Deferral Guidance for Students

Sub-honours modules.  In-person deferrals from Semester 1 or 2 that cannot be completed during the final days of the original exam period will normally be scheduled in the extended May exam diet. If the circumstances that led to a student’s deferral request during the Semester 2 exam diet persist into the extended May assessment period, and they are unable to sit the exam at that time, Schools may arrange an in-person assessment during the week before orientation (“Week -1”), provided the module is progression-critical. If the student is unable to attend a progression-critical assessment in Week -1, they may need to take a leave of absence. Schools will publish their approach to deferral in their School Handbook(s).

Honours modules (level 3, 4 and 5 for Integrated Masters). In-person deferrals from Semester 1 that cannot be completed during the final days of the original exam period will normally be scheduled in the extended May exam diet. If a student is unable to take the deferred exam(s) in the extended May diet, then the School may permit a deferral into the next academic year, which will be subject to the limits on deferral permitted to be carried into the following academic year, see below.

In-person deferred exams from Semester 2 may be scheduled in the extended May diet, if appropriate. If the circumstances that led to a student’s deferral request during the Semester 2 exam diet persist into the extended May assessment period, and they are unable to sit the exam at that time, Schools may arrange an in-person assessment during the week before orientation (“Week -1”), provided the module is progression-critical.

Alternatively, students will be expected to take a period of Leave of Absence if they are unable to sit progression critical modules before the start of the academic year.

Semester 2 deferred exams, if they are not progression critical, may be offered centrally in the December exam diet or may be offered by the School in Independent Learning Week. A deferred examination in the next academic year ideally should be made available at the next available diet. However, it should be no later than the subsequent December diet (for Semester 1 modules) or the subsequent April/May diet (for Semester 2 modules).

Deferred assessments for final-year students will generally delay graduation. Schools will publish their approach in their School Handbook(s).

Modules taken by PGT students.  In-person deferrals will normally be scheduled for the extended May diet, if they cannot be completed during the final days of the original exam period.  If a student is unable to take the deferrals in the extended diet, the School may arrange an in-person deferred examination in the August diet (given that students will still be present in St Andrews). Any deferral beyond the August examination diet requires the permission of the Associate Provost (Students). Schools will publish their approach in their School Handbook(s).

All years.  For modules with online exams, deferrals will normally be scheduled in the extended diet (as an online exam) when they cannot be completed during the final days of the original exam period. They may be scheduled in the August diet (as an online exam) at the discretion of the School.

For coursework-only modules, Schools will set deferred submission dates. These must be set no later than the end of the May diet for Semester 1 modules and the end of the August reassessment diet for Semester 2 modules, but Schools can set earlier deadlines as they see fit. 

Deferrals for final-year students will generally delay graduation.

Sub-honours modules.  If a deferral is taken online or submitted, in the case of coursework, in the extended May or August diet and failed, reassessment may take place in the next available diet and no later than the subsequent December diet (for Semester 1 modules) or subsequent April/May diet (for Semester 2 modules) in the same format as originally specified for assessment. The only exception to this is if a module is critically required for progression to Honours, in which case Schools will organise reassessment in-house in Week 1. Alternatively, students may be expected to take a period of Leave of Absence.

Honours modules and 5000-level modules taken by Honours level and Integrated Masters students.  If a module is deferred and failed, students will generally take the reassessment as an online assessment in the following August reassessment diet. If a deferral is held as an online exam in the August diet and failed, reassessment may take place in the next available diet and no later than the subsequent December diet (for Semester 1 modules) or subsequent April/May diet (for Semester 2 modules) in the same format as originally specified for reassessment. Where Schools carry out Honours in-person oral reassessment, this should be scheduled for a time when a student is generally expected to be present in St Andrews.

Modules taken by PGT students. If a module is deferred and failed, the School will arrange for a reassessment in the same format as the initial re-assessment at the earliest practicable opportunity and no later than the August reassessment diet. If a PGT student has extenuating circumstances which require a later reassessment, the School will consult with the Provost or their delegate. Under the Classification Policy, PGT dissertations and final projects cannot be reassessed, and students may not retake modules or take additional modules to substitute for failed modules. 

Rules on limits to deferrals are available in the Assessment and Feedback Policy, which is available here

Students who have deferred 60 credits in Semester 1 will be monitored in Semester 2. They may be required to meet with the appropriate Associate Dean/Provost (Students) to discuss their progression and support and the potential for Leave of Absence in Semester 2.