Fit to Sit

RGU operates a Fit to Sit Policy, meaning that by undertaking an assessment you are declaring your fitness (mentally and/or physically) to undertake that assessment. In essence, if you sit an exam/submit an assessment, then you are saying that you are fit enough to do so. DELTA, in collaboration with the RGU Governance & Academic Quality department and RGU:Union, have produced a video focusing on RGU’s Fit to Sit Policy, which you can watch below:

We hope that you will be able to perform to your highest standards throughout your time at RGU; however, we know that submitting assessments, sitting exams, and, performing to your best can sometimes be affected by extenuating circumstances. Therefore, it is extremely important that you keep your school fully informed of any issues which may impact on your academic studies, such as illness or other extenuating circumstances, as these circumstances could prevent you from undertaking, or hinder your preparation for, an assessment.

If extenuating circumstances are affecting your ability to complete a piece of coursework, or preventing you from undertaking, or hindering your preparation for, an assessment, you should submit a Deferral Request Form or a Coursework Extension Request Form.

Extenuating Circumstances

RGU's Fit to Sit Policy defines extenuating circumstances as exceptional, serious, acute and unforeseen problems or events which genuinely affect your preparation for an assessment or your ability to undertake the assessment and/or submit a coursework on time, and which were outwith your control.

Examples of this include: serious or significant physical/mental health problems; extraordinary personal circumstances; severe ailments which made it impossible to attend an examination; pregnancy, maternity, paternity or adoption related leave; unexpected illness during an invigilated examination.

For further information on extenuating circumstances and for how to request extenuating circumstances via submission of either a Deferral Request Form or a Coursework Extension Request Form, refer to the Fit to Sit Policy.
NOT Extenuating Circumstances

Some issues are just considered part of normal life and as such are not extenuating. You are expected to organise your academic life in a way which anticipates that events will not always go according to plan.

Minor illnesses, poor time management, unexpected or adverse events do not normally excuse poor performance - and should be managed in addition to your studies. Poor personal organisation and failure to plan for foreseeable last-minute emergencies such as computer crashes are also not mitigating circumstances.

Circumstances which have already been fully catered for by the granting of a coursework extension and a lack of awareness or understanding of the University’s Academic Regulations and procedures would also not be considered extenuating.

For further information on extenuating circumstances, refer to the Fit to Sit Policy.

If your extenuating circumstances are disability-related, associated to an enduring mental health difficulty, a long-term medical issue or learning difference, contact the Inclusion Centre (inclusion@rgu.ac.uk) so that support can be provided.

In the event you do fail to keep your school informed of any extenuating circumstances which affected your preparation for and/or undertaking of an assessment, it may be too late to request a coursework extension or a deferral. If you have missed the deadline for submission of either of these forms and you have realised there were extenuating circumstances affecting your preparation for and/or undertaking of an assessment, you may wish to make the Assessment Board aware of these issues through submission of an Academic Appeal.

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