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 (for example, 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.

Types of reasonable adjustments that we can consider here are:

• extra time/rest breaks
• use of PC
• prompt/reader/scribe
• ergonomic furniture
• separate room.

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, your teaching team can contact the Disability Service or you can make a Disability Advice appointment via an Information Point, to explore this further. 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. You need to email disability@uwe.ac.uk with your medical evidence, stating the urgent need 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 submit your medical evidence for exam adjustments 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 are any discrepancies, please contact an Information Point and you can check MyUWE at any time.

Eligibility

You may be eligible* to use the 14-day grace period for coursework submissions if you meet the following criteria.

For disabled students:

• Where you have engaged with the Disability Service and are being provided with reasonable adjustments, and
• Where your disability is fluctuating or episodic, or
• You have a sensory or physical impairment which is a significant barrier to meeting deadlines, or
• Where other illnesses or events impact you disproportionately, because of your disability.

For other students:

• Where you are a primary carer of a disabled person and have engaged with UWE Cares
• Where you are pregnant or a parent with a baby under six months old and have engaged with the Student Support Advisers.

*You will not be able to use the 14-day grace period for the following types of work:

• Group work
• Assessments submitted for marking in a studio by a group of staff at a fixed time (including work for an end of term degree show)
• Practice elements of professional practice modules
• Practical skills-based work
• Where assessments are set up as timed assignments, for example computer-based examinations
• Any assessments contributing to the Graduate Diploma in Law
• Assessments limited by logical constraints such as assessments to be completed whilst on a field trip
• Assessments with a submission date which falls after the Friday before the relevant Field Board (You can view the field board dates on the academic year calendar)
• Resit submissions, where the maximum grace period is seven days.

Request to use the 14-day grace period

We ask that wherever possible you request to use the 14-day grace period at least 48 hours before your assignment submission date. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to process requests that come in later than this by the deadline.

Complete the request form (InfoHub login required).

Postgraduate researchers

If you are a postgraduate researcher (PhD, DPhil, MPhil) and you are looking to use to the 14-day grace period, please go ahead and complete the form. If you are looking to discuss a reasonable adjustment to a progress review or final assessment, please contact the Graduate School.

If your request to use the 14-day grace period is denied

Please double check that you meet the criteria above and have engaged with the relevant service. If you have only recently become eligible, the system may not have been updated in time for your request. In this case, please contact the relevant service and let them know.

If you don’t meet the 14-day grace period criteria

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

Resits

For resit submissions, the maximum grace period available for eligible students is seven days.

Types of adjustments that we can put in place are:

• teaching materials in advance 
• permission to record lectures
• additional library support
• transcripts or subtitling
• teaching room layout
• ergonomic furniture in teaching rooms.

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. 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.

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.