Questions on Self-Certification
This is a simplified form of the standard EC provision that supports students affected by short-term unexpected illness or disruption to their studies. Self-certification allows you the opportunity and responsibility to submit a claim for a five working day extension, without the need to provide evidence. This will be automatically granted; however, it is only permitted twice in one academic year. This is in recognition that it is not always possible or appropriate for you to seek an appointment, or consult with a GP, for short-term illness, nor is it always possible to obtain evidence for other short-term circumstances.
Subsequent requests in the same academic year will need to be submitted using the standard exceptional circumstances form and will require evidence in the normal way.
On the self-certification request form, assessments will be available to select for extensions from two working days prior to the original coursework submission deadline and until two working days afterwards.
Please note: The self-certification option is not available for every type of assessment and can only be used for a five working day extension for eligible coursework. Please read the Self-Cart FAQs below for further details on how and on what timescales you can submit a self-certification request, and what assessments fall in scope for self-certification. If the assessment you are wanting to apply a self-certification for is not in scope for self-certification you will need to submit either a standard EC or PREC request as applicable.
The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below explain a number of important aspects relating to Self-Certification for Exceptional Circumstance requests:
You can request and keep track of your self-certification requests through RISIS. To make a request for a five working day self-certification extension you will need to follow these steps:
1. Log in to the RISIS portal
2. Go to the ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ under ‘Actions’
3. To apply select the ‘new self-certification request’ button and follow the guidance on the form page.
a. Answer question 1 - When did these circumstances start to affect your studies?
b. Answer question 2 - When did these circumstances stop affecting your studies?
c. Answer question 3 - Nature of exceptional circumstances (select from dropdown list)
d. I f not registered with the Disability Advisory Service question 4 does not apply, so please leave response as ‘No’. If registered with Disability Advisory Service, please see FAQ on ‘Can I use self- certification if am registered with the Disability Advisory Service and have a general agreement for extensions as a reasonable adjustment?’
e. Tick to select relevant module(s)
f. Tick to select relevant assessment(s)
4. Submit your request.
A self-certification request form should normally be submitted before the deadline for submission of the coursework, but requests will be accepted up to two working days after the original coursework deadline. For example, if your coursework is due in on Wednesday you can request a five working day extension to that deadline via the self-certification form from Monday 00:00 (midnight) until Friday 23:59.
The original submission time still applies, so in this example, if your Wednesday deadline was 12.00 noon your five working day extension is until Wednesday 12.00 noon of the following week (Unless there are UK bank holidays or University closure dates within that five working day period). Work submitted after the extended deadline will be considered late and late penalties will apply.
If your request is accepted, you will receive a confirmation email that your self-certification five working day extension request has been processed and approved, and it will be recorded on RISIS. If the request is not eligible, you will receive an immediate notification message on screen and are advised to submit a request through the standard, non-self-certification, EC form.
The self-certification extension will be for five working days (note: working days do not include weekends, UK bank holidays or University closure dates).
It is NOT permitted to use two self-certification requests consecutively for the same piece(s) of work (i.e. seeking a ten-day extension in total).
The ability to self-certify for an extension due to exceptional circumstances (EC) is only permitted twice in one academic year.
If you have already requested self-certification on two occasions during an academic year you will be directed to submit your request, together with evidence, using the standard EC form. The original deadline for the coursework will apply until the evidence has been received and the request approved.
If you have had a self-certification confirmed and wish to request a further extension, you can do this through the standard EC process. However, normal advice applies around the advisability to work towards the agreed deadline whilst your standard EC extension request is being processed. In such cases, please make sure you provide your correct current deadline (i.e. the original deadline plus two working days) in the modules/activities affected section of the standard EC form and indicate in the additional notes section that you have had a self-certification granted for the assessment(s)
You should submit a self-certification request where:
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Reasonable adjustments have already been put in place for that assessment, but you are then faced with additional circumstances beyond your control.
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Your studies have been impaired by the new circumstances.
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If reasonable adjustments have been put in place for this assessment and you then require additional time due to exceptional circumstances, you should:
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First use your 5+/10 days reasonable adjustment as per your Individual Learning Plan;
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You can then submit a self-certification form for the additional five-day extension in the normal way.
The self-certification option is not available for every type of assessment and can only be used for a five working day extension for eligible coursework. Schools have been consulted on coursework assessments to be included/excluded from self-certification. Please see the guide below:
Schools have been consulted on coursework assessments to be included/excluded from self-certification. Self-certification is NOT permitted, for example, for in-class tests, performances, presentations, live practicals (including fieldwork), computer-marked Blackboard tests, and assessments where late submission for a mark is not permitted. If your piece of coursework is not eligible for self-certification (e.g. it is an examination or a piece of coursework for which self-certification is not available), you will not be able to self-certify for that assessment.
If your assessment is not eligible for self-certification then you will need to submit a request, together with evidence, using the standard, non-self-certification, exceptional circumstances form. The original deadline for the coursework will apply until the evidence has been received and the request approved.
If you are still unsure whether one of your assessments is eligible for self-certification, please speak with the module convenor.
Although it is possible to submit both a self-certification and a standard EC request form, we will not be able to withdraw your self-certification request if you are subsequently granted an extension through your standard EC request form. This may therefore effectively result in you ‘wasting’ one of the two self-certification EC requests you are permitted to make in each academic year.
Please speak with your Student Support Coordinator, International Study and Language Institute (ISLI) Helpdesk or Henley Business School Office if you are unsure.
- Your Student Support Coordinator or relevant support staff in ISLI/HBS
- Your Academic Tutor or the School Director Academic Tutoring
- The Advice Service at Reading Students' Union: email advice@rusu.co.uk or call 0118 378 4100
- For students on Henley Greenlands-based programmes contact your Programme Administrator