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Fit to Sit - extensions, deferrals and extenuating circumstances

When you attempt an assessment such as an exam or coursework, you are declaring that you are 'fit to sit' - this means you are well enough to complete the assessment to the best of your abilities.

If you have an issue that might impact your assessments, such as serious illness, loss of a family member or personal crisis, you need to tell us on time. If you don’t, this will likely prevent you from being successful in using the arrangements in place to support your studies.

Please do not wait until you have your assessment results to tell us about something that has impacted you, as it will be too late by then.

This guidance explains a range of processes we have in place to support you:

  • Extensions
  • Deferrals
  • Extenuating Circumstances
  • Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances
  • Late Mitigation

Please be aware that some of these options mean you will be 'voiding' an assessment attempt, which means a zero mark just now and an opportunity to sit the assessment again.

If you're not sure where to start or need support through any stage of the process, we have a number of teams who can help. Please see the FAQs at the bottom of this page for full details.

 
 
A student sitting in a study space, working on notes with a notepad and pencil

What to do if you become aware of an issue BEFORE an assessment deadline

This section explains what to do if you think you cannot submit your coursework on time or cannot sit an exam on the day it is scheduled. In these circumstances, you have two options available to you:

  • Apply for an extension
  • Apply for a deferral

It is important you meet the deadlines outlined in these processes and consider what they might mean for your circumstances.

 
 

Apply for an extension

When to apply for an extension

If the assessment is a non-exam-based assessment, e.g. an essay or a presentation, and you just need a short period of additional time (up to 5 working days), you should ask your Module Leader for an extension using the RE1 form. Please note, extensions cannot be applied for using the online system.

In the case of the following:

  • extreme circumstances
  • where the extension is linked to an approved learning profile
  • for modules above 20 credits

you can apply for up to 10 working days by filling out the RE1 form. You may be asked to explain your reason for requesting longer than 5 days' extension.

Requests for extension must be submitted no later than the date on which the coursework is due - see Fit to Sit Regulations EC5.5 (PDF, 250kB).

Things to consider when asking for an extension

Extensions can be very helpful. However, make sure you consider the impact that delaying the submission of an assessment may have on your ability to meet other assessment deadlines.

Most courses have been developed to avoid you having too many assessments at the same time, so asking for extensions can impact upon this, leaving you more work to do at the same time later in the academic year.

Apply for an extension now

 
 

Apply for a deferral of assessment

When to apply for a deferral of assessment

If your circumstances are more serious or relate to a formal exam, you need more than an additional 5 working days and/or you are not able or ready to attempt the assessment at all, you can apply for a Deferral of Assessment. This normally means handing in the assessment or sitting the exam at the next available opportunity, which will either be the following trimester or over the summer assessment period.

Applications for Deferral of Assessment should be made ahead of the assessment point by completing an application including appropriate time-relevant third-party evidence via the ‘Apply for Extenuating Circumstances and Deferrals’ tile on the eStudent records portal.

Where submitting before the assessment deadline is not possible, an application for Deferral of Assessment and associated supporting evidence may be accepted up to 5 working days after the assessment point - see Fit to Sit Regulations EC6.3 (PDF, 250kB).

Things to consider when asking for a deferral

The decision to defer assessment could affect whether you can carry on to the next year of your studies, so you should always seek advice from your Programme Leader, Personal Development Tutor and/or ENSA Advice before applying for a deferral.

If you apply for a deferral of an assessment you are in effect 'voiding' the attempt, which means you will not receive a mark and you will need to sit the assessment at a future point (as a first or second attempt).

If you requested a deferral and your circumstances are deemed valid, and then you continue to undertake the assessment, your mark/grade will not count even if it was a pass. This is because you have indicated you were not fully 'fit to sit' and could not therefore perform to the best of your ability.

Please contact your programme team for confirmation of the next reassessment opportunity, keeping in mind that sometimes this may be in the summer reassessment diet.

Information for international students

If you are a student visa student, you should be aware that there is a maximum number of opportunities that the UKVI permit students to have with regards undertaking an assessment and that a deferred assessment will still count towards this maximum number of opportunities.

Students should consult with the Visa and International Support team for guidance on their own individual situation by emailing internationalsupport@napier.ac.uk or calling 0131 455 2272.

Apply for a deferral now

You will be required to attach time-relevant third-party supporting evidence to your application.

For support, please see the Student Guidance for Extenuating Circumstances page.

If you need additional help, please contact the relevant School team:

If you are studying at the Edinburgh Napier University International College (ENUIC), please contact enuic@napier.ac.uk for assistance.

If you are studying overseas with our partner institutions, please contact internationalprogrammes@napier.ac.uk for assistance.

 
 
A student sitting in a study space, working on a laptop

What to do if you become aware of an issue AFTER an assessment deadline

This section explains what to do if you submit something and realise later that something was impacting you, or if your circumstances were so serious that you could not apply for a deferral in due time and didn't attempt the assessment.

