What Is The Purpose Of Mitigating Circumstances?
A levels, or equivalent, can be intimidating. These exams act as both the first and final hurdle to applying for medical school: you’ll need high predicted grades and then you’ll need to meet your offer conditions. We have more information on the qualifications you need here.
Doing well in your exams can be even more challenging when you have circumstances beyond your control affecting your performance. These could be illness, bereavement, school closure, or family breakdown, to give some examples. If you’re experiencing these, medical schools can take these factors into account when they consider your application, to make sure it’s seen fairly. This is usually called their mitigating circumstances (or extenuating circumstances) policy.
Mitigating circumstances is not a way of getting out of any entry requirement, and the consideration you get is often relatively minimal, like an extra resit attempt. It’s a way of making sure you’re not disadvantaged by something going really wrong in your life outside of your studies.
Mitigating Circumstances By Medical School
| Medical School | Mitigating Circumstances Policy |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Applicants who have not met their minimum academic requirements or those who are resitting their exams in order to upgrade their results will only be considered with mitigating circumstances. To be considered under the mitigating circumstances policy, any serious personal difficulties experienced at the time of undertaking an examination must have been declared at the time of sitting to the relevant exam board. Aberdeen will consider applicants mitigating circumstances on a case-by-case basis according to their guidelines explained here. |
| Anglia Ruskin | ARU does not have a mitigating circumstances policy stated on its website. However, they state that entry requirements are a guide and to contact them with any queries about the application process at [email protected]. You should email them directly to find out more given your personal circumstances. |
| Aston | Aston will consider extenuating circumstances holistically in their selection process for interview. These should be mentioned in your reference and then your referee can email Aston with further documentation as required within one week of your application being submitted. If you have an offer and have extenuating circumstances around your A levels, Aston will consider them only if you weren’t able to report them to the examination board. |
| Barts | Applicants who have taken or will take an additional year (or more) to complete their qualifications and achieve the minimum academic entry requirements (e.g. A*AA or 2:1) can ONLY be considered if their extenuating circumstances fall within the Equality Act 2010. Extenuating circumstances cannot be applied for in regards to a UCAT score. To be considered, applicants must complete the Extenuating Circumstances form and provide as much relevant supporting evidence as required to support their request. Once all of the documents have been received, they will be passed on to Barts’ Extenuating Circumstances panel for review. Barts would not recommend submitting an application without having received a decision from the EC panel. More information is available here. |
| Birmingham | Birmingham may be flexible over the route to achieve their academic requirements but will not reduce the thresholds as it is not possible to quantify the effects of extenuating circumstances on academic grades. They are not able to consider mitigating circumstances for exam results as this should be implemented by the exam board. Following discussion and receipt of independent evidence, it is possible, for example, that Birmingham may consider applicants who study A Levels over 3 years. You should contact them with third-party evidence by the UCAS deadline if you believe that extenuating circumstances may apply to your situation. |
| Brighton & Sussex | If you are not predicted (or have not achieved) the required grades, but believe you have exceptional circumstances that affected your A-level studies, you may ask BSMS to consider your application on these grounds. If BSMS accepts your mitigation, they will require formal evidence to support your claim. You should contact their Admissions Team via [email protected] in advance of an application to discuss your circumstances. BSMS will not accept mitigating circumstances for entry exams or exam results, as these should be managed by the exam boards. |
| Bristol | You can apply for consideration of extenuating circumstances at Bristol which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. There is more information here. |
| Brunel | Applicants who have had to retake the matriculation qualifications required for entry onto the MBBS programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis where there have been extenuating circumstances. |
| Buckingham | Buckingham do not have a mitigating circumstances policy stated on their website. You should email them directly to find out more given your personal circumstances at [email protected] |
| Cambridge | You should ask your teacher or doctor to complete Cambridge’s extenuating circumstances form. You may also wish to contact your chosen college. They have extensive information here. |
| Cardiff | You may submit a statement of extenuating circumstances to Cardiff. This must be provided prior to application by the applicant and not by a third party. For extenuating circumstances to be considered Cardiff must receive a completed ‘Extenuating Circumstances form’ with supporting evidence which can be requested via email to [email protected]. The School of Medicine will not consider extenuating circumstances presented on a UCAS form without prior information having been provided. More information is available here. |
