Academic Hurdles SRC Caseworker Mel walks you through dealing with special cons and overcoming hurdles SRC Caseworkers can give advice on almost anything that affects your studies. The SRC’s website has some leaflets on a range of issues, but if you have specific questions, contact a caseworker.
reasonable accommodations. For medical conditions that are included in your disability academic plan, you can only apply for special consideration if your illness is exacerbated.
Special Consideration
What if you only need a couple of days?
What is special consideration?
Your subject coordinator is able to grant a two-working day extension for a non-examination task. This is separate to special consideration and does not change any conditions or deadlines. Ask your co-ordinator directly.
If you (or someone you are the primary carer for) experience short-term (four weeks or less) illness (physical or mental), injury or misadventure, that affects your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration. How can you apply? Go to the special consideration portal to apply and see what documentation you need. You must get medical documentation (e.g., Professional Practitioner’s Certificates) on or before the assessment’s deadline. If you cannot see your doctor, use a home doctor service, as backdated documentation is not usually considered. You must submit your application within 3 working days of the assignment deadline, unless you have a compelling reason. Most late application are rejected. What should you do while waiting? If you missed an exam, start studying as soon as you can, or if it was an assignment, submit it to your subject coordinator (even by email) as soon as possible. Do not wait for your special consideration to be approved, as it may be retrospective, and you might miss the new deadline. What happens if you are successful? You might be given a supplementary exam, or extension for your essay, or maybe have assessments reweighted. You will never just get extra marks. What if you are still sick? If you are still too sick to complete the assessment, apply for special consideration again. If you are not able to get a further special consideration you will automatically get a Discontinue Not Fail (DC) grade. This means you will need to re-do the subject for it to count, but you will not have a fail grade on your transcript, and it will not affect your average. Talk to an SRC Caseworker about applying for a HECs/fee refund. What about long term illness? If you have a long term (more than 4 weeks) medical condition (physical or mental), you can apply for disability support. This includes chronic illness, or temporary conditions such as broken limbs or pregnancy. Disability Services can help you with an academic plan to successfully complete your degree with
What if you can’t get documentation? If you have difficulty getting supporting documentation, do not buy a false medical certificate. It is quite likely that the Uni will find out, and you risk being suspended. Companies that sell fake medical certificates and essays have started blackmailing students, so even if the Uni doesn’t find out, you might be caught in an expensive, lifelong trap. SRC Caseworkers are independent of the Uni and can give you confidential advice on what options you have.
Appealing a grade If you believe you received an incorrect mark, you have 15 working days to lodge an informal academic appeal with your subject coordinator. Explain exactly where you should have received more marks and why. If you are not successful you may be able to lodge a formal appeal, explaining where there was a breach of policy or procedure. You cannot argue academic opinion at this level of appeal. The formal appeal deadline is 20 working days. Late appeals are not often considered. For more details check the academic appeals leaflet on our website.
Academic honesty In any assignments, including exams, you must reference ideas or words from another source, even your own previous assignments. The Academic Honesty Education Module explains how to correctly paraphrase and reference, and you can also talk to a Peer Learning Advisor. Incorrectly referenced assignments will be considered academically dishonest and may lead to a fail. Most online tutoring and file sharing sites are considered academically dishonest and may lead to “misconduct” and a penalty of suspension from Uni. If a tutoring company offers to write part or all of your assignment, or if the website has answers from other students, it is likely that they are not legitimate. Avoid using sites like Course Hero, Chegg or Github, even if you used them legitimately in high school. Similarly, avoid services on websites like Sydney Today, or advertised through WeChat. Sharing answers on Facebook groups is usually considered misconduct too, so check with your lecturer what sites you are allowed to use. If you are accused of academic dishonesty or misconduct, contact an SRC Caseworker for advice that is independent of the Uni.
S T U D EN T S’ R EPR E S EN TAT I V E CO U N C I L , U N I V ER S I T Y O F S Y D N E Y
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