In these circumstances, you have three options available to you:

  • Apply for Extenuating Circumstances
  • Apply for Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances
  • Apply for Late Mitigation

It is important you meet to the deadlines outlined in these processes and consider what they might mean for your circumstances.

 
 

Apply for Extenuating Circumstances

How to declare yourself unfit to sit after you’ve completed an assessment

If you submit your assessment or sit an exam and then realise that you were not 'fit to sit' and should have applied for a deferral, you can apply for Extenuating Circumstances. For example, you may have undertaken the assessment but now believe in hindsight there were circumstances which impacted completing the assessment to the best of your abilities.

Applications through the Extenuating Circumstances process may only be made assessments where the result is not yet known and/or has not been confirmed through a Programme Assessment Board.

Extenuating Circumstances applications should be submitted no later than 5 working days after the date on which the assessment was taken or submitted. Applications beyond this deadline will not be considered, and any mark received for the assessment will be considered valid as per the Fit to Sit Regulations EC7.3 (PDF, 250kB).

Applications for Extenuating Circumstances should be submitted by completing an application including appropriate time-relevant third-party evidence supporting your submission via the ‘Apply for Extenuating Circumstances and Deferrals’ tile on the eStudent records portal.

If your submission is deemed valid, the Programme Assessment Board will take your circumstances into account in relation to your academic progression.

Things to consider when asking for Extenuating Circumstances

If you apply for Extenuating Circumstances for an assessment you are in effect 'voiding' the attempt, which means you will not receive a mark/grade and you will need to sit the assessment at a future point (as a first or second attempt).

If you requested Extenuating Circumstances and have also undertaken the assessment, your mark/grade will not count even if it was a pass. This is because you have indicated you were not fully 'fit to sit' and could not therefore perform to the best of your ability.

If your Extenuating Circumstances are for a Trimester 1 assessment, the next opportunity to sit the assessment may be in the summer reassessment diet.

You should never submit Extenuating Circumstances just in case the result is not as you would wish. Careful consideration is required about whether you believe circumstances have significantly impacted your assessment performance. You cannot claim Extenuating Circumstances and keep a mark/grade.

Information for international students

If you are a student visa student, you should be aware that there is a maximum number of opportunities that the UKVI permit students to have with regards undertaking an assessment and that a successful Extenuating Circumstances submission will still count towards this maximum number of opportunities.

Students should consult with the Visa and International Support team for guidance on their own individual situation by emailing internationalsupport@napier.ac.uk or calling 0131 455 2272.

Apply for Extenuating Circumstances now

You will be required to attach time-relevant third-party supporting evidence to your application.

For support, please see the Student Guidance for Extenuating Circumstances page.

If you need additional help, please contact the relevant School team:

If you are studying at the Edinburgh Napier University International College (ENUIC), please contact enuic@napier.ac.uk for assistance.

If you are studying overseas with our partner institutions, please contact internationalprogrammes@napier.ac.uk for assistance.

 
 

Apply for Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances

When to request Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances

If your circumstances were so serious that you could not engage with the process as expected and you have not attempted the assessment, you can apply for Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances.

Please note, this is only for students who did not attempt the assessment. It cannot be used for retrospective extensions or for assessments that were taken, regardless of circumstances.

The Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances application must be submitted no later than the below dates for the relevant period.

Please note, the deadlines are applicable ONLY for Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances applications, not other types of deferral or extension requests.

Assessment period  Date
 Trimester 1  9 January 2026
 Trimester 2  22 May 2026
 Summer Assessment  13 August 2026
 Trimester 3  4 September 2026

Applications beyond these deadlines will not be considered regardless of the circumstances, as per the Fit to Sit Regulations EC8.3 (PDF, 250kB).

If you have not sat or submitted an assessment, this is your last opportunity to tell us about a personal or health matter that prevented you from doing so. Do not wait until after the deadline has passed, as it will be too late by then.

Things to consider when asking for Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances

Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances should only be used when you have not submitted an assessment.

The decision to defer assessment could affect whether you can carry on to the next year of your studies, so you should always seek advice from your Programme Leader, Personal Development Tutor and/or ENSA Advice before applying for a deferral.

If your Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances are for a Trimester 1 assessment, the next opportunity to sit the assessment may be in the summer reassessment diet.

Information for international students

If you are a student visa student, you should be aware that there is a maximum number of opportunities that the UKVI permit students to have with regards undertaking an assessment and that a successful Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances submission will still count towards this maximum number of opportunities.

Students should consult with the Visa and International Support team for guidance on their own individual situation by emailing internationalsupport@napier.ac.uk or calling 0131 455 2272.

Apply for Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances now

Applications for Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances made by completing an application via the ‘Apply for Extenuating Circumstances and Deferrals’ tile on the eStudent records portal, including:

  • appropriate time-relevant third-party evidence to support your application
  • further evidence and a detailed explanation of the extenuating circumstances that prevented you from submitting a Deferral of Assessment application in due time.
  • Deadline: See table above

If you need additional help, please contact the relevant School team:

If you are studying at the Edinburgh Napier University International College (ENUIC), please contact enuic@napier.ac.uk for assistance.

