Mitigating circumstances and extensions regulations
Find answers to frequently asked questions about mitigating circumstances and extensions and learn how to make a claim and who to contact for advice.
FutureLearn understands that everyone experiences difficult circumstances sometimes, but it does expect students to take ownership of their learning and to be responsible for managing their own time along with the demands of everyday life so that they can complete the requirements of their chosen course.
If a student is experiencing difficulties, FutureLearn recommends that the student gets some advice from their personal tutor or another member of their programme team. Students should also familiarise themselves with the information on this page and read through the main regulation document which contains important information and is available from the bottom of this page.
If a student’s circumstances are ongoing then it may be in their interest to consider whether an interruption of studies or a withdrawal from their course is the best course of action so that they can come back at a later date, once their situation has improved.
If a student makes the decision to apply for Mitigating Circumstances they will need to be sure that their circumstances meet the definition. FutureLearn considers Mitigating Circumstances to be specific circumstances that have impacted the student in the lead up to, or during an assessment event or submission. They must be:
If a student is experiencing difficulties, FutureLearn recommends that the student gets some advice from their personal tutor or another member of their programme team. Students should also familiarise themselves with the information on this page and read through the main regulation document which contains important information and is available from the bottom of this page.
If a student’s circumstances are ongoing then it may be in their interest to consider whether an interruption of studies or a withdrawal from their course is the best course of action so that they can come back at a later date, once their situation has improved.
If a student makes the decision to apply for Mitigating Circumstances they will need to be sure that their circumstances meet the definition. FutureLearn considers Mitigating Circumstances to be specific circumstances that have impacted the student in the lead up to, or during an assessment event or submission. They must be:
- Sudden, serious and/or unpredictable or unforeseeable in nature.
- Relevant to the student, the individual student making the claim.
- Likely to seriously impair their performance.
- Taking place at the same time as an assessment event or before an assignment deadline.
FutureLearn does not consider ongoing conditions mitigating circumstances. However, it does consider significant fluctuations in a long-term condition to be mitigating circumstances.
FutureLearn will consider and provide an outcome to their mitigating circumstances claims as soon as possible. It is not possible for FutureLearn to confirm a fixed date by which a student will receive an outcome to their claim as this will depend on a range of factors including whether or not the claim can be approved without proceeding to a panel or whether panel consideration is required. Providing outcomes to claims may also take a little longer during peak assessment periods.
If a student has submitted a claim but has not received a response to it by the date of their assessment, it is ultimately for the student to decide if they are too ill or otherwise impacted by mitigating circumstances to take the assessment. For the claim to be accepted the student will need to have submitted an eligible mitigating circumstance claim with the appropriate supporting evidence. A summary of the types of circumstances that FutureLearn do and don't consider to be acceptable reasons for mitigation, along with the types of evidence that would be required to support a claim is provided at the back of the main regulation document provided below.
To submit a claim for mitigating circumstances the student should use the system outlined in the policy.
It is for the student to decide if they are too ill or otherwise impacted by mitigating circumstances to take an assessment. While they can seek advice from members of staff and/or Student Support about whether to submit an assessment or apply for mitigation, they will limit their advice to explaining the procedure that the student should follow and the requirement for evidence to be supplied in support of a mitigation claim. Ultimately it is the student who must make the final decision on their fitness to undertake an assessment.
FutureLearn does however encourage students to talk to them about any issues impacting their wellbeing and their ability to engage with their chosen programme of study. Students should speak to Student Support who are very experienced with supporting students with these procedures.
FutureLearn does however encourage students to talk to them about any issues impacting their wellbeing and their ability to engage with their chosen programme of study. Students should speak to Student Support who are very experienced with supporting students with these procedures.