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Deferred Exams
Deferred examinations may be granted in limited circumstances and for legitimate, documentable reasons only, such as:
- Scheduling conflict with another exam (please give a minimum of 10 business days notice to ensure deferral is granted).
- Illness.
- Religious reasons (fill out the request form).
- Extraordinary personal or family circumstances (e.g. death in the family).
Currently medical documentation is not required for exam deferrals. Please follow COVID Protocols for students to determine whether or not you can attend an in-person exam on campus.
To be considered for deferred exam privileges, students must submit a petition as described below.
The following are not considered legitimate reasons for requesting a deferred exam:
- Appealing for more study time.
- Travel arrangements or vacation plans during the final exam period.
Deferred Midterms
Note: Not all course instructors allow deferments.
The information on this page does not apply to midterm tests. Policies on deferring midterms may differ by course, program, department or faculty. Contact your instructor for details. Some instructors, programs, departments and faculties do not allow any deferral of midterms at all.
Deferred Final Exams
Final exams are a mandatory part of most courses. Students are expected to write the final exam for a course as scheduled by the Examinations Office. The majority of students complete a degree without ever deferring a final exam.
If you are unavailable to write the exam at the scheduled time due to documented extenuating circumstances or if you miss a final exam for legitimate reasons, you must appeal for deferred examination privileges.
All appeals for deferred exams must be directed to the petitions committee in the faculty in which the course is offered rather than the one in which you are registered. If you are unsure of the faculty in which the course is offered, contact Academic Advising. Be sure to see if faculty offering the course in question has additional faculty-specific information on exam deferrals.
Scheduling Conflicts
If you have two final examinations scheduled at the same time, you must complete the appropriate final exam conflict form to have one of the exams rescheduled.
Students are not normally required to complete more than two final examinations in a 24-hour period. In order to receive relief under this rule, the third problematic exam must finish within 24 hours of the beginning of the first. In general, the appeal is submitted to the faculty responsible for the “middle” problematic exam in the schedule. The university reserves the right to select which exam is to be deferred.
Petitions Based on Extenuating Circumstances
If you are unable to write an examination as scheduled for reasons other than a scheduling conflict as detailed above, or if you miss your exam for an unavoidable reason, you may appeal to the petitions committee in the faculty that offers the course. In some cases this may mean petitioning a faculty headquartered on a campus other than your home campus.
Supporting documents must be original (copies are not accepted), come from an official source, and be specific to the date of the missed exam. All documentation is subject to confirmation. Any falsification or fabrication of documentation will be addressed through academic misconduct procedures.
Required Documentation for Petitions
Currently, medical documentation is not required for final exam deferrals. Please follow COVID Protocols for students to determine whether or not you can attend an in person exam on campus.
Wilfrid Laurier University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all members of the university community and has a duty to provide accommodation based on creed (religion) under the Ontario Human Rights Code. This obligation requires the university to work with students to provide reasonable accommodation when a student’s religious observances or spiritual beliefs creates a conflict with their academic schedule and subsequent ability to meet the academic requirements of the course as presented in the course outline.
Within one week of the announcement of the examination schedule, you should submit a written self-declaration with an explanation of the nature of the religion and why its practice will not permit you to write the final examination as scheduled. Fill out the Student Request for Accommodation for Religious Observances form. The form will be automatically submitted to the relevant Petitions Committee.
Recommended documentation includes an original death certificate, a published obituary notice or an original note from the funeral home which clearly indicates your relationship to the deceased.
For circumstances known to the student in advance, requests for a deferred final examination for reasons other than those listed should be submitted prior to the first day of the examination period and no less than five business days before the scheduled date of the examination. This will allow for a decision before the scheduled examination date.
For unforeseen circumstances on the day of the examination, requests should be submitted no later than three business days after the scheduled date of the examination.
Appropriate documentation may include police reports, a counselling/treatment letter, or other legal documents.
Examples of “other” reasons include, but are not limited to:
Major Athletic Event/Competition
An original supporting letter from your coach or designate (on letterhead), which includes contact information and verification that you must be available at the time of the scheduled final examination, must be submitted as documentation. Sports practices are not normally accepted as reason for deferral.
