a copy of your MATB1 form or a copy of medical correspondence which confirms your expected delivery date.

We do not normally accept photocopies of prescriptions, letters from the UWE Bristol Wellbeing Service or photos of your injury.

Evidence of your caring responsibilities

We ask that you provide us with evidence of your caring responsibilities. This may include:

• A letter from the Department for Work and Pensions confirming that the student is in receipt of carers allowance.
• A letter from a medical/social care professional working with the person being cared for (eg mental health practitioner, social worker, consultant, GP). The letter needs to outline:
  • disabled adult/child’s diagnosis/needs.
  • type of caring support provided (emotional support, personal care, shopping etc).

if you require further advice regarding the best type of evidence to supply then please contact Information Point by calling +44 (0)117 32 85678.

Applications for reasonable adjustments to deadlines must be made at least two full working days before your assignment submission date, and not any earlier than ten working days prior to the deadline. If you are applying outside these time frames you must explain in your application why you have needed to do so. The following form will give the options of both five and ten working day extensions based on your circumstances. Once you have chosen your extension time frame this cannot be extended again.

Complete the form

Postgraduate researchers

If you are a postgraduate researcher (PhD, DPhil, MPhil) and you are looking for a reasonable adjustment to a deadline for one of your taught modules, please go ahead and submit the form. If you are looking to discuss a reasonable adjustment to a progress review or final assessment, please contact the Graduate School.

We will notify you by email and we will be in touch with you if we have questions about your application.

We will notify you by email. Where you have been granted a reasonable adjustment to a deadline, or a five working day extension, further adjustments to the deadline for the same piece of work will not be able to be considered. You may be able to apply to complete the work at a later date via the University’s missed assessments process. Please contact an Information Point for further guidance.

There are other options if you do not meet the reasonable adjustment criteria but have experienced something significant that affects your ability to submit a piece of coursework. Please find out more about the options available to you.

Please note that during resit periods, you can apply for a reasonable adjustment to deadline adjustment for a maximum of five working days. The five working day extension process is not available during resit periods. 

If you are outside of these timeframes you need to explain why. A reason for applying earlier than 10 working days before the deadline could be to manage around a planned surgery or other event.

Adjustments to deadlines cannot be considered retrospectively, unless there is a compelling reason why you could not apply in advance of the coursework assessment deadline. You must explain why you have not been able to apply before two working days before the deadline in your application.

An Access to Placement Plan is a document that recommends adjustments, support and strategies for students on professional practice placements. It is put together following a meeting between a Disability Adviser and student, and occasionally attended by a programme and/or a placement or Trust representative.

Your tutor will need to complete an Access to Placement Plan request, and the Disability Service will be in touch if a meeting is needed.

Please note that we do not carry out Access to Placement Plan meetings for students with Specific Learning Difficulties. Instead, please refer to the placement guidance (PDF) which provides guidance to support discussion between the placement and the student in identifying reasonable adjustments and strategies.