If you are studying overseas with our partner institutions, please contact internationalprogrammes@napier.ac.uk for assistance.

 
 

Apply for Late Mitigation

When to request Late Mitigation

In very rare exceptional circumstances, you may be unable to engage with the University's other Fit to Sit processes due to the severity of what has occurred.

The Late Mitigation process is in place to consider these applications, but only when assessments have not been attempted. It cannot be used if you have attempted assessments and then considered you were not Fit to Sit.

The focus will be on whether there is good cause and sufficient evidence of why you could not engage with the Fit to Sit process at an earlier time. Only the most serious of circumstances will be accepted, and approval of Late Mitigation will be extremely rare.

Applications for Late Mitigation may only be made up to the end of the trimester after the trimester in which the assessment was due. For example, events that occurred in Trimester 1 could be applied for by the end of Trimester 2, but only with clear evidence of why you did not engage at an earlier point.

Things to consider when asking for Late Mitigation

Late Mitigation should only be used when you have not submitted an assessment.

The decision to defer assessment could affect whether you can carry on to the next year of your studies, so you should always seek advice from your Programme Leader, Personal Development Tutor and/or ENSA Advice before applying for a deferral.

If your Late Mitigation is for a Trimester 1 assessment, the next opportunity to sit the assessment may be in the summer reassessment diet.

Information for international students

If you are a student visa student, you should be aware that there is a maximum number of opportunities that the UKVI permit students to have with regards undertaking an assessment and that a successful Late Mitigation submission will still count towards this maximum number of opportunities.

Students should consult with the Visa and International Support team for guidance on their own individual situation by emailing internationalsupport@napier.ac.uk or calling 0131 455 2272.

Apply for Late Mitigation now

If you wish to apply for Late Mitigation, you should contact the relevant School team to explore whether your circumstances may be acceptable to the Fit to Sit panel:

If you are studying at the Edinburgh Napier University International College (ENUIC), please contact enuic@napier.ac.uk for assistance.

If you are studying overseas with our partner institutions, please contact internationalprogrammes@napier.ac.uk for assistance.

If a case of Late Mitigation is accepted for consideration, you will then be asked to complete a Late Mitigation form (LM1) and this will be considered by the Fit to Sit panel.

 
 

Enduring Circumstances

If you have underlying permanent or temporary health conditions, disabilities or other contextual circumstances that affect your ability to perform in assessments, you can make use of Enduring Circumstances to avoid having to resubmit evidence of each occasion.

To be eligible for Enduring Circumstances, your condition should be long-term (lasting 12 months or more) or substantial in nature. If this applies to you, please contact our Disability Inclusion team who will explore how the potential impact of the circumstances can be captured in a learning profile.

Not all students with a learning profile have agreed Enduring Circumstances. If you have agreed this with Disability Inclusion, you should continue to use the Fit to Sit process on this page when necessary, but you will not have to submit new evidence on each occasion.

 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find out more about the Fit to Sit regulations?

The Fit to Sit Regulations (PDF, 250kB) has full details on a number of areas you may find useful, including suitable grounds for extenuating circumstances, information about support available to you, and what constitutes suitable supporting evidence.

You'll find information in the following sections of the regulations:

  • EC3.2 – Acceptable grounds for support
  • EC3.3 – Unacceptable grounds for support
  • EC14 – signposting to support for students
  • Annex 1 – examples of suitable supporting evidence

How do I apply if I study an Edinburgh Napier University programme that is delivered abroad?

Please see the Student Guidance for Extenuating Circumstances page. If further assistance is required, students studying overseas with our partner institutions should speak to their local programme team for support or their Edinburgh Napier Programme Leader.

If necessary, students studying overseas with our partner institutions can also contact internationalprogrammes@napier.ac.uk for guidance.

I study on an online programme, what should I do?

Students studying online should follow the processes detailed on this page, but the deadlines applicable to you may vary. If this applies to you, you may wish to contact globalonlinesupport@napier.ac.uk with any queries.

What support is available to me and how do I access it?

If you are experiencing ill health (this includes any mental health issues) or personal problems that are impacting your studies, please tell us about them as soon as possible. The sooner we are aware of a problem, the easier it is for us to support you appropriately. The earlier we are aware of it the less chance of it having a long-term impact on your studies. It also increases the chances of us being able to assist you to get you back on track with your studies. You can speak to your Programme Leader/Personal Development Tutor or go directly to one of our wellbeing support services if you have anything troubling you.

Please be proactive and seek help with any problems as and when you identify them. Please do not wait until you have your assessment results before telling us about a problem.

The sooner you make contact/request support, the sooner we can help you. You can seek support, advice and guidance from the following sources: