An important question is “What to do if I could not submit my RAP to OBU within 10 years of eligibility period?” here is the answer.
Definition of Mitigating Circumstances as per Oxford Brookes University
Mitigating circumstances are defined by the University as circumstances which:
- are beyond the control of the student; and
- could not be reasonably accommodated by the student; and
- seriously impair the student’s performance in assessment.
All three elements need to be met before the University can make an allowance for the circumstances.
How to apply for Mitigating Circumstances?
Please email acca@brookes.ac.uk to request a Mitigating Circumstances Form. Please quote your full name and ACCA number. Please state briefly why you think you qualify for mitigating circumstances – this is very important. OBU will then email you with details of how to apply.
The following information is intended as a guide and should be read in conjunction with the University regulations on mitigating circumstances:
Details of mitigating circumstances: the student needs to describe the happening that has influenced the academic performance. This should be explained in great detail, including what and when it happened, what are the after effects, and its influence on the academic work. OBU will only consider your submission and any accompanying forms/documents, as it will not ask for further information from you or others. The student is responsible for providing all the necessary information OBU might need. If the request is denied, the student is not allowed to ask again with provision of additional documents that were not included in their first request.
Evidence – the student needs to include documented evidence from an authoritative third party (GP, a student, counsellor etc.), about the circumstances they would like to be considered, and their influence on the work. A claim is complete when it has all the necessary evidence provided, or a statement in place of evidence explaining why there is no evidence available. If any evidence is not in English, an authorized translation needs to be supplied.
In order to qualify for mitigating circumstances, a student must apply BEFORE the end of their 10 year eligibility period.
Late Applications for Mitigating Circumstances
Students who contact OBU AFTER their 10 year eligibility period has expired can apply for mitigating circumstances but their claim will be considered ‘late’.
Students MUST apply for mitigating circumstances no later than the day preceding the start of the submission period immediately following the expiry of their 10 year eligibility period.
Students CANNOT apply for mitigating circumstances more than one submission period after the expiry of their 10 year eligibility period.
Example:
Year eligibility period expires | Submission period ends on | *Mitigating circumstances application received by OBU | **Application accepted Yes/No | Reason application is accepted | Maximum extension given if Panel approve the application |
Nov 2019 | 15 Nov 2019 | 20 Nov 2019 | Yes | Within one submission period of expiry of 10 year eligibility period | To May 2020 submission period |
Nov 2019 | 15 Nov 2019 | 10 Jan 2020 | Yes | Within one submission period of 10 year eligibility period | To May 2020 submission period |
Nov 2019 | 15 Nov 2019 | 1 May 2020 | No | This is the start of the May 2020 submission period. The application should have been | N/a – application not accepted. |
*Email address of OBU: acca@brookes.ac.uk on
**Note: Note that this does not mean that an extension will be granted. In all these cases, the student will have to provide reasons for lateness as well as reasons and evidence of mitigating circumstances
The student will have to provide:
Evidence on why the application is late, and needs to cover the last day of submission period in which the student is eligible to submit. An explanation and evidence needs to be provided, along with reasons as why the student was late in contacting OBU, knowing that the 10 year eligibility period has expired.
The Panel will consider if the submitted reasons and provided evidence for lateness are acceptable. After this, the Panel will consider the reasons and provided evidence for the mitigating circumstances.
Maximum Extension
All the mitigating circumstances applications are handled and examined by OBU’s Business School Mitigating Circumstance Panel; which awards a maximum extension of one submission period.
ACCA Account Suspended
Should a student apply for mitigating circumstances, and meanwhile gets their ACCA account suspended, and mitigating circumstance accepted, the student needs to resolve the ACCA suspension before they can submit a project. This needs to be resolved with the ACCA: students@accaglobal.com
All students engaged in taught programmes that lead to an Oxford Brookes University award are governed by university Regulations A3.5 ‘Consideration of mitigating circumstances’, which can be found at: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/regulations/
Section 5.3 (A3.5.5.3) of the above regulation describes the way in which evidence is submitted and by whom the evidence is considered, the allowance determined and so on. For the BSc in Applied Accounting programme, the responsibilities are as follows:
Situation | Evidence Submitted To… | Evidence Considered By… | Allowance Deter mined By… | Outcome Relayed | Evidence Held By… | Self-certification |
During study, notified before The submissions deadline; requests of up to 1 week. (On-time application for a 1 week extension). | OBU ACCA office | Module leader | Module leader | MCP secretary | OBU ACCA office | Yes |
During study, notified before The submissions deadline; requests of 1-5 weeks (On- time application for a 1-5 week extension). | OBU ACCA office | MCP sub group or by circulation of papers | MCP sub-group | MCP secretary | OBU ACCA Office | No |
Non- submission, notified in student’s final eligible submission period; requests of more than 5 weeks. (On-time application for a one period extension.) | OBU ACCA office | MCP – meeting shortly after submission deadline, or by circulation of papers | Exam committee chair (on behalf of the exam committee) | MCP secretary | OBU ACCA Office | No |
Non-submission after ten year period has elapsed, notified before the start of the submission period immediately following the 10 year deadline. Reasons for late application MUST be provided. | OBU ACCA office | MCP sub group or by circulation of papers | Exam committee chair (on behalf of the exam committee) | MCP secretary | OBU ACCA Office | No |
Non- submission, notified within 5 weeks of submissions deadline, student has one or more periods remaining (see note * below) Reasons for late application MUST be provided. | OBU ACCA office | MCP sub group or by circulation of papers | MCP sub-group | MCP secretary | OBU ACCA office | No |
Note: *
Maximum extension granted: 5 weeks from the submissions deadline (eg. if your claim is received 2 weeks after the submissions deadline, the maximum extension granted would be 3 weeks. If your claim received 4 weeks after the submissions deadline, the maximum extension granted would be 1 week).
Section 5.4 (A3.5.5.4) of the above regulation describes the composition of the Mitigating Circumstances Panel. For the BSc in Applied Accounting programme, the MCP is made up as follows:
The MCP should contain staff from the Oxford Brookes Business School, including academic and support staff as appropriate. The MCP should consist of at least three individuals plus a secretary, but may include others up to a maximum of five plus a secretary.
In all other respects, standard university regulations for consideration of mitigating circumstances apply.
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