Please review the Extensions, Deferrals and Exceptional Circumstances student guidance for more information.
International students should discuss potential visa implications with the Student Advice and Engagement team before making a decision to defer an assessment.
1. How can I apply for an extension?
If you are struggling to meet a deadline due to circumstances outside of your control, you can request an extension for assessments lasting more than 24 hours. You should request an extension before the submission deadline of your coursework assessment.
Requesting an extension
2. How can I request a deferral?
LSE understands that unfortunate circumstances may arise that impact your ability to perform in an assessment. There is a fit to sit/ fit to submit policy - when you attempt a summative assessment, you are declaring yourself fit to complete it. “Fit” in this instance does not only apply just to physical or mental health, but other factors which may affect your academic performance. You need to decide if you are fit and able to sit and if you’re not, you should defer.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are not able to attempt or complete an assessment, or obtain a suitable extension, you should request a deferral. You will need to give a reason for your request, with a clear supporting statement, and evidence that corroborates your statement.
Requesting a deferral
3. How do I submit Exceptional Circumstances (ECs)?
If you do not request a deferral in time and then feel that your performance was affected by your circumstances, or if you were unable to submit the assessment at all, you must submit Exceptional Circumstances (ECs) for consideration.
Likewise, if you attempt an assessment but decide that your circumstances had a significant detrimental impact on your performance in a way you could not have fully anticipated, you should submit ECs. The School defines these circumstances as “sudden, unforeseen, out of the student’s own control and proximate to the assessment(s) in question.”
Submitting ECs
4. What evidence is required for extensions / deferrals / Exceptional Circumstances?
Guidance on our evidence requirements, such as what can be accepted as evidence, are available on the extensions, deferrals, and Exceptional Circumstances webpages.
5. If I defer my assessment(s) to the Resit and Deferred Assessment Period, will any of my marks/grades be capped?
If you defer your assessment and sit/submit it for the first time in an undergraduate or postgraduate resit and deferred assessment period, your mark will not be capped.
If you defer a resit attempt, this will be capped at Pass for the purpose of degree classification. The actual (uncapped) mark that you achieve in the course will be included in your academic transcript. More information about capping can be found on the re-entry webpages.
6. I’m an undergraduate student - if I defer my assessment(s), do I assume that I have completed the year and select next year's courses as usual?
Undergraduate students who defer any assessment during the academic year will be entered to take their outstanding assessments in the next undergraduate Resit and Deferred Assessment Period (IRDAP).
The undergraduate IRDAP allows undergraduate students to attempt to meet the progression requirements in time for the start of the next academic year. If you have not yet progressed when you receive your results in July, but may be able to progress once you complete RDAP, you can select your courses for your next year of study as normal.
If you are unable to progress following the IRDAP, Student Services will remove courses you have selected from your record, and you will be expected to take your outstanding assessments during the following academic year as an non-enrolled student.
7. I’m in the first/second year of my undergraduate studies – what do I need to pass by the end of the academic year to be able to progress to my next year of study?
Students in their first year of a BA or BSc programme must pass at least three units to be eligible to progress to their second year. Students in their second year of a BA or BSc programme must pass at least seven units from their first and second year combined to be eligible to progress to their third year. A failed unit, a deferred assessment, or an assessment from which you are absent will be counted as a non-passed unit.
There are different progression rules for the LLB. If you are an LLB student, you should refer to your academic department and information in the LLB Classification Scheme.
More details about re-entry can be found on the re-entry webpages and information about what happens if you are unable to progress can be found at this link.
8. I’m in the final year of my undergraduate studies – do I need to pass all courses in order to be awarded?
As a final year student, you will be awarded a degree if you attempt all assessments and as long as you fail no more than three whole units overall. If you have deferred any assessments, you will need to attempt these before you are eligible for the award of the degree.
If, having attempted all assessments you can be classified for a degree then you will be awarded, and you will not be able to resit any failed assessments. If you have failed one unit at the point of classification, you will not be penalised. If you fail more than one unit and are awarded a degree, penalty rules may be applied, as outlined in the three year or four year BA/BSc Classification Schemes.
If you cannot be awarded in July, you will be re-entered for all outstanding assessments in the undergraduate IRDAP and awarded, if possible, in September.
There are different award rules for the LLB – if you are an LLB student, you should refer to your academic department and information in the LLB Classification Scheme.