Employment-Related Conflict
An original supporting letter from your employer (on company letterhead), which includes contact information and verification from your supervisor that you must be available at the time of the scheduled final examination, must be submitted as documentation. Regularly scheduled shifts are not normally accepted as reason for deferral.
Wedding
Wedding conflicts will only be approved if you are either in the wedding party or the wedding involves an immediate family member. You must submit an original wedding invitation or a certified copy as supporting documentation. A written declaration confirming your relationship to those being married must also be submitted.
What Happens if a Deferral is Granted?
Most students will write deferred exams during the next regularly scheduled deferred exam period. Typically, this takes place in the last week of the month following the originally scheduled exam. For example, if you successfully petition to defer a fall term exam scheduled for December, you will write your exam in the last week of January unless otherwise instructed. A grade of "DEF" will be assigned until the examination is written. See the academic calendar for more details.
Students who require their final grade sooner to meet prerequisite, progression, or graduation requirements may, time permitting, be able to write a deferred exam during a faculty-designated period commonly referred to as a "slip day." Slip day exams are typically held during or soon after the regularly scheduled examination period.
A non-refundable deferred examination fee applies in most circumstances. The fee effective as of Sept. 1, 2015, is $60. This fee is subject to change without notice. Please note that deferrals on the grounds of religious observance may be exempt from the deferral fee.
In exceptional circumstances, students may be eligible to be exempted from writing the final examination in a course. This is known as aegrotat standing. For more information, refer to the policy section on aegrotat standing in the academic calendar.
Accessible Learning Centre
Are you registered with the Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) and approved for exam accommodations?
If you are registered, and wish to use your approved exam accommodations for your deferred exam, you must notify the ALC at least 10 business days in advance of the scheduled deferred exam.
Follow ALC's procedures for "Booking Deferred Exams" (scroll down to "Exam Types" and then "Deferred Final Exams").
Forms
Multi-Faculty Forms
- Verification of Illness Form (all faculties)
- Brantford Final Exam Conflict Form: For Brantford students who have two final exams scheduled at the same time or three final exams scheduled within 24 hours.
- Waterloo Final Exam Conflict Form: For Waterloo students who have two final exams scheduled at the same time only.
Faculty-Specific Forms and Information
Please carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition. In addition, see the following faculty-specific information.
Form and Submission Instructions
Exam deferral requests for Faculty of Arts courses should be submitted online using the Faculty of Arts Final Exam Deferral Petition Form, along with any available supporting documentation in electronic form. Any additional supporting documentation (original copies where possible) may be submitted to the Dean of Arts Office, located on the fifth floor of the Dr. Alvin Woods Building (DAWB 5-106), or emailed to artsdeferrals@wlu.ca. Supporting documents should come from an official source and be specific to the date of the missed examination.
If granted, the deferral will be scheduled for the deferral period, unless the course is needed as a prerequisite for the next semester or to qualify for graduation. If this is the case a slip day will be arranged.
A deferral fee will be charged to your student account for each deferral.
Medical Grounds
Currently, medical documentation is not required for final exam deferrals. Please note that by submitting a petition, you are acknowledging that all statements made by you with respect to your request are true and accurate. If you are unfit to write your examination, please do not write the exam.
Missed Exams for Unforeseen Extraordinary Circumstances
If an exam is missed due to unforeseen circumstances, the appeal must be submitted no later than three business days after the scheduled date of the examination.
Three Exams Within 24 Hours
If you have three exams scheduled such that the third examination finishes within 24 hours of the beginning of the first examination, you may submit a deferral request at least three business days before the first of the three final examinations is written.
Students Registered with the Accessible Learning Centre
A Faculty of Arts final deferred examination appeal form is no longer required for Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) examination scheduling accommodations.
Form
Faculty of Arts Final Exam Deferal Petition Form
Questions?
If you have a general question regarding the Faculty of Arts deferral process, contact artsdeferrals@wlu.ca.
Two exams at the same time or three exams within a 24-hour period: Complete the Brantford Final Exam Conflict Form.
For all other reasons, students may petition for a deferred exam. Optional: Students may first connect with their instructor to discuss an accommodation prior to submitting a petition.