| Dundee | Dundee do not have a mitigating circumstances policy stated on their website. You should contact them directly to find out more given your personal circumstances via their online form. |
| Edge Hill | Edge Hill will not accept mitigating circumstances in lieu of appropriate entry requirements. All applicants must meet minimum entry requirements. Candidates who feel that mitigating circumstances may impact their A Level (or equivalent) results must inform their education provider and examination board as soon as possible for appropriate action. Applicants invited to interview with mitigating circumstances which they feel may influence their ability to perform at interview should contact Edge Hill University Medical School as soon as possible via [email protected]., and always before interview. |
| Edinburgh | Applicants who have experienced extreme extenuating circumstances should ask their academic referee to evidence this within the academic reference or provide this information to the Admissions Team separately at the time of application. |
| Exeter | Exeter will consider extenuating circumstances submitted via their form, with more information here. |
| Glasgow | Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry requirements may be considered under exceptional circumstances. Applicants who feel that they have faced exceptional circumstances at the time of their examinations should submit a letter, with supporting documentation from the educational institution and relevant documentation (GP letter, police report, etc). Documents should be received by the Admissions Administrator at least 6 weeks prior to submitting an application. It is not normally possible to adjust or discount UKCAT scores under extenuating circumstances. |
| Hull York | HYMS considers extenuating circumstances significantly and requires you to complete their form. They give extensive information here. |
| Imperial | If you feel you have mitigating circumstances that should be taken into consideration when Imperial makes decisions about your exam results, Imperial would recommend contacting them as soon as possible, ideally through your school or GP. |
| Keele | All requests to consider extenuating circumstances should be sent to [email protected] at the time of application submission. |
| Kent and Medway | It is possible to flag issues through the Extenuating Circumstances process. It is mandatory to use this process if the application does not meet minimum requirements, otherwise the application will be automatically rejected. Applicants must complete an Extenuating Circumstances Form through Kent Vision. Supporting evidence must be provided, including a statement by a teacher, doctor, or social worker, as appropriate. KMMS cannot adjust grade requirements but may waive requirements or allow resits. |
| King’s College London | KCL will take into account mitigating circumstances for A levels and you should submit a Mitigating Circumstances form. KCL operates a “fit-to-sit” policy for interviews, therefore, is unable to take into account mitigating circumstances for the interview performance. |
| Lancaster | Further resit attempts or GCSE resits may be allowed with exceptional circumstances. For further information about the exceptional factors process, you should contact the admissions team at [email protected]. |
| Leeds | Leeds takes into account any issues regarding mitigating circumstances raised in the personal statements and academic reference in pre-interview selection. |
| Leicester | If you have any mitigating circumstances you would like Leicester to consider you should email them at [email protected] preferably including your UCAS number. Leicester will not accept academic results below their minimum even with mitigation. Resits will need to be undertaken. |
| Lincoln | Lincoln may consider extenuating circumstances (such as severe illness/hospitalisation) that lead to the applicant’s period of study extending beyond 2 years for GCSEs and A levels (or equivalent qualifications) or the usual period of study for degrees. Their selection criteria for Medicine courses and course offers will not be lowered for extenuating circumstances. |
| Liverpool | Liverpool takes mitigating circumstances into account and these should be submitted via their online form. Each case is considered individually. |
| Manchester | Manchester strongly recommends that any mitigating circumstances that may have affected your academic performance or any other aspect of the information contained in the UCAS form should be included in the referee’s report. However, you should also let them know by email, as they do not routinely read the reference until after interview. Once they have received an application, they would also expect to be informed of any mitigating circumstances that might occur during the application process. You should contact Manchester for further information on mitigating circumstances. |
| Newcastle | Extenuating circumstances will not be accepted to enable an applicant to be considered without the relevant academic entry qualifications. In other situations, such as completing A-levels over a period of three years, applicants with extenuating circumstances will be considered on an individual basis by the Lead for Recruitment and Admissions. The extreme extenuating circumstances form must be submitted. |
| Norwich (UEA) | Extenuating circumstances should be indicated on the UCAS application. Supporting evidence may be requested. Adverse events potentially impacting performance at A level (or equivalent) or degree classification, should be notified to the relevant examination board. |
| Nottingham | Nottingham may consider extenuating circumstances (such as severe illness/hospitalisation) that lead to the applicant’s period of study extending beyond 2 years for GCSEs and A levels (or equivalent qualifications) or the usual period of study for degrees. Their selection criteria for the Five and Six-Year Medicine courses and course offers will not be lowered for extenuating circumstances. |
