When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, the University revised its Exceptional Circumstances (EC) process to take account of the difficult circumstances everyone found themselves in. As the country continues to return to normality, the changes to the EC process put in place in response to the pandemic are no longer appropriate.

However, the University has reviewed the EC process with a view to ensuring that:

• The burden of the EC process on students and staff is reduced;
• The process is simplified where possible;
• Students are empowered and trusted to self-certify for two claims per academic year;

The changes are as follows:

• Students will be able to submit up to two self-certified claims per year without the need for evidence. Each claim can cover a period of seven days and will be approved following completion of a self-declaration form.
• For self-certified claims, students will only be required to supply minimal information in addition to the self-declaration form.
• For subsequent claims, students will be required to supply evidence of their circumstances (not including a self-declaration form) but will still benefit from a simplified claim process.
• Students who suffer a bereavement will no longer be required to provide evidence when making an EC claim at any time.

Full information on making an EC claim can be found on the Student Hub.

Students should check eligibility criteria prior to submitting a claim as some circumstances that were accepted during the pandemic (e.g. IT issues) will not be eligible for the process.

Students should also note that all claims submitted prior to the start of Semester 2 on 24 January 2021 will be processed using the previous system put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.