Currently, medical documentation is not required for final exam deferrals. Please note that by submitting a petition, you are acknowledging that all statements made by you with respect to your request are true and accurate.
For all petitions, it is important that you upload supporting documentation with your request. If granted, your deferral will be scheduled for the deferral period. A deferral fee will be charged to your student account for each deferral.
Questions? Contact Academic Advising at lbacademicadvising@wlu.ca.
Two exams at the same time or three exams within a 24-hour period: Complete the Brantford Final Exam Conflict Form.
For all other reasons, students may petition for a deferred exam. Optional: Students may first connect with their instructor to discuss an accommodation prior to submitting a petition.
Currently, medical documentation is not required for final exam deferrals. Please note that by submitting a petition, you are acknowledging that all statements made by you with respect to your request are true and accurate.
For all petitions, it is important that you upload supporting documentation with your request. If granted, your deferral will be scheduled for the deferral period. A deferral fee will be charged to your student account for each deferral.
Questions? Contact Academic Advising at lbacademicadvising@wlu.ca.
The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your exam deferral request. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition. In addition, see the following faculty-specific information:
- A student who is compelled to miss a final examination because of illness or death in the immediate family must submit a petition no later than one week after the date of the examination.
- A student who wishes a deferred examination must submit the petition within a reasonable time before the scheduled examination to allow the committee to reach a decision before the scheduled date.
- The following form can be used to either petition for an examination deferral or for an academic regulation to be waived.
Form
Carefully review all the information on this page prior to completing the form. Most students complete their undergraduate degree without ever requesting a deferred final examination. Students who defer final examinations, on average, score much lower on the deferred final examination compared to students who write the final examination as scheduled.
Courses offered by the Faculty of Science (Waterloo Campus and OC) include the following course codes: AS, BI, CH, CP, DATA, ES, GESC, GG, GL, HE, HN, KP, MA, PC, PS , SC, ST, UU150, WASC.
Deferring a final examination may delay graduation or progression in your program.
Medical Grounds
Deferral requests based on medical grounds WILL NOT be accepted prior to the scheduled time of the examination, as a student cannot be certain that they will be medically incapacitated at the scheduled time of the examination. We are unable to provide verbal or written assurances prior to the scheduled time of the examination that your deferral request will be granted. If you are unfit to write your examination, please do not write the examination.
For suspected or confirmed COVID Illness, follow COVID Protocols for students to determine whether you can attend an in-person examination on campus
Extraordinary Incident/Circumstance
For scheduling conflicts known in advance (e.g., surgery, varsity athletic competitions), the deferral request must be submitted prior to the last day of classes. If an exam is missed due to unforeseen extraordinary circumstances, the deferral request must be submitted no later than three business days after the scheduled date of the examination. Delayed filing may result in a denial of your appeal.
Three Exams That Start and Finish Within 24 Hours
If you have three exams scheduled such that the third examination finishes within 24 hours of the beginning of the first examination, you may submit the Faculty of Science Three Final Examinations Scheduled Within 24 Hours Appeal Form, ideally prior to the start of the examination period, but no later than three business days before the first of the three final examinations is written. No other exam scheduling concerns will be favourably considered by the Faculty of Science.
Time Zone Relief (OC sections only)
Students registered in online courses (OC sections) will not be required to complete a Faculty of Science examination that extends into the period of 12:00 midnight to 5:30 a.m. for their local time zone. To receive relief under this policy, the problematic examination must start or finish within this period. In the explanation, the student must specify the country / time zone in which they have been residing for the entire term. If this information does not match their home address on record with Enrolment Services, the student may be asked for documentation to support their appeal. Students completing both in-person and online courses do not qualify for this relief. Students electing to defer an examination under this policy should submit their request no later than three business days before the scheduled examination. The deferred examination will be written during the next regularly scheduled deferred exam period.
Documentation
In the Faculty of Science, students requesting their first deferred final examination are not required to submit supporting documentation with the deferral form. However, documentation may be requested, following form submission, for some circumstances (e.g., athletic competition, wedding). You are required to provide a detailed description of the legitimate documentable reasons (such as serious and incapacitating illness or extraordinary personal circumstances) and a self-declaration that you cannot write your final examination as scheduled. A self-declaration does not guarantee that the deferred examination request will be granted as it is only replacing the need to submit official documentation.Students who have previously been granted one or more deferred final examinations (from any Faculty) will be required to provide supporting documentation (except for medical circumstances for Winter 2023 examinations, as per current university policy).
Supporting documents must come from an official source and be specific to the date of the missed examination. Familiarize yourself with the required documentation for your stated reason, prior to submitting the deferral request form.
- All documentation is subject to confirmation. Any falsification or fabrication of documentation will be address through academic misconduct procedures.
- Keep the original documentation as we may request to see the original(s) at a future date.
- If you have documentation on file with the Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) for a relevant chronic condition, you may contact your disability consultant and request that a copy of the documentation be forwarded to the Faculty of Science to support your appeal for a deferred examination.
- Although the Faculty of Science prefers the Laurier Verification of Illness Form for exams missed on medical grounds, it will accept original certificates from the medical office. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all requested information is included on your submitted medical documentation.
- Only scanned documents are acceptable for electronic submission. Photos of documents will not be accepted. If you submit a photo, your deferral request will be considered incomplete and it will not be processed until you submit original documentation (electronically) to the Science Academic Advising Office.
Instructions for Form Completion
Note that you cannot save the Faculty of Science Final Deferred Examination Request Form in progress or exit the form and re-enter the partially completed form. If you do not complete all required sections of the form, your request will be closed and you will be required to re-submit the form.
The standard non-refundable deferred examination fee will be charged to your WLU student account for each deferred examination requested upon submission of the form.
If granted, the deferral will be scheduled for the next university-wide deferral period (last week of May, August, September or January). Exceptions may be granted for religious grounds or where the final course grade is needed to qualify for graduation. For these cases, scheduling on a slip day may be considered.
NOTE: The time required to process the deferral request will vary from two to 15 business days or more, after the original supporting documentation is received (if applicable). Please DO NOT resubmit your request as this will slow the process.
Questions?
If you have a general question regarding the Faculty of Science final examination deferral process, contact scienceadvising@wlu.ca. Emails inquiring about the status of a Deferred Examination Request will not be responded to unless a minimum of fifteen business days has passed since the request form and original supporting documentation (if applicable) was submitted.
Form
Faculty of Science Final Deferred Examination Request Form
The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your exam deferral request. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition. This form can be used to either petition for an examination deferral or for an academic regulation to be waived.
Form
The form below alone does not contain all the information you need to submit your exam deferral request. You must carefully review all the information on this page as well as on the form itself before proceeding with your petition. In addition, see the following faculty-specific information.
Form and Submission Instructions
All exam deferral requests/petitions for Business or Economics courses must be submitted to the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics petitions coordinator, Lazaridis Deferrals Lazaridisdeferrals@wlu.ca.
Petitions must include:
- Lazaridis School of Business and Economics petition form;
- Personal statement (typed), and
- Supporting documentation (original copies are required).
If granted, the deferral will be scheduled for the deferral period, unless the course is needed as a prerequisite for the next semester or to qualify for graduation. If this is the case a slip day may be required by Lazaridis School or requested by the student.
Currently, medical documentation is not required for final exam deferrals. Please note that by submitting a petition, you are acknowleding that all statements made by you with respect to your request are true and accurate.
A deferral fee may be charged to your student account for each deferral.
Missed Exams
If an exam is missed due to unforeseen circumstances, the appeal must be submitted no later than three business days after the scheduled date of the examination.
Three Exams Within 24 Hours
If you have three final exams scheduled such that the third examination finishes within 24 hours of the beginning of the first examination, you may submit a deferral petition at least three business days before the first of the three final examinations to be written. The middle exam will be considered for deferral.
Students Registered with the Accessible Learning Centre
If rescheduling of an exam is required by the Accessible Learning Centre, the student is to submit a petition form to the Lazaridis School petitions coordinator.
Questions?
If you have a general question regarding the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics deferral process, contact Lazaridis Deferrals, Lazaridisdeferrals@wlu.ca.