Exemption from Late Penalty (ELP) Information (24/25)

ELP Information
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This page will help inform you about what an Exemption from Late Penalty (ELP) claim is, and give you more information about how to submit one. 

Below you will find:

  • A brief overview of the ELP process.
  • Common questions with relevant links.
  • The link to the ELP form at the bottom of the page.

Submitting late? Assignments submit after the deadline are subject to late penalties: Within 5 days = Minus 5% (of total marks possible) per 24-hour period after the deadline (including weekends). 5+ days = Zero for the assignment. Have a valid reason for submitting late? Want the late penalties removed? Submit an ELP Each student can submit two ELP claims without supporting evidence (“Self-Certifying”) per academic year – but you must still give a valid reason for why you have submitted late. Step 1 – Submit Your Work: Submit your assignment to the correct portal within 14 days of the original deadline, or before the module coordinator has released feedback, whichever comes first. If either of these have happened before you submit, you should complete an EC claim instead of an ELP. Step 2 – Submit an ELP: Immediately after you submit your late assignment, submit an ELP using the online form, including supporting evidence (unless self-certifying). Step 3 – Outcome: If your claim is accepted, late penalties will be waived. We will email you the outcome for both successful and unsuccessful claims.

What are the university's late penalty policies?

Assignments that are submitted after the deadline are subject to a late penalty, deducting 5% of the total marks possible per 24-hour period from your final grade.

  • Late penalties begin at precisely the set deadline (to the second), and include weekends.
  • For the first 5 days, any late penalty you receive cannot take you below the passing mark (it will not make a pass a fail).
  • After 5 days you receive a mark of zero.

 

Your assignment can not be accepted if the earliest of the following has happened:

  • It is more than 14-days from the original deadline.
  • The module co-ordinator has released feedback.

If you feel you have a sufficient reason for missing an assignment, please have a look at the Extenuating Circumstances Information.

 

What is an Exemption from Late Penalty (ELP) claim?

If you are going to incur late penalties by submitting beyond the deadline, and you feel like you have a sufficient reason for submitting late (detailed below), you can submit an Exemption from Late Penalty (ELP) claim to request for the late penalties to be removed.

ELPs are not deadline extensions. Only students with pre-authorised Student Support Information Sheets are permitted to request coursework deadline extensions. All other students must engage with the ELP procedure by submitting their ELP claim at the same time as the late assignment (or at the earliest opportunity thereafter); all ELP claims submitted before submission of the assignment will be denied (except when relating to a Final Year Project, which may be submit in advance).

 

If your ELP claim is unsuccessful, you will receive an email explaining why it was not approved. 

If successful, you and the relevant module coordinator will receive confirmation via email - ELP claims are confidential, and no sensitive information is shared with the module coordinator.

If you feel an approved ELP has not been applied to one of your assignments, please contact the module coordinator directly, as it is the responsibility of the module coordinator to ensure late penalties are correctly removed for successful ELP claims.

 

Will my ELP be accepted?/ What evidence do you require?

For an ELP to be accepted, students must provide the following in accordance with the Extenuating Circumstances Policy: 

  1. A valid reason for why they were unable to meet the deadline.
  2. Sufficient evidence to support your claim.
    • Evidence you submit must be dated to around the same time as the assessment you are claiming for.

 

Please refer to our Code of Practice on Assessment - Appendix M - Annex 1 for a non-exhaustive list of examples regarding what counts as extenuating circumstances (Page 2), and for examples of sufficient evidence (Page 7).

Examples of sufficient reasons for an ELP: Serious short-term ill health (mental or physical). Worsening of a declared long-term health condition. Bereavement. Significant adverse personal/ family circumstances. Examples of reasons that are NOT sufficient: Inadequate planning/ Poor time management. Minor illnesses. Financial suspension. Anticipated events (Holidays, weddings, etc.)

 

What are "Self-Certify" opportunities?

All students have two opportunities per academic year to submit an ELP without providing evidence - These are called "Self-Certify" opportunities. However, you must still provide a valid reason for why you have submitted late. We highly recommend you save these limited opportunities for when you really need them (When you are unable to obtain sufficient evidence to support your claim).

 

Can I submit the ELP before I submit my assignment?

No, you must submit your ELP request at the same time as the late assignment, or at the earliest opportunity thereafter.

  • Any ELP submit in advance of the assignment will be denied.
  • Any ELP submit beyond 2 weeks of the assignment's submission will be denied. 

 

Final Year Projects

ELPs relating to Final Year projects are the exception to the above rule, and these are encouraged to be submit in advance.

 

How do ELPs work for group projects?

ELP claims for group submissions follow two different paths, one including sufficient supporting evidence, and one for self-certifying:

 

  • If the student responsible for the delayed group submission has a valid reason and sufficient supporting evidence:
    • Only the student who caused the delay has to submit an ELP claim.
    • They must include the names and student IDs of each group member affected in their claim.

 

  • The student responsible for the delayed group submission has a valid reason, but is using one of their self-certify opportunities:
    • The student who caused the delay submits an ELP claim, including the names and student IDs of each affected group member.
    •  Each group member must also submit an ELP claim, using one of their self-certify opportunities, citing the student responsible and reason for the delay.

 

If accepted, late penalties are waived for the whole group. If denied, late penalties stand, as team organisation and coordination to meet deadlines as a group are part of the intended difficulty of group projects. 

 

Can I submit an Extenuating Circumstances (EC) claim too?

Yes, ELPs are only used to request removal of late penalties. If you feel like your performance has been negatively impacted by circumstances beyond your control, and you would like them taken into consideration by the university, please have a look at the Extenuating Circumstances Information.

 

Can I submit an ELP for a module outside of Computer Science? 

Please seek advice from the Student Experience Team of the module's home department for further information:

 

Where can I find the form to submit an ELP request for a Computer Science module? 

Click Here for the Exemption from Late Penalty (ELP) Form