If you have a condition or unavoidable situation that is likely to impact your performance in exams we may be able to grant you extra help or make special arrangements to support you. This is called having 'alternative arrangements' and can be applied for through the specific circumstances process.
The type of support we can give you depends on the situation impacting your ability to undertake an exam. Alternative arrangements might include:
- extra time for resting, writing or typing if you have a disability or impairment or another complex situation
- different timing or format or arrangements if you have a disability, impairment or complex situation.
Who can apply
You can apply for alternative arrangements if:
- you have an injury, impairment or disability
- you have a complex situation that will stop you from undertaking or completing the exam or fixed time and place assessment as it has been planned
- you're breastfeeding a young baby up to the age of 12 months.
We may require supporting documentation from you before we can assess your application. If this is the case, we will notify you through the student portal.
If you miss an exam because you're giving birth or because your baby arrives early, you don't need alternative arrangements. Instead, you should apply for an aegrotat, so we take your circumstances into account when we calculate your course grade.
Deadlines for applying for alternative arrangements and special assistance
You will need to apply for alternative arrangements and special assistance before our deadlines each semester if it is possible to do so.
- Summer School 2023: 10 January 2024
- Semester One 2024: 1 May 2024
- Semester Two 2024: 18 September 2024
- Summer School 2024: 8 January 2025
If you get injured or ill or something in your life becomes very complex after our deadlines, contact Assessment Services at exams@massey.ac.nz as soon as possible. We'll make alternative arrangements for you if we can.
How to apply
To apply for alternative arrangements:
2
Go to the Student support tab.
3
Click the Create new request button.
4
Click the option button next to Consideration for a remedy, alternative exam arrangement or assessment extension request due to personal circumstances, such as illness, injury, disability, or learning impairment that has impacted or will impact my current study.
5
Consider attaching any documents that you have which may be relevant as this will help speed up the processing.
6
Complete the form and click the Submit button.
We may require supporting documentation from you before we can assess your application. If this is the case, we will notify you through the student portal.
If you need assistance with filling in the form, please view the following online guide.
How to apply for specific circumstances guide
When you'll find out if your application has been successful
We'll let you know whether we can make alternative arrangements for you as soon as we can before your exam period begins.
- Semesters One and Two: about 3 weeks before exams.
- Summer School: about 2 weeks before exams.
Duration of arrangements
We will try to make an evaluation on the duration of alternative arrangements required based on the information you provide us in your application. If your condition or situation is permanent, we are likely to make your alternative arrangements permanent too (for your time at Massey), so you won’t need to fill in a new form each semester.
If your condition or circumstances are temporary, we will make an evaluation of how long alternative arrangements are required for. Temporary conditions include:
- breastfeeding a young baby up to the age of 12 months
- injuries
- illnesses or impairments that can change over time, like anxiety or repetitive strain injury
- complex situations impacting the ability to complete the exam as it was designed.
Other fixed time and place assessments
To get alternative arrangements for other assessments, apply for specific circumstances consideration by going to the Student support tab in the student portal.
Contact Disability Services if the situation relates to a disability or impairment.
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