Extenuating Circumstance (EC) Information (24/25)

EC Information
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This page will help inform you about what an Extenuating Circumstances (EC) claim is, and give you more information about how to submit one. 

Below you will find:

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

Have you been negatively impacted by conditions beyond your control, impacting your performance or causing you to miss an assessment? These are called Extenuating Circumstances (ECs). EC claims are considered by the EC Committee to ensure your studies are not disadvantaged. Want specific circumstances taken into consideration by the university? Submit an EC EC claims are treated confidentially and considered on a case-by-case basis. The outcome of the EC Committee will be available in the EC portal around the same time as results are released. EC Claims are an Evidence-Based Process You must provide sufficient evidence to support your claim for it to be considered by the EC Committee. Your evidence must also be contemporary with assessments you are claiming for. Include All Affected Assessments in One Claim Please do not submit individual EC claims per assessment, you can include them all in one. Do not worry if you need to add more in the future, we can return your claim for you to update upon request. EC Claims Cannot Remove Late Penalties For this you must submit an ELP claim at the same time as your late submission.

What does an EC claim do? 

EC claims allow for the university to be aware of significant outside influences that could be impacting a student's academic performance. All EC claims are reviewed by the EC Committee, who meet at the end of each assessment period (Semester 1, Semester 2, Summer/ August resits/ January starter equivalents). EC claim outcomes are made available in the EC Portal (where you make your EC claim) shortly after results are released for the relevant assessment period.

If the EC Committee decide an EC claim has a satisfactory reason, supported by sufficient evidence, they can take certain actions to ensure that the student's studies are not disadvantaged. As examples, these can include (but are not limited to):

  • Allow "first attempt" status for a resit/ repeat attempt (removing the usual cap at the passing mark).
  • Exclude a component from the overall calculation of a module's average (not applicable to Final Year students).
  • Have ECs be taken into consideration during the overall calculation of a degree's classification.

 

What counts as Extenuating Circumstances? 

Extenuating Circumstances refer to events beyond a student's control that are likely to impact their performance in assessments, or causes them to miss an assessment altogether (including exams, class tests, essays, practical sessions, etc).

 

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

Examples Table

 

What counts as sufficient evidence?

EC Claims are an evidence-based process; if you submit an EC claim without providing sufficient evidence the EC Committee will deny your claim.

 

Please take note of the following to ensure your EC claim evidence is sufficient: 

  • The evidence you submit must adequately support the circumstances you are claiming for.
    • E.g. Appointment confirmations are not adequate, as they do not prove your attendance. 
    • E.g. Pictures of prescribed medication that does not include a name or date are not adequate.

  • You must provide evidence that is dated around the same time to the components you are claiming for.
    • Evidence that is not adequately dated relative to the components claimed for may not be accepted. 

  • Documentation provided in languages other than English must have an official translation provided.
    • In the event you do not have independent documentary evidence, the EC Committee may consider evidence that you have been engaging with the university Student Support Services around the time of the affected assessments (but this is not guaranteed).

 

Please refer to our Code of Practice on Assessment - Appendix M - Annex 1 for a list of examples regarding what counts as sufficient evidence (Section 3.4 - Page 7).

 

What information should I include in my EC claim?

When submitting an EC claim, you should include all affected components for a semester in one single claim (Do not send multiple EC claims for individual modules/ components). If you need to update your claim, either to provide further information, attach additional evidence, or include more affected components, please let us know by emailing csstudy@liverpool.ac.uk and we can return it back to you.

Within your claim you should describe the extenuating circumstance you are claiming for, and how it has affected your academic abilities. Please be assured that all information submit as part of an EC claim (including evidence) is treated in a highly confidential and sensitive manner. Information that is withheld on a personal or cultural basis cannot be considered as an extenuating circumstance. 

If you are submitting a retrospective EC claim (for a module from a previous semester) you must provide a clear explanation for why you were unable to submit the EC claim at the appropriate time. If your retrospective claim does not include this, it will be rejected by the EC Committee. 

 

Can I submit an Exemption from Late Penalty (ELP) claim too?

Yes, as EC claims cannot remove late penalties. If you successfully submit your work beyond the deadline, but before the soonest of either 14-days from the original deadline, advantageous feedback being released, or the last day of the assessment period, please have a look at the Exemption from Late Penalty Information. 

 

Where can I find the link to the EC Portal to submit an EC claim?

Click Here for theExtenuating Circumstances (EC) Portal