Extenuating Circumstances in UCAS University Applications
Extenuating Circumstances in UCAS University Applications
As more and more students will be putting together UCAS applications for university in preparation for January deadlines, we approached our brilliant university and school leaver consultant - Sarah McWatters - to discuss Extenuating Circumstances and SEND support for university applications. Sarah is an experienced and encouraging consultant, who always looks to provide a student with a full range of options.
Extenuating Circumstances (or mitigating circumstances) are any traumatic event beyond the control of the student which negatively impacts their studies or exams. Going through events like illness, bereavement or challenging family situations are tough at the best of times, but when the affected student is in the middle of public exams they pose extra challenges.
Universities treat students kindly and take extenuating circumstances into account, however they do tend to view some circumstances more seriously than others. For example, the death of a parent will obviously be taken very seriously. Other examples of circumstances a university will take seriously include: the death of a family member living in the family home, divorce, or prolonged absence from school due to illness. However, universities might not take cases such as the death of a family member living in another country quite as seriously, despite their obviously being upsetting for family members.
In order for universities to consider mitigating circumstances, you will need to provide sufficient evidence that your particular circumstances have affected your child's educational achievement. While there is no set list, and every application's circumstances are accounted for separately, the most common examples considered include:
Issues in School (anything from staffing issues / teacher replacements leading to missed learned material, to severe bullying)
Supporting family members (e.g. help caring for young siblings), leading to a decline in or distraction to studying
Disruptions in learning such as moving countries, relocating schools, or moving house
Illnesses of any kind
SEND of any kind
For further guidance on individual needs, you can find support on the official UCAS Website.
To have your SEND taken into account at university, pre-existing and known conditions can be included on the UCAS form. At the end of the ‘Personal Details’ tab there is a drop-down box and a free-text box; students should select the pre-written description which applies to them in the drop-down, and use the free-text box to add any other details. For example, you could write: “I have 25% extra time in exams and the use of a computer.”
The main reason to fill in this form is so universities know what support to provide for students when they arrive for their first year. This support could range from the provision of a laptop or a scribe for written exams, to special arrangements for accommodation.
Students should feel very comfortable applying for this support. There is no discrimination and the confidentiality of the student is maintained absolutely. Information is only shared with those individuals at the university who are directly responsible for student support, such as student services, or an academic tutor. If students need support beyond what has been arranged in advance, they can contact the universities individually either before arriving or on arrival.
For further guidance on the new 2024 format for UCAS reference examples, refer to UCAS's guide.
Beyond these basics, there can often be overlap between the categories, complicating the above picture. For example, a SEN can often be seen as an extenuating circumstance if the condition is only diagnosed after the exam has already been taken. In such a case, we recommend that a student both contact the university as if it's an extenuating circumstance and update the UCAS to reflect their having a SEN.
The main message to take on board, despite the complications, is that it’s advisable to be upfront with your situation to universities. Students should let their UCAS referee know sooner rather than later, and contact universities well in advance to find out how to inform them of their situation.
Once you’ve told your UCAS referee about your SEN or extenuating circumstance, they might need to update their reference accordingly. For your SEN, they will only need to do this if it has been diagnosed late, since there is space on the UCAS form for you to enter the details. For example, a referee might write: “Student X was diagnosed with dyslexia after their GCSE/A level exams, resulting in lower-than-expected grades. Documents are available upon request.” That last sentence - “Documents are available upon request” - can be added to any academic reference as appropriate. For extenuating circumstances, meanwhile, your referee should add a brief description, for example: "Student X was ill with glandular fever during the April before A-level exams, resulting in lost time for revision. Documents are available upon request.”
Overall, being candid about any SEN or extenuating circumstance is always the best approach. That way, students can give themselves a fair chance and ensure they have any necessary support ready to go.
We hope this has provided some helpful advice about SEN and extenuating circumstances in regards to university applications. To arrange a session with Sarah, get in touch with us today.
Extenuating circumstances refer to any significant personal, medical, or educational challenges that may have adversely impacted your academic performance. This could include serious illness, bereavement, family issues, or other disruptions that affected your ability to achieve your predicted grades or participate in the usual academic processes.
You should inform UCAS about your extenuating circumstances by including the relevant details in your personal statement or asking a teacher or referee to mention them in your reference. Additionally, you can contact the universities directly to explain how your situation may have affected your academic performance.
Typical examples of extenuating circumstances include:
Long-term or severe illness
Bereavement of a close family member or friend
Mental health challenges
Family issues such as divorce or financial instability
Disruption caused by events such as moving schools frequently or living in care
Any other significant situation that impacted your studies
While extenuating circumstances are taken seriously and can result in flexibility from universities, they do not automatically guarantee an offer. Admissions teams will assess each case individually, considering both your circumstances and academic potential.
Your referee can include a brief but clear explanation of your extenuating circumstances in their reference. It is crucial that they provide a factual account of how these circumstances affected your studies without breaching your privacy or providing excessive details. Their role is to ensure the admissions teams understand the context behind your academic record.
Yes, it is often helpful to provide supporting evidence, especially if the circumstances were medical or involved significant life events. This could be a doctor’s letter, therapist's report, or a formal letter from a school outlining the situation and its impact on your education. Always check with the individual universities regarding their specific requirements for evidence.
Yes, if your circumstances change or you need to provide additional information after submitting your application, you can contact the universities directly. It’s important to inform them as soon as possible to ensure they can consider your situation in their decision-making process.
Not all universities will approach extenuating circumstances in the same way. Some may offer more flexibility depending on their policies and the nature of your circumstances. It’s advisable to check with individual universities about how they treat extenuating circumstances in their admissions process.
If extenuating circumstances impacted your academic performance, your teachers might take this into account when predicting your grades. It's essential to communicate with your teachers early so they can reflect your potential more accurately when considering the challenges you've faced.
Some universities may offer additional support or consideration during the application process. This could include flexible entry requirements or additional interviews to assess your potential. If you’re concerned about how your circumstances might affect your application, reach out to the admissions offices of the universities to discuss what options may be available.
