Reasons and documentation
Special Consideration is one of several possible adjustments to assessments available at La Trobe University.
It is specifically intended to support students who experience serious short-term, unforeseen, or exceptional life events or circumstances that substantially affect their ability to complete an assessment task to the best of their potential.
If you are applying for Special Consideration due to direct circumstances related to the current conflict in the Middle East please outline these clearly in your application.
Documentation
Official and verifiable supporting documentation must be provided.
Documentation must indicate the date of the exceptional or unforeseen circumstances and the duration/dates of impact.
Students can submit a single Special Consideration application for multiple assessments. However, all supplied supporting documents must be dated and must cover the dates of all assessment tasks.
Important note:
- Documents in a language other than English, must have the English translation prepared by an accredited translator.
- The certification must be on the copy, not on another page attached to the copy.
Fraudulent or misleading information
Falsifying documents is considered fraud under the Victorian Crimes Act 1958 and is treated very seriously. This includes:
- creating (or allowing another person to create) and providing forged or falsified documents (both medical and non-medical)
- changing a supporting document provided by another person
- purchasing fraudulent documents from websites
If you’re having problems getting a suitable document, please contact us as soon as possible at ASK La Trobe to discuss your situation and options.
The consequences for providing false or misleading information in an application or supporting documentation include, but are not limited to, failure for all or any part of an assessment task, failure of a subject, suspension and expulsion.
You must be aware of your obligations and responsibilities as a La Trobe student under the La Trobe student academic misconduct policy.
Examples of acceptable grounds for Special Consideration and documentation include:
Category | Circumstance | Required supporting documentation |
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Students registered with |
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| Medical, including serious illness or injury |
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Emotional distress |
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Please note: A medical certificate will only be accepted if it outlines: |
Misadventure |
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| Bereavement |
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As always, where there are special circumstances, these will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you are having difficulties around placements, contact your placements office in the first instance.
If you are having difficulties with your studies or don’t think that you can submit your assessment task by the due date, speak to your subject coordinator in the first instance.
Unavoidable commitments known in advance are not handled via Special Consideration and are managed instead through an application for an Alternative Exam Arrangement. For example:
- armed services duty
- artistic commitments
- elite athlete commitments
- exam or assessment clash at other institution
- jury duty or court appearance
- emergency services employee or volunteer
- religious or cultural obligations
Read about alternative arrangements for the above circumstances.
Privacy statement
La Trobe University respects the privacy of your personal information. We collect personal information in order to assess your eligibility for special consideration. Documentation that you provide as part of a special consideration application is strictly confidential and is subject to the protections of relevant privacy laws. Your confidential information is only made available to authorised staff as part of the special consideration process. You may have the right to access the personal information that we hold about you subject to any exemptions in relevant laws, by contacting ASK La Trobe.