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Defer an exam

Can't make it to an exam due to accute illness or exceptional cause? Find out if you have grounds to apply for special consideration (and how to do it).

Apply to defer an exam

If unforeseen circumstances prevent you from getting to an exam, you can apply to do it at a later date. Keep in mind that if you start an exam, it will be marked (even if you don't finish it). So if you're not feeling well on exam day and believe your illness will affect your performance, you should stay home and apply for special consideration straightaway.

How to apply

You must have a valid reason to apply for special consideration. Grounds we accept include:

  • medical (like hospitalisation, serious injury, severe anxiety or depression)
  • compassionate (like the death of a family member or significant relationship breakdown)
  • hardship or trauma (like if you're the victim of a crime or have a sudden loss of income or severe disruption to your living situation)
  • urgent responsibilities (like emergency work with the CFA or military, or jury service).

Circumstances within your control (like misreading timetables, exam stress, holidays, social or family occasions, usual demands of employment) and minor illness (like headaches or colds) won't be accepted as grounds for special consideration.

You should include evidence that supports your application, such as:

  • a Health Care Professional Certification form (PDF 691 KB) that has been filled out by an AHPRA-registered practitioner who can diagnose and treat medical conditions (like a GP, psychiatrist or psychologist), a Federation or partner provider counsellor or a registered counsellor (a member of the APS, AASW or ACA)
  • a medical certificate (which must state that you're unfit to undertake the exam)
  • official notification of your defence reserve, emergency work (e.g. CFA or SES) or jury service (that includes start and finish dates)
  • a death notice
  • a police report.

If you can't provide any official documents, you can submit a statutory declaration (PDF 84 KB) (or stat dec) instead. This is a statement that you declare to be true and accurate, and it must be approved by a witness. It is an offence to make false claims on a stat dec.

Log into my Student Centre and select the 'My Forms' tile. Choose the 'Special Consideration – Exam' form then follow the instructions (PDF 711 KB) to complete and submit your application. You should do this either before the exam or no later than three working days after the exam. Keep in mind that a deferred examination request can be made a maximum of two times per unit.

When we receive your form, we'll email you a reference number link that you can use to find out the status of your application.

Note: If you're studying through a partner provider in China or Hong Kong, you should download the 'Special Consideration – Exam' form and submit it to your partner administration office.

You'll find out whether your application has been successful or not within 10 working days. We'll send an email to your student address (or you can check via the 'My Forms' tile in my Student Centre).

Using fake documents

We know that uni life can be stressful, especially around the end of semester. If you're going through a tough time, applying for special consideration might help ease some of the pressure.
 
But it's important to be honest when you apply. Submitting fake or edited documents, like medical certificates, can have serious consequences – you could be excluded from studying at Federation for up to 10 years.

When not to apply for a deferred exam

If you have ongoing medical conditions or disabilities, you should contact Accessibility Services to discuss a Learning Access Plan (LAP). This will include any reasonable adjustments you need throughout your course.

If your application is rejected

You can lodge an appeal within 30 days of the receiving the outcome notification. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Student Appeals Committee via their online portal. 

How Student Advocacy can support you

Student Advocacy can help you understand which type of special consideration to apply for. They’ll explain the eligibility criteria, what evidence to include, and what to do if you don’t meet the grounds. They can also support you through the appeals process if your application is rejected. Make an appointment if you’d like to chat.