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For 2024-25, a new policy, the Delayed Assessment Scheme will be introduced. Approved by Education Committee, following significant consultation with Faculties and Departments, this has been created in partnership with Faculties, Student Registry Services, Students’ Union UCL and education teams across UCL.

• What is the Delayed Assessment Scheme? The Delayed Assessment Scheme is a policy that allows students to use a maximum of 3 permits per year to get automatic mitigation on a chosen assessment, such as a 5-working day extension or a deferral.Ìý

• How is the Delayed Assessment Scheme different from Extenuating Circumstances? Extenuating Circumstances (EC) are for emergencies that are sudden, unexpected and beyond the student's control. EC submissions require evidence and can result in different types of mitigation. The Delayed Assessment Scheme does not require evidence or minimum grounds and has fixed mitigation for each assessment.Ìý

• Why was the scheme developed? The Delayed Assessment Scheme was developed to support students in balancing their studies, student life and wellbeing. It also aims to reduce the frustration and administrative burden of the previous self-certification policy, which had a high workload, high approval rate but varied mitigation for different students and questionable authenticity.Ìý

• What are the limitations of the scheme? Whilst there are no minimum grounds, the Delayed Assessment Scheme is more restrictive in its use than self-certification. Not only is the mitigation fixed for each assessment, but the scheme does not apply to group work, and other assessments can be exceptionally excluded from the scheme. Students can also only defer up to 30 credits of exams.ÌýÌý

• How do students use the scheme? Students can see the eligible assessments and the predetermined flexibility for each one on Portico. They can notify UCL that they are using one of their 3 Delayed Assessment Permits (DAPs) before the assessment deadline and no more than two weeks in advance. They will also be asked to give a reason for using a permit so they can be signposted to relevant support.Ìý

What next? Faculties have received an email including the policy and FAQs. This email also details how departments can submit any limited exemptions.Ìý
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We are about to enter a testing phase of the system, which is largely based on the current extenuating circumstances system and are confident that the system will be live for the start of term.Ìý

Information on websites and in the Academic Manual will be updated by Monday 2 September. Ìý

We will be holding an online Townhall event on Wednesday 18th September at 2pm. During this session, we will provide an overview of the Delayed Assessment Scheme policy, process and system developments and you will have the opportunity to ask questions.ÌýÌýComplete the to register your interest and receive an invitation.Ìý

I would like to thank all staff and students involved in this new policyÌý

We would like to add more thanks to all staff and students who helped create this new policy; it has been a true collaborative effort.

Contact details for further information:Ìýapqs@ucl.ac.uk