Postponement of Assessment (R33) - Submission Portal

Submission Deadlines 2024/2025:

Two Weeks before the commencement of the relevant exam session i.e. Semester One, Semester Two or Autumn Resits

• Semester One Modules - before 4.00pm on Monday 25th November, 2024. 
• Semester Two Modules - before 4.00pm on Monday 7 April, 2025
• Autumn Resits/Summer modules - before 4.00pm on Monday 14 July, 2025. 

What if I miss the deadline for postponement of assessment/examination?

After these dates, student should submit Extenuating circumstances (R30).  Programme chair approval is not required for Extenuating circumstances and they will be approved at the progression and award boards. 

Please see Extenuating circumstances (R30) Submission portal. 

Under what circumstances should this form be completed?

The Postponement of assessment (R33) should be completed if you are aware, in advance,  that you will be unable to sit an examination or complete an assignment and wish to postpone this to the next available sitting, (as outlined in module specifications).  A postponement of assessment may be submitted due to exceptional circumstances as outlined below.

• Illness, injury, accident or hospitalisation:

Appropriate original supporting evidence must be supplied by a registered medical practitioner, health professional, registered counsellor/psychotherapist or psychologist

• Family illness (specify relationship):

Appropriate original supporting evidence must be supplied by a registered medical practitioner or other health professional

• Bereavement  (specify relationship):

Appropriate supporting evidence must be supplied

• Other personal or emotional circumstances:

Appropriate original supporting evidence must be supplied by a registered medical practitioner,  health professional or Student Support professional

• Victim of Crime:

Supporting evidence must be provided by a member of An Garda Síochána, or use the previous option if the crime has resulted in serious personal or emotional circumstances

• Other,  please specify: 

Appropriate original supporting evidence must be supplied.

The postponement of assessment is not for:
1) Short term extensions: these should be discussed with your module coordinator. 
2) Extenuating circumstances: The extenuating circumstances (R30) allows you to bring to the attention of the university, unplanned circumstances which may have affected your performance in a completed assessment, or one which occur after the closing date for application for postponements. 
Please see extenuating circumstances Submission portal (R30)             

Student Steps for submitting Postponement of assessments (R33)

1) Gather relevant supporting documentation for your personal circumstances.  

2) Fill out the "R33 Rationale form: Postponement of Assessment" detailing the reason for your application for postponement.

• Word: R33 Rationale form: Postponement of Assessment
• PDF: R33 Rationale form: Postponement of Assessment

3) Discuss the rationale for your application with your programme chairperson . Secure approval from your programme chair (either by signature on the R33 form or via email) (Evidence of this will need to be attached to your submission) 

4) Once you have the following to hand you may proceed to fill in the below webform. 

• R33 Rationale form for Postponement of assessment
• Programme chair approval (Email or signature) 
• Supporting documentation.

5) Follow the steps on the Submission portal.  Once you upload your documentation and press submit, you will receive an email confirming the receipt of your application for postponement by DCU

6) DCU Registry will email students to confirm your postponement has been applied in advance of the examination diet. 

7) All applications for Postponement of Assessment are ratified by the progression and award board (PAB). Final decision regarding postponements will be displayed when you receive your examination results. 

You can find the specific dates for PABs and promulgation of results by referring to the Academic Calendar.  

Supporting Documentation

You must submit relevant supporting documentation which provides confirmation/evidence of your application.

Failure to supply this will prevent your form being considered. The types of document/evidence required is given below. The University requires that these circumstances are confirmed by the professional indicated in each case below.  Please note supporting evidence is non-returnable.

• Illness, injury, accident or hospitalisation:

Appropriate original supporting evidence must be supplied by a registered medical practitioner, health professional, registered counsellor/psychotherapist or psychologist

• Family illness (specify relationship):

Appropriate original supporting evidence must be supplied by a registered medical practitioner or other health professional

• Bereavement  (specify relationship):

Appropriate supporting evidence must be supplied

• Other personal or emotional circumstances:

Appropriate original supporting evidence must be supplied by a registered medical practitioner,  health professional or Student Support professional

• Victim of Crime:

Supporting evidence must be provided by a member of An Garda Síochána, or use the previous option if the crime has resulted in serious personal or emotional circumstances

• Other,  please specify: 

Appropriate original supporting evidence must be supplied.

Approval from Programme Chairperson

Student should discuss their rationale for applying for postponement of assessment with their Programme Chairperson.
 

Fill out the "Rationale for Postponement of assessment" form detailing the reason for your application for postponement.

• Word: R33 Rationale form: Postponement of Assessment
• PDF: R33 Rationale form: Postponement of Assessment

Discuss the rationale for your application with your programme chairperson. This can be done via email or in person. 

Secure approval by programme chair either by signature on the rationale form or via email. Evidence of this will need to be attached to your Postponement of Assessment (R33) application. 

Can I postpone my Semester 1, Semester 2 and my August resit now?

You will need to complete the Postponement of assessment process (R33) for each diet of examinations. This can be submitted at any time, before the deadline of the specific semester that you are looking to postpone. You are responsible to submit supporting documentation that covers each period postponed. 

Please note: If you postpone your August resit attempt, you will be required to register for the full module again in the next academic session. You will be required to take all assessment elements for the module (no elements are carried forward). You will (in most cases) not be eligible to progress to the next academic year and you will not be able to graduate. There may also be fee implications.

If I submit a Postponement of assessment (R33), what happens next?

Once you upload your documentation and press submit, you will receive an email confirming the receipt of your application for postponement by DCU.

DCU Registry will email you to confirm your postponement has been applied in advance of the examination diet. 

All applications for postponement are ratified by the progression and award board (PAB). Final decision regarding postponements will be displayed when you receive your examination results. 

You can find the specific dates for PABs and promulgation of results by referring to the Academic Calendar.  

If I postpone my assessment what happens to my overall grade?

Your overall grade is only calculated once you have completed all module assessments for the first time. The overall grade will be deferred until this time.

When can I resit a deferred module?

Deferred modules should be taken at the next available opportunity as defined in the reassessment requirement in the module specifications.  There may be a resit in the current academic year or you may be required to register for the next academic session.

What are Resit Category 2 modules?

A small number of modules are designated as Resit Category 2.  These are modules which are 100% Continuous Assessment and a resit of the assessment is not possible in August meaning you must register for the module in the next academic year.  The resit category is listed on the module specifications. 

Any queries regarding your form submission can be directed to Registry via email: examinations@dcu.ie

Please reference your Student ID number (as per your student ID card)