Mitigating circumstances for Postgraduate applicants

This information is for applicants and prospective students. If you're already a student at York and have concerns about your studies please contact your academic department and read our guidance on exceptional circumstances.

What are mitigating circumstances

Mitigating circumstances are exceptional, unforeseen and unpreventable events that may have a significantly disruptive effect on your ability to study. These events are normally outside of your control, and may affect your ability to attend college or university, prepare academic work or prepare for and attend examinations.

Examples of mitigating circumstances that disrupt studies

Below are just some examples of circumstances that we may consider, but please note that this list is by no means comprehensive. All we ask is that you use the form to tell us about circumstances that have affected you and which have been outside your immediate control.

• a period of ill-health affecting performance in examinations or other pieces of assessed work
• bereavement of an immediate family member
• other personal, social or domestic circumstances, such as a relationship breakdown at home
• a disability or long-standing medical condition.

What to do if your studies have been disrupted

Let us know by completing our mitigating circumstances form below.

You can submit this form at any time after you have made your postgraduate application.

Once we receive your form

All forms that include a full description of the nature of the mitigating circumstances will be considered, as part of the admissions process. This may be taken into account when making you an offer or assessing your final award where the University considers it appropriate to do so.

Postgraduate mitigating circumstances form