| Oxford | Oxford want to know about mitigating circumstances relating to GCSEs or A levels if you are retaking or taking more than 2 years to complete A levels, via email. They have more information here. |
| Plymouth | Plymouth is unable to consider any extenuating circumstances at any stage of the admissions process. |
| Queen’s Belfast | QUB do not have a mitigating circumstances policy stated on their website. You should email them directly to find out more given your personal circumstances. |
| Sheffield | Sheffield does not have a mitigating circumstances policy stated on their website. You should email them directly to find out more given your personal circumstances. |
| Southampton | Southampton do not have a mitigating circumstances policy stated on their website. You should email them directly to find out more given your personal circumstances. |
| St Andrews | Extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis, according to the information provided by the applicant and according to the guidelines given in this policy below. A Special Circumstances Committee for Medical Admissions will consider such cases but only after an application has been made. There is detailed guidance here. |
| St George’s | A successful extenuating circumstances application will not result in SGUL accepting applicants who have not met their minimum entry requirements. Instead, applicants who have re-sat or extended the length of their qualifications (or SGUL advise to do so) will be permitted to apply for their chosen course. There is detailed guidance here. |
| Sunderland | Sunderland does not have a mitigating circumstances policy stated on their website. You should email them directly to find out more given your personal circumstances. |
| University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) | UCLan ask, “Please make sure you tell us if you have made any exceptional achievements or had to overcome exceptional difficulties. It is helpful if these statements are backed up by your referee.” You should email them directly to find out more given your personal circumstances. |
| UCL | UCL is unable to consider any extenuating circumstances for examinations as UCL’s policy is that such mitigating factors are a matter for the Examination Boards and should be taken into account at the time of the exams rather than retrospectively by the university. |
| Warwick | Extenuating circumstances may be considered at either A: the application review stage and/or B: the point of reviewing your final results. Note: If you have a disability or long-term health condition, Warwick will generally not consider this a mitigating circumstance unless: 1) there were no appropriate adjustments made for studies or exam performance 2) or you had an acute episode of illness which had a particular impact on a period of study or your exam performance. |
Alternative Options
If mitigating circumstances aren’t suitable for you, or they’re not accepted, you still have other options!
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Retake the exams
As you’ll have seen above, many universities offer a resit opportunity to students with mitigating circumstances, so you may need to do this anyway. You can see how medical schools view resits and you should discuss this with the medical schools you want to apply to, to make sure they accept your resits.
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Take a gap year, but no resits
If you haven’t gotten an offer for medical school, but you have the grades, you don’t need to resit your A levels. You will need to take the UCAT again, but that’s it. If you struggled due to personal circumstances, a gap year can be a good option to decompress and reapply in a better state of mind or health. We have advice on taking a gap year here and you can see how reapplications are considered here.
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UCAS Extra and Clearing
If you don’t want to take a year out, you can look for medical school places in Extra or Clearing. However, these are usually more competitive than applying via the normal UCAS cycle, and they may not be able to consider mitigating circumstances. Look at our Clearing guide.
FAQs
What are the extenuating circumstances for missing exams?
Extenuating circumstances are a way for universities to take into account major life disruptions, like illness, bereavement or war, affecting your ability to study for exams.
If you miss an exam, the best person to talk to is your exam board, as many universities refuse to mitigate examinations directly as this should be done by the exam board. Mitigating circumstances is often assessed on a case-by-case basis, so the best thing to do is speak to your exam board and university about your own circumstances.
How many times can you apply for mitigating circumstances?
There isn’t a limit on how many times you can apply – after all, a major life event affecting your studying will probably affect all your exams – but it is at the discretion of the university on a case-by-case basis. Long-term problems like a disability usually aren’t accepted for mitigating circumstances as you should have forms of support in place.
Can I withdraw mitigating circumstances?
This will depend on the university in question, but there’s no reason to – it won’t prejudice your application, and it might mean it’s looked on more favourably. You should contact your university to discuss this.
What happens if extenuating circumstances are rejected?
You may not be eligible to apply to that university any more if you don’t meet minimum entry requirements and are rejected, or you may be considered without special consideration if you are otherwise eligible to apply. It is best to confirm whether or not you are eligible for mitigating circumstances before you apply, to avoid a preventable rejection.
