ÌÇÐÄTV

What are Mitigating Circumstances?

During your studies, you may experience exceptional unforeseen circumstances that are outside your control and might have a detrimental effect on your studies. Examples of mitigating circumstances could include:

• a bereavement
• illness of yourself or someone close to you
• an unexpected change in personal or financial circumstances
• being a victim of crime, harassment or bullying.

Additionally, some students receive a late diagnosis of a specific learning need / disability, so Reasonable Adjustments may not be in place. These scenarios are dealt with through the University's Mitigating Circumstances processLink opens in a new window.

Mitigating Circumstances are unforeseen events or circumstances that significantly negatively impact your ability to complete or study effectively in preparation for summative assessment tasks such as essays, written or oral examinations, or assessed presentations.

If you wish your circumstances to be considered in time for the end of year Board of Examiners, you must make an application for Mitigating Circumstances. All applications for mitigation will be considered by a small and confidential Mitigating Circumstances Committee (MCP). The MCP is made up of Senior Tutors, the Student Progression and Support Coordinator and the UG Coordinator. They will review each case and make a recommendation to the end of year Board of Examiners. Please note that only the MCP will see the details you disclose and information will not be shared further without your consent. Please note that while we acknowledge that cultural attitudes to disclosing personal information may vary, you are expected to disclose fully all matters you wish to have considered by the Board of Examiners.

---

How do I apply for Mitigating Circumstances?

If you are unsure whether something that has happened to you or someone close to you is eligible to be considered as a Mitigating Circumstance, it is likely to qualify if it was unforeseeable or beyond your control and if it also had a significant impact on your ability to prepare for or complete the assessment(s) in question. If you are in any doubt about whether something that has happened to you or someone close to you is eligible for consideration, then you should consult your Personal Tutor, Senior TutorLink opens in a new window,  Wellbeing Support ServicesLink opens in a new window or one of the advisers at the . You can also speak to the UG Coordinator / PGT Coordinator (Mitigating Circumstances) or the Student Progression and Support Coordinator, based in the UG Office. Even if the event or circumstance is not eligible for consideration in this way, it may nevertheless be something for which you should seek support.

Mitigating Circumstances applications should be made via the Personal Circumstances section of your Tabula profile. This guideLink opens in a new window gives step-by-step instructions on how to complete the form.

UG deadlines:

• Wednesday 2nd June 2027 12pm: for circumstances impacting the academic year 2026-27
• Wednesday 1st September 2027 12pm: for circumstances impacting August/September reassessments

PGT deadlines:

• Wednesday 4th November 2026 12pm: for circumstances impacting the academic year 2025-26 (Dissertations and reassessments)
• Wednesday 26th May 2027 12pm: for circumstances impacting the academic year 2026-27
• Wednesday 3rd November 2027 12pm: for circumstances impacting the academic year 2026-27 (Dissertations and reassessments)

Once you have submitted your application, you are free to edit and update it at any time. If you wish to add further evidence, you can send it as an attachment in the chat function. If you have any queries about your application after submitting it, please use the chat function within the application to communicate with the History Office or speak with your Personal Tutor.

---

What evidence is required?

We recommend you carefully consider the evidence requirementsLink opens in a new window. We understand that obtaining supporting documentation can be challenging, so we encourage you to submit the form pending the supply of supporting documentation. It is your responsibility to ensure that your evidence is formal, relevant to the time frame, and attests to the impact the circumstances have had on your ability to complete work on time and to the best of your ability.

All non-English language documents must be provided in English, formally translated by a translation service. For medical circumstances, please be aware that a photograph of a prescription is not sufficient evidence, and a dated doctor’s note should be provided.

---

What can Mitigation do?

The Mitigating Circumstances Panel (MCP) includes the Senior Tutor team, the Student Progression and Support Coordinator and the UG Coordinator / PGT Coordinator (Mitigating Circumstances). They review all cases and evidence received throughout the academic year. The content of your application stays confidential to these members of staff. A severity grading and recommended actions are communicated to the examination board, but your specific circumstances are not disclosed.

Possible recommendations include waiving late penalties, offering further first attempts (FFAs) or further capped resits and recommending the circumstances be taken into consideration during final degree classification decisions.

However, please note, the Mitigating Circumstances process cannot change raw marks for individual modules or assessments.

For further information on the possible effects of your Mitigating Circumstances claim being accepted, see Mitigating Circumstances Process and ProceduresLink opens in a new window.

---

When will I receive my outcome?

The department receives hundreds of Mitigating Circumstances applications each year, and so the administrative processes surrounding the application of outcomes are complex. You may notice some minor changes in Tabula, such as late penalties being waived, however we cannot provide information on your mitigation outcome until results day. Outcomes of Mitigating Circumstances cases are formally available on the same day results are released for your year group.

---

What are Mitigating Circumstances?

Mitigating Circumstances are situations that are outside of a postgraduate research student’s control that they could not reasonably have foreseen and that have (or may in the future have) a negative effect are defined as mitigating circumstances. Situations affecting PGRs which may have a ‘negative effect’ include:

• performance in a formal Progression Review (including upgrade from MPhil or MRes to PhD), or final viva voce;
• the ability to meet a deadline for submission of a Progression Review Report, or final thesis for examination (i.e. requiring a registration extension);
• the ability to meet a deadline for submission of minor and major corrections to a thesis following the viva voce;
• the ability to meet a deadline for submission of a revised thesis for re-examination following the viva voce.

---

What is the PGR Mitigating Circumstances process?

The Doctoral College will be implementing a new PGR Mitigating Circumstances process for 2026/2027, and details of how the process will be managed will be available via the Doctoral College Policy PagesLink opens in a new window.