Deferred exams and assignment extensions when you’re sick

Being sick around exams or a big deadline is stressful, and the rules for getting more time can be confusing. This guide focuses on extensions, missed exams and what to do on the day. For the evidence side, see our guide to special consideration and medical evidence.

Rules vary between universities and TAFEs, including what they’re called, how long you have to apply and what evidence they accept. To show how one provider handles it, we use the UNSW Sydney special consideration page as at October 2026 as an example. It applies only to UNSW students, and excludes research candidates and UNSW Diploma students. Always check your own provider’s policy.

What is a deferred or supplementary exam?

In this guide, “deferred exam” means sitting an exam at a later time because illness stopped you sitting it as scheduled. Providers use different names for this. UNSW’s page doesn’t use the term “deferred exam”. Instead, it lists a supplementary examination where a final examination was missed as one possible outcome of an approved special consideration application.

At UNSW, a supplementary exam isn’t automatic. The School or Course Authority decides the arrangement, and other possible outcomes include:

• an extension to the submission due date
• an alternative assessment
• aggregating or averaging marks from other completed assessments
• reweighting the affected assessment to other assessments.

UNSW also says an alternative or further assessment opportunity isn’t always available, particularly if previous arrangements have already been provided for the same assessment. A poor record of attendance or performance in the course may also be considered.

How do assignment extensions work?

At UNSW there are two routes, and the difference matters when you’re short on time.

	Short Extension	Extension through special consideration
Available for	Only some courses and assessments, listed in the course outline or Moodle	Any assessment in a course you’re enrolled in
Length	1 to 7 days, set by the course authority	Varies with your circumstances and the period of impact in your documentation
Supporting documents	Not required	Mandatory
Outcome	Automatically approved	Not all applications are approved
Deadline to apply	The assessment’s due date and time, with no late applications	Within 3 working days after the due date

The maximum extension through special consideration at UNSW is 14 calendar days for a term, 21 for a semester and 7 for a hexamester. Any Short Extension days you’ve already had for that assessment count towards that maximum. If you need longer than a Short Extension allows, UNSW points you to special consideration instead.

When should you apply?

As early as you can. At UNSW:

• Short Extension: apply any time from the start of the term or hexamester up to the assessment’s due date and time.
• Special consideration: apply as soon as possible within 3 working days of the due date. A late application may be considered in exceptional circumstances, but your evidence needs to explain why you couldn’t apply on time.
• Before a timed assessment: you can apply for special consideration before the exam or test, rather than waiting.

UNSW usually assesses special consideration applications within 3 to 5 working days. It also says not to wait for approval before submitting your work. If an extension is approved, it applies from the original due date and is normally equivalent to the period of impact in your documentation.

What should you do if you’re sick on exam day?

This is where timing matters most. UNSW has a Fit to Sit rule for timed assessments, including short exams, online or in-class tests, presentations and lab assessments. If you access or sit the assessment on the scheduled date, you’re declaring yourself fit to do so, and you’re no longer eligible for special consideration.

UNSW’s guidance falls into three stages:

1. Before the assessment. If you’re unwell, you can apply for special consideration instead of sitting.
2. During the assessment. If you can’t continue, you must stop before 80% of the scheduled time has passed, tell a staff member such as the exam supervisor or Course Authority before the assessment ends, apply within 3 working days, and provide supporting documentation dated within 24 hours of the assessment date.
3. After the assessment. You’re not eligible. UNSW may consider an exception only where there’s clear evidence you couldn’t make a reasonable judgement about your fitness to sit.

UNSW says the threshold for waiving the Fit to Sit rule is extremely high. If you’re unwell on the morning of an exam, check your own provider’s rules before you log in or walk into the room.

What evidence will you need?

At UNSW, special consideration needs supporting documentation that shows what happened, when it happened and how it affected you. Our special consideration guide covers this in more detail.

One rule is worth knowing before you choose where to get evidence. UNSW says it won’t accept online medical certificates without confirmation that a real-time telehealth consultation took place by phone or video. Certificates based only on an online questionnaire or form, without a real-time consultation, won’t be accepted. UNSW also requires the certificate to be issued by a practitioner registered with Ahpra, and may verify online certificates to confirm they’re authentic and meet its requirements.

Check your own provider’s rules on online certificates before you request one. If your provider requires a real-time phone or video consultation, check whether a service includes one before you request a certificate.

What if your illness is ongoing?

UNSW’s special consideration process is for short-term, unexpected events. If your health is affecting your study over a longer period, ask your provider about ongoing support. UNSW, for example, mentions educational adjustments through a learning plan.

This guide is general information, not academic, legal or medical advice.