Extenuating Circumstances

We understand that unexpected challenges can significantly impact your education.

If you have faced difficulties that have affected your studies, please let us know through the Extenuating Circumstances Form (ECF). This allows us to consider your unique situation during the admissions process.

What is the Extenuating Circumstances Form?

The ECF is a vital tool for applicants who have encountered personal or educational hardships. By providing this information, you help our Admissions Tutors evaluate your academic performance in light of your experiences. This ensures that your application reflects not just your achievements but also the obstacles you've overcome.

When should uou use the ECF?

The ECF is appropriate for a variety of circumstances, including:

• A serious medical condition (acute or chronic) that disrupted your education.
• Significant caring responsibilities or recent bereavement in your immediate family.
• Living independently from your family, including estranged students.
• Major disruptions to your education due to personal or family challenges.

We encourage both applicants and their school or college referees to share relevant information via the ECF. It is essential to provide these details at the application stage, as failing to disclose pertinent circumstances later may affect the admissions process.

Examples of relevant circumstances

Submit an ECF for situations such as:

• Chronic health issues that hindered your studies.
• The death of a close family member.
• Serious family disruptions or adverse living conditions.
• Significant interruptions to your education.

If your school or college is unaware of your circumstances, a healthcare professional or social worker can complete the form on your behalf.

Submission deadlines

The ECF should typically be submitted by your school or college by October. If circumstances change after your initial submission, please inform us as soon as possible.

In rare cases where new extenuating circumstances arise after your application has been submitted but before any written assessment or interviews please contact the Magdalene Academic Office. We may accept an ECF after the 22 October deadline, but only if the issue concerned can be shown to have arisen after that date and could not reasonably have been foreseen. In these circumstances, the absolute deadline for ECFs is 30 November.

How to submit the form

To complete the ECF, download the Extenuating Circumstances Form.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Feel free to reach out to the Academic Office for guidance.

At Magdalene we value the diverse experiences of our applicants and are committed to understanding each individual’s journey. Your challenges matter to us, and we look forward to reviewing